Chapter Six

Relations of children to parents and parents to children (1–4). Relations between masters and slaves (5–9). The struggle of Christians against evil spirits (10–20). Conclusion (21–24)

Eph 6:1-4. Children must obey their parents, and fathers must not provoke their children through unjust severity.

Ephesians 6:1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “In the Lord,” that is, in Christ. The obedience of children to parents must be fully in accordance with the requirements of Christianity: it is free, based on love, and must not extend beyond what is permitted by the law of Christ. — “For this is right.” This is what general human sense of justice requires.

Ephesians 6:2. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “First commandment with a promise.” The first four commandments of the Decalogue do not have promises of rewards for their fulfillment attached to them (some exception — the second): the fifth commandment is the first one in which clearly and specifically a reward is mentioned for its fulfillment 24.

Ephesians 6:3. so that it may be well with you, and that you live long on the earth. The Apostle does not quote the words of the fifth commandment: “the land which the Lord your God gives you” (Exod 20:12) because they limit the application of the commandment only to the territory of the people of Israel (“you”), while the Apostle aims to give instruction to all children of all nations.... It must be noted that from this address to children it is evident that in the Apostolic church children also received baptism and were taught Christian faith. Still, the Apostle, like the Old Testament Decalogue, promises a reward to children for obedience here on earth, not in heaven. This in itself in most cases comes true, but of course does not exclude the possibility of the opposite: it is evident that the Apostle has in mind that God’s will wishes to reward the obedient child here on earth.

Ephesians 6:4. And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. “Fathers.” The father gives direction to the upbringing of children, and therefore the Apostle does not mention mothers. The father is also primarily responsible for the children. — “In discipline” paideia, that is, in general through ordinary measures of upbringing. — “In instruction” nouthesia — in verbal instruction through conversations. — “Of the Lord.” All these measures of upbringing must be in accordance with the law of Christ. Eph 6:5-9. The Apostle also requires Christian slaves to obey their masters in the name of Christ, and teaches slave owners gentleness in their treatment of their slaves.

Ephesians 6:5. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ, “Masters according to the flesh.” Your soul, therefore, as a Christian slave, belongs only to Christ. — “With fear and trembling” — here certainly these words denote the respect that is proper for a Christian slave to show toward one whom God’s will has placed as his master. — “In the sincerity of your heart,” that is, with complete sincerity. — “As to Christ,” that is, you must see in your master a person acting in virtue of the authority granted to him by Christ.

Ephesians 6:6. not only when being watched, as if to please men, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, Ephesians 6:7. with good will serve, as to the Lord, and not to men, A more detailed depiction of the obedience that a Christian slave must show to his master.

Ephesians 6:8. knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. The promise of reward to an obedient slave is fully consistent with the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ himself (Matt 24:46). Such a promise of reward precisely from the Lord in heaven, not on earth, was necessary in view of the fact that the life of a slave in any case was difficult and the services of a slave were not always sufficiently appreciated by his master.

Ephesians 6:9. And masters, treat them the same way, with restraint, knowing that both you and they have a Master in heaven, who shows no partiality. With Christian slave owners in mind, the Apostle urges them to treat their slaves as well as they treat the fulfillment of their orders. — “Give up threatening” — more precisely: “do not apply measures of severity.” The latter could be recognized as necessary only where slaves were thought of as hostile to their master, which took place in pagan households, but not among Christians. Eph 6:10-24. A Christian must engage in a difficult struggle against evil spirits, who act for the most part through wicked people. In this struggle the Christian must apply all his strength, which has been given to him in Christianity. This struggle lies ahead for the Apostle Paul himself, and the Ephesians must therefore pray for him so that he overcomes in this struggle.

Ephesians 6:10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. “Finally” — more precisely: “as for the rest,” “as concerns the remainder.” The Apostle, obviously, wished to say much more to the Ephesians, but he concentrates all this much into the following exhortation — to arm themselves with sufficient strength to struggle against the spirits of wickedness, for which they should find help from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:11. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, Ephesians 6:12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. “Full armor of God” — these are the virtues of which the Apostle speaks further from Eph 6:13. — “Flesh and blood” — these are people hostile to Christianity. They act against Christians not in themselves, but as instruments of evil spirits, thinking through them to put an end to the spread of the Gospel. — “World powers” — see John 12:31. — “In the heavenly places.” — They do not live in the heavens themselves, but below them, not at a particularly great height above the earth.

Ephesians 6:13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:14. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:15. and having shod your feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace; “In the evil day” — when enemies rise up against Christians with all their strength. — “Having girded your loins with truth” — that is, having established yourself in confidence in the truth of the cause for which you struggle. This confidence, like a belt on a wide garment, gives the spiritual warrior agility in his struggle with enemies, because confidence in oneself is already half the victory. — “The breastplate of righteousness,” that is, righteous intentions, the absence of any ulterior motives. — “Having shod your feet....” The warrior will walk with firm step, who has cultivated in himself the confidence that he bears with him the highest good — peace with God (Eph 1:2) or salvation. Better to translate: “having shod yourselves in readiness, which the Gospel or preaching of peace gives or imparts.”

Ephesians 6:16. in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one; Ephesians 6:17. and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “In addition to all” — more precisely: “in addition to all that was mentioned earlier, you must take or cover yourself with the shield of faith” — of course, “faith,” as confidence in the truth of Christianity. This shield is very large (thureos), covering the warrior’s entire torso, and arrows that were sometimes shot aflame could land in it without harming the bearer of this shield. — “The helmet of salvation,” that is, confidence that we are saved by the merits of Christ. — “The sword of the Spirit,” that is, given by the Spirit of God. — “The word of God” — that is, the Gospel (see Rom 1:16 and Matt 4:4).

Ephesians 6:18. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. Spiritual struggle must necessarily be accompanied by prayer to God. This prayer is “all kinds,” that is, takes on various character depending on the need that a spiritual warrior feels. Prayer must be accomplished in the Spirit of God, who helps us in our prayers (see Rom 8:26). In doing so, the spiritual warrior must pray constantly and for all Christians (“the saints”), because all of them also conduct spiritual struggle with the spirits of wickedness (“with all perseverance and petition” — praying constantly). “It will never be the case that you, during prayer, having in mind only yourself, would thereby attract to yourself the mercy of God” (Chrysostom).

Ephesians 6:19. and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, Ephesians 6:20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. In particular, the Apostle asks the Ephesians to pray for him, so that he might speak freely all that is necessary before the Roman judges, so that he might be regarded as a messenger of Christ and be allowed to freely express the commands of his Lord, the King-Christ, as other ambassadors are permitted to express the desires of the kings who sent them.

Ephesians 6:21. But so that you also may know about my circumstances and how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you. Ephesians 6:22. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you will know about us and that he may comfort your hearts. Ephesians 6:23. Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:24. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. Amen. In conclusion, the Apostle informs his readers that Tychicus will communicate to them the details of the Apostle’s situation in Rome (see Acts 20:4). — “Incorruptible” — en aphtharsía — undecaying. Love for Christ must be an undecaying love, not subject to any destructive influences. * * * According to Ewald, this is the “foremost commandment” in all the Old Testament promise (en epangelía), that is, in the revelation of the Old Testament.