1 *Prov. 1:8;6:20;23:22Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 *Cited from Ex. 20:12"Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, *Gen. 18:19;Deut. 4:9;6:7;11:19;Ps. 78:4;Prov. 19:18;22:6;29:17;[2 Tim. 3:15]but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

5 *See 1 Pet. 2:18Bondservants,*6:5 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 6; likewise for bondservant in verse 8 obey your earthly masters*6:5 Or your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, *[2 Cor. 11:3] with a sincere heart, *[ch. 5:22]as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as *See Gal. 1:10people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 *See Ps. 62:12knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, *Gal. 3:28;Col. 3:11whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, *Lev. 25:43and stop your threatening, knowing that *John 13:13;[Job 31:13-15] he who is both their Master*6:9 Greek Lord and yours is in heaven, and that *See Deut. 10:17there is no partiality with him.

10 Finally, *Rom. 4:20(Gk.);2 Tim. 2:1;[1 John 2:14]; See ch. 3:16be strong in the Lord and in *ch. 1:19the strength of his might. 11 *ver. 14;Job 29:14;See Rom. 13:12Put on *ver. 13;[2 Cor. 10:4] the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against *ch. 4:14the schemes of the devil. 12 For *See 1 Cor. 9:25we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against *ch. 1:21the rulers, against the authorities, against *See ch. 2:2the cosmic powers over *Luke 22:53;Col. 1:13this present darkness, against *[ch. 3:10] the spiritual forces of evil *See ch. 1:3in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore *[1 Pet. 4:1] take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in *ch. 5:16the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, *1 Pet. 1:13;[Isa. 11:5]; See Luke 12:35having fastened on the belt of truth, and *Isa. 59:17;1 Thess. 5:8;[Isa. 61:10;2 Cor. 6:7]having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, *Isa. 52:7;Rom. 10:15;[Ex. 12:11]as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up *[1 John 5:4] the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all *[Ps. 120:4] the flaming darts of *See Matt. 13:19the evil one; 17 and take *[See ver. 14above] the helmet of salvation, and *Heb. 4:12;[Isa. 49:2;Hos. 6:5;2 Cor. 6:7]the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying *Luke 18:1at all times *Jude 20;See Rom. 8:26in the Spirit, *Col. 4:2-4with all prayer and supplication. To that end, *See Mark 13:33keep alert with all perseverance, making *1 Tim. 2:1supplication for all the saints, 19 and *Col. 4:3;1 Thess. 5:25;2 Thess. 3:1;[Isa. 50:4] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth *See Acts 4:29boldly to proclaim *ch. 3:3the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I *See 2 Cor. 5:20am an ambassador *See Acts 28:20in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

21 *Col. 4:7-9So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, *Acts 20:4;2 Tim. 4:12;Titus 3:12Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may *Col. 2:2encourage your hearts.

23 *Gal. 6:16;2 Thess. 3:16;1 Pet. 5:14Peace be to the brothers,*6:23 Or brothers and sisters and *[Gal. 5:6;1 Thess. 5:8]love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who *[1 Cor. 16:22]love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.