Ephesians 6

{{New Testament chapter short description}}
{{Bible chapter|letname=Ephesians 6|previouslink= Ephesians 5 |previousletter= chapter 5 |nextlink= Philippians 1 |nextletter= Philippians 1 | book= [[Epistle to the Ephesians]] | biblepart=[[New Testament]] | booknum= 10 |category= [[Pauline epistles]] | filename= Papyrus49verso.jpg |size=250px | name=Papyrus 49, 3rd century |caption=<div style="width: 250px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">A fragment showing Ephesians 4:16-29 on ''recto'' side of [[Papyrus 49]] from the third century.</div>}}
'''Ephesians 6''' is the sixth (and the last) chapter of the [[Epistle to the Ephesians]] in the [[New Testament]] of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]]. Traditionally, it is [[Authorship of the Pauline epistles|believed to be written]] by [[Paul the Apostle|Apostle Paul]] while he was in prison in Rome (around AD 62), but more recently, it is suggested to be written between AD 80 and 100 by another writer using Paul's name and style.<ref name="Bruce142">{{cite book |last=Bruce |first=F. F. |author-link=F. F. Bruce |title=The Canon of Scripture |date=1988 |publisher=InterVarsity Press |place=Downers Grove, IL |isbn=978-0830812585 |pages=142, 158–60}}</ref><ref name="HarperCollinsSB">{{cite book |title=The HarperCollins Study Bible |edition=Revised |date=2006 |publisher=HarperCollins |place=New York |isbn=978-0061228407 |editor-last1=Attridge |editor-first1=Harold W. |editor-last2=Meeks |editor-first2=Wayne A. |pages=1982–83}}</ref> This chapter is a part of Paul's exhortation ([[Ephesians 4]]–6), with the particular section about how Christians should live in their responsibilities as households (5:21–6:9) and in the battle against spiritual forces (6:10–20),{{sfn|Dunn|2007|p=1173}} with a final benediction to close the epistle (6:21–24).{{sfn|Dunn|2007|pp=1178–1179}}

==Text==
The original text was written in [[Koine Greek]]. [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|This chapter is divided into]] 24 verses.

===Textual witnesses===
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
*[[Papyrus 46]] (c. AD 200)
*[[Codex Vaticanus]] (325-350)
*[[Codex Sinaiticus]] (330-360)
*[[Codex Alexandrinus]] (400-440)
*[[Codex Freerianus]] (c. 450; extant verses 1, 10-12, 19-21)
*[[Codex Claromontanus]] (c. 550)

==Old Testament references==
* {{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:3|NKJV}}: {{bibleref2|Exodus|20:12|NKJV}}; {{bibleref2|Deuteronomy|5:16|NKJV}}

==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".{{sfn|Dunn|2007|pp=1175–1176}} The first pairing, husband and wife, is discussed in [[Ephesians 5|previous chapter]], so in this chapter, the second ("children and parents"; verses 1–4) and the third pairing ("slaves and masters"; verses 5–9) are in focus.{{sfn|Dunn|2007|p=1177}}

===Verse 2===
: ''"Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:2|NKJV}} [[New King James Version|NKJV]]</ref>
Citation from the [[Ten Commandments]], in particular {{bibleref2|Exodus|20:12|NKJV}} or {{bibleref2|Deuteronomy|5:16|NKJV}}

===Verse 3===
: ''"that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:3|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>
Citation from: {{bibleref2|Deuteronomy|5:16|NKJV}}

===Verse 4===
: ''"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:4|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>

===Verse 5===
: ''"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;"''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:5|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>

Note that the original Greek text uses the term "δοῦλοι" (translated in the NKJV as "Bondservants"), which is generally translated as "slave",<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2328156&redirect=true Definition] from [[A Greek–English Lexicon|LSJ]].</ref> and which, in the context of first-century Greece under Roman rule, referred to chattels.<ref>[http://www.moyak.com/papers/roman-slavery-war.html Roman Slavery: The Social, Cultural, Political, and Demographic Consequences] by Moya K. Mason</ref>

===Verse 6===
: ''"not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,"''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:6|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>

===Verse 7===
: ''"with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,"''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:7|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>

===Verse 8===
: ''"knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free."''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:8|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>

===Verse 9===
:''"And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him."''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:9|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>
*"Your own Master": the [[Novum Testamentum Graece|NU]] renders it "He who is both their Master and yours is".<ref>Note on Ephesians 6:9 in NKJV</ref>

==Put on the Armour of God (6:10-20)==
[[File:Work by Bucktooof, George Street, Croydon.jpg|thumb|Eph 6:12 quoted in graffiti in [[London]].]] 
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.{{sfn|Dunn|2007|pp=1177–1178}}<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|59:17|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|1 Thessalonians|5:8|KJV}}</ref>

===Verse 10===
:''Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Ephesians|6:10|KJV}} [[King James Version|KJV]]</ref>
*"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.<ref name=cambridgebible>[[Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges]]. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/ephesians/6.htm Ephesians 6]. Accessed 28 April 2019.</ref>

===Verse 13===
{{main|Armour of God}}
:''Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Ephesians|6:13|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>
* "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.<ref name="gill_Eph6_13"/>
* "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" (to face him in the battle), while the Greek and other versions read, "in the evil day".<ref name="gill_Eph6_13"/>
* "Having done all": or "having overcome" or "withstand the enemy", as in "having routed the enemy", and then to stand as conquerors.<ref name="gill_Eph6_13">[http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/ephesians-6-13.html ''John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible'', - Ephesians 6:13]</ref>

==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 ('from [both] God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ') and human response ('all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ')".{{sfn|Dunn|2007|p=1179}}

==See also==
* [[Armour of God]]
* [[Ten Commandments]]
* [[Tychicus]]
* Other related [[Bible]] parts: Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5, [[Ephesians 1]], [[Ephesians 5]], [[Philippians 1]], [[Hebrews 7]], [[Epistle of Jude|Jude]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last=Dunn | first= J. D. G. |author-link= James Dunn (theologian)| chapter = 68. Ephesians | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 1165–1179 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}

==External links==
*{{bibleverse|Ephesians|6|KJV}} King James Bible - Wikisource
*[http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=1&b=10&c=6 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate]
*[https://whenyouneedgod.com/what-is-the-real-meaning-of-ephesians-61-3-deep-dive-bible-study-commentary/ Understanding the meaning of Ephesians 6:1-3]
*[http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Ephesians+6 ''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
*[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=56&chapter=6 Multiple bible versions at ''Bible Gateway''] (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)
{{Epistle to the Ephesians}}

[[Category:Epistle to the Ephesians chapters|06]]