Ephesians 6


Ephesians 6 is the sixth and final chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Traditionally, it is believed to be written by Apostle Paul while he was in prison in Rome, but more recently, it is suggested to be written between AD 80 and 100 by another writer using Paul's name and style. This chapter is a part of Paul's exhortation, with the particular section about how Christians should live in their responsibilities as households and in the battle against spiritual forces, with a final benediction to close the epistle.

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 24 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Old Testament references

  • : ;

Household Rules (6:1–9)

Commencing from 5:21, this part is built on "the tabulated framework of the rules for good household management rules", as the health and stability of the society depend on the "basic relationships within the household: "husband and wife", "father and children", "master and slaves". The first pairing, husband and wife, is discussed in previous chapter, so in this chapter, the second and the third pairing are in focus.

Verse 2

Citation from the Ten Commandments, in particular or

Verse 3

Citation from:

Verse 5

Note that the original Greek text uses the term "δοῦλοι", which is generally translated as "slave", and which, in the context of first-century Greece under Roman rule, referred to chattels.

Verse 9

  • "Your own Master": the NU renders it "He who is both their Master and yours is".

Put on the Armour of God (6:10-20)

This exhortation is the most vivid portrayal of the Christian spiritual struggle, in a metaphor of warfare, with detailed list of equipment of the Divine Warrior.

Verse 10

  • "Be strong": the Greek word here is in present tense, not aorist, suggesting the 'maintenance' rather than the 'attainment' of strength, whereas the Latin versions read confortamini, recalling the original idea of "comfort", "comforter,” in older English usage.

Verse 11

Verse 13

  • "Take up the whole armour of God": a repetition of the exhortation in Ephesians 6:11, which seems necessary due to many powerful enemies as mentioned in the previous verse, to be followed by an account of the several parts of this armour.
  • "You may be able to withstand in the evil day": which is "be able to stand against the wiles, stratagems and power of Satan", opposing his schemes, and resisting his temptations, as the Syriac version renders it, "that ye may be able to meet the evil one", while the Greek and other versions read, "in the evil day".
  • "Having done all": or "having overcome" or "withstand the enemy", as in "having routed the enemy", and then to stand as conquerors.

Conclusion and Benediction (6:21-24)

Paul's benediction in this epistle contains the "two great Pauline words—love and faith", with the balance between "divine enabling and human response ".