1 Children, obey  * 6:1 Pr 1:8; 6:20; 23:22; Col 3:20 your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.* 6:3 Or life on the earth,* 6:2–3 Ex 20:12,* 6:2–3 Ex 20:124 Fathers, don’t stir up anger  * 6:4 Rm 10:19 in your children, but bring them up in the training  * 6:4 Heb 12:5 and instruction of the Lord.

5 Slaves, obey your human  * 6:5 Lit according to the flesh masters  * 6:5 Col 3:22; 1Pt 2:18 with fear and trembling,  * 6:5 Php 2:12 in the sincerity  * 6:5 2Co 9:11 of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing God’s will  * 6:6 Ps 143:10; Pr 16:9; Gl 1:4; Eph 1:9 from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people,  * 6:7 Col 3:238 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening  * 6:9 Ac 4:29; 9:1 them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism  * 6:9 Col 3:25 with him.  * 6:9 Col 4:1

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.  * 6:10 Ac 4:3311 Put on  * 6:11 Pr 31:25 the full armor  * 6:11 Eph 6:11–17 of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh  * 6:12 Php 3:3 and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,  * 6:12 1Pt 3:22 against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,  * 6:12 Mt 6:13; Jn 17:15 spiritual forces in the heavens.  * 6:12 Eph 1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10; Php 2:1013 For this reason take up the full armor  * 6:13 1Th 5:8 of God, so that you may be able to resist  * 6:13 2Tm 4:15; 1Pt 5:9 in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,  * 6:14 Pr 24:16; Php 1:27 therefore, with truth  * 6:14 Jn 14:6; 1Jn 5:20 like a belt around your waist, righteousness  * 6:14 Mt 6:33; Rm 1:17; 2Pt 1:1 like armor on your chest,  * 6:14 1Th 5:815 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield  * 6:16 Gn 15:1 of faith  * 6:16 Mt 8:10; Ac 3:16; Rm 1:8; 1Co 2:5; Gl 2:16; 1Tm 1:2; Heb 4:2 with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  * 6:16 2Th 3:317 Take the helmet  * 6:17 1Th 5:8 of salvation and the sword  * 6:17 Mk 14:47 of the Spirit  * 6:17 Ps 51:11; Jn 1:33; Ac 2:4; Rm 8:9; Gl 5:25; Ti 3:5; Rv 3:22  — which is the word of God. 18 Pray  * 6:18 Mt 5:44; Ac 12:12 at all times in the Spirit  * 6:18 Jd 20 with every prayer and request, and stay alert  * 6:18 Pr 6:4 with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness  * 6:19 2Co 3:12 the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador  * 6:20 2Co 5:20 in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

21 Tychicus,  * 6:21 Ti 3:12 our dearly loved brother and faithful servant  * 6:21 Or deacon in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage  * 6:22 Lk 16:25 your hearts.  * 6:22 Col 4:8

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father  * 6:23 Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42 and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.  * 6:24 Other mss add Amen.,* 6:24 Lit all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption