1Children, obey your parents, for it is right that you should. 2 [ Ex.20.12, Dt.15.16. ] 'Honour your father and mother' is the first commandment with a promise attached, in the words: 3'that it may be well with you and that you may live long in the land'.
4You fathers, again, must not goad your children to resentment, but give them the instruction, and the correction, which belong to a Christian upbringing.
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, single-mindedly, as serving Christ. 6Do not offer merely the outward show of service, to curry favour with men, but, as slaves of Christ, do whole-heartedly the will of God. 7Give the cheerful service of those who serve the Lord, not men. 8For you know that whatever good each man may do, slave or free, will be repaid him by the Lord.
9You masters, also, must do the same by them. Give up using threats; remember you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favourites.
10Finally then, find your strength in the Lord, in his mighty power. 11Put on all the armour which God provides, so that you may be able to stand firm against the devices of the devil. 12For our fight is not against human foes, but against cosmic powers, against the authorities and potentates of this dark world, against the superhuman forces of evil in the heavens. 13Therefore, take up God's armour; then you will be able to stand your ground when things are at their worst, to complete every task and still to stand. 14 [ Is.11.5. ] Stand firm, I say. Buckle on the belt of truth; for coat of mail put on integrity; 15 [ Is.52.7, Na.1.15. ] let the shoes on your feet be the gospel of peace, to give you firm footing; 16and, with all these, take up the great shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 [ Is.59.17. ] Take salvation for helmet; for sword, take that which the Spirit gives you—the words that come from God. 18Give yourselves wholly to prayer and entreaty; pray on every occasion in the power of the Spirit. To this end keep watch and persevere, always interceding for all God's people; 19and pray for me, that I may be granted the right words when I open my mouth, and may boldly and freely make known his hidden purpose, 20for which I am an ambassador—in chains. Pray that I may speak of it boldly, as it is my duty to speak.
21You will want to know about my affairs, and how I am; Tychicus will give you all the news. He is our dear brother and trustworthy helper in the Lord's work. 22I am sending him to you on purpose to let you know all about us, and to put fresh heart into you.
23Peace to the brotherhood and love, with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24God's grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, grace and immortality.
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