1 C hildren, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just and right.

Children, as Christians, obey your parents. This is the right thing to do.

2 H onor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother—this is the first commandment with a promise—

Respect your father and mother. This is the first Law given that had a promise.

3 T hat all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.

The promise is this: If you respect your father and mother, you will live a long time and your life will be full of many good things.

4 F athers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger, but rear them in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.

Fathers, do not be too hard on your children so they will become angry. Teach them in their growing years with Christian teaching.

5 S ervants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as to Christ —

You servants who are owned by someone must obey your owners. Work for them as hard as you can. Work for them the same as if you were working for Christ.

6 N ot in the way of eye-service and only to please men, but as servants (slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and with your whole soul;

Do not work hard only when your owner sees you. You would be doing this just to please men. Work as you would work for Christ. Do what God wants you to do with all your heart.

7 R endering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,

Be happy as you work. Do your work as for the Lord, not for men.

8 K nowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.

Remember this, whatever good thing you do, the Lord will pay you for it. It is the same to the Lord if you are a servant owned by someone or if you work for pay.

9 Y ou masters, act on the same toward them and give up threatening and using violent and abusive words, knowing that He Who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons (no partiality) with Him.

Owners, do the right thing for those who work for you. Stop saying that you are going to be hard on them. Remember that your Owner and their Owner is in heaven. God does not respect one person more than another. Things God Gives the Christian to Fight With

10 I n conclusion, be strong in the Lord; draw your strength from Him.

This is the last thing I want to say: Be strong with the Lord’s strength.

11 P ut on God’s whole armor, that you may be able successfully to stand up against the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

Put on the things God gives you to fight with. Then you will not fall into the traps of the devil.

12 F or we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Our fight is not with people. It is against the leaders and the powers and the spirits of darkness in this world. It is against the demon world that works in the heavens.

13 T herefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

Because of this, put on all the things God gives you to fight with. Then you will be able to stand in that sinful day. When it is all over, you will still be standing.

14 S tand therefore, having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

So stand up and do not be moved. Wear a belt of truth around your body. Wear a piece of iron over your chest which is being right with God.

15 A nd having shod your feet in preparation '> firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

Wear shoes on your feet which are the Good News of peace.

16 L ift up over all the shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked.

Most important of all, you need a covering of faith in front of you. This is to put out the fire-arrows of the devil.

17 A nd take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

The covering for your head is that you have been saved from the punishment of sin. Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. How and What to Pray For

18 P ray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray. Pray for the things that are needed. You must watch and keep on praying. Remember to pray for all Christians.

19 A nd also for me, that utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),

Pray for me also. Pray that I might open my mouth without fear. Pray that I will use the right words to preach that which is hard to understand in the Good News.

20 F or which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.

This is the reason I was sent out. But now I am in chains for preaching the Good News. I want to keep on speaking for Christ without fear the way I should.

21 N ow that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything.

Tychicus will tell you how I am getting along. He is a much-loved brother and a faithful preacher.

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may console and cheer and encourage and strengthen your hearts.

I have sent him to you because I want him to tell you about us. He will comfort you.

23 P eace be to the brethren, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

May all the Christian brothers have peace and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 G race (God’s undeserved favor) be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible. Amen (so let it be).

May God give loving-favor to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that never gets weak.