Children and Parents

1Children, obeya your parents as you would the Lord,b because this is right. 2Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandmentc with a promise, 3so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.d, e, f 4Fathers, don’t stir up angerg in your children, but bring them up in the trainingh and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5•Slaves, obey your humani mastersj with fear and trembling,k in the sincerityl of your heart, as to Christ. 6Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s willm from your heart.n 7Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,o 8knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threateningp them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritismq with Him.r

Christian Warfare

10Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.s 11Put ont the full armoru of God so that you can stand against the tacticsv of the Devil. 12For our battle is not against fleshw and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,x against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evily in the heavens.z 13This is why you must take up the full armoraa of God, so that you may be able to resistab in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14Stand,ac therefore,

with truthad like a belt around your waist,

righteousnessae like armor on your chest,af

15and your feet sandaled with readiness

for the gospel of peace.ag

16In every situation take the shieldah of faith,ai

and with it you will be able to extinguish

all the flaming arrows of the evil one.aj

17Take the helmetak of salvation,

and the swordal of the Spirit,am

which is God’s word.

18Prayan at all times in the Spiritao with every prayer and request, and stay alertap in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the •saints. 19Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldnessaq the •mystery of the gospel. 20For this I am an ambassadorar in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

21Tychicus,as our dearly loved brother and faithful servantat in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourageau your hearts.av

23Peace to the •brothers, and love with faith, from God the Fatheraw and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.ax, ay