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Chapter Summary
Children, obey your parents. Slaves, obey your masters. Put on the whole armour of God to stand against the devil. Peace and grace.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just. 2Honor your father and your mother. This is the first commandment with a promise: 3so that it may be well with you, and so that you may have a long life upon the earth. 4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord.
5Servants, be obedient to your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ. 6Do not serve only when seen, as if to please men, but act as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7Serve with good will, as to the Lord, and not to men. 8For you know that whatever good each one will do, the same will he receive from the Lord, whether he is servant or free. 9And you, lords, act similarly toward them, setting aside threats, knowing that the Lord of both you and them is in heaven. For with him there is no favoritism toward anyone.
10Concerning the rest, brothers, be strengthened in the Lord, by the power of his virtue. 11Be clothed in the armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the treachery of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the directors of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places. 13Because of this, take up the armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand the evil day and remain perfect in all things. 14Therefore, stand firm, having been girded about your waist with truth, and having been clothed with the breastplate of justice, 15and having feet which have been shod by the preparation of the Gospel of peace. 16In all things, take up the shield of faith, with which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. 17And take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God). 18Through every kind of prayer and supplication, pray at all times in spirit, and so be vigilant with every kind of earnest supplication, for all the saints, 19and also for me, so that words may be given to me, as I open my mouth with faith to make known the mystery of the Gospel, 20in such a manner that I may dare to speak exactly as I ought to speak. For I act as an ambassador in chains for the Gospel.
21Now, so that you also may know the things that concern me and what I am doing, Tychicus, a most beloved brother and a faithful minister in the Lord, will make known everything to you. 22I have sent him to you for this very reason, so that you may know the things that concern us, and so that he may console your hearts. 23Peace to the brothers, and charity with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24May grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ, unto incorruption. Amen.