Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6 is the final chapter of Ephesians. It continues the instructions on household relationships that began in Ephesians 5:21, extending them from husbands and wives to children and parents and to servants and masters. It then turns to spiritual warfare and prayer and closes the letter with greetings.

Outline

• Verses 1–4: Children are urged to obey their parents in the Lord and to honor them. The fifth of the Ten Commandments is cited as "the first commandment with promise." Fathers are told not to provoke their children to wrath but to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
• Verses 5–9: Instructions to servants and masters. Servants are told to serve in singleness of heart, as unto Christ. Masters are told to forbear threatening, for both have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no respect of persons.
• Verses 10–17: The whole armor of God. The "whole armor" refers to armor covering the entire body. The passage states that the struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of wickedness, and it lists in turn the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness (armor protecting the chest), feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• Verses 18–20: Readers are urged to pray always in the Spirit, watching and making supplication for all the saints. Paul also asks them to pray that he, an ambassador in bonds (an envoy sent as a representative), may boldly make known the mystery of the gospel.
• Verses 21–22: Paul states that he is sending Tychicus to make known his affairs and to comfort the believers.
• Verses 23–24: The letter closes with a benediction invoking peace, love, and grace.

Key Verses

• Ephesians 6:4: "Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." This is a representative verse on parents' responsibility toward their children.
• Ephesians 6:11: "Put on the whole armour of God." This verse is central to the passage depicting the Christian life as spiritual warfare.
• Ephesians 6:18: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Here the armor metaphor leads into the exhortation to prayer.

People and Places

• Paul: Identifies himself as the author of the letter in 1:1. In this chapter he says he is in bonds.
• Tychicus: Introduced as "a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord." He is charged with delivering the letter and reporting Paul's news.

Points for Reflection

• Household code: Verses 1–9 are similar in structure to Colossians 3:21 and Colossians 4:1. Today the passage on servants and masters is usually applied to employment relationships in the workplace. In nineteenth-century America, both defenders of slavery and abolitionists appealed to this passage in support of their positions.
• Background of the armor imagery: The breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation echo the language of Isaiah 59:17. It is often said that Paul drew the metaphor from the Roman soldier guarding him, but the text itself does not say so.
• Interpretation of verse 12: Some in charismatic circles use this verse as a basis for "spiritual warfare" against evil spirits believed to rule particular regions. Others read the verse as an exhortation for believers to stand firm in truth and faith, criticizing the former interpretation as going beyond the text. Related passages include 1 Peter 5:8–9 and James 4:7.
• Because Paul mentions being in bonds (verse 20), Ephesians is commonly grouped with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon as one of the "Prison Epistles."

In the Korean Church

• Verses 1–4 are frequently used as a sermon text during May, which is observed as Family Month, especially on Parents' Sunday.
• The whole armor of God in verses 10–18 is a common theme for retreats and Sunday school lessons.