Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6, the final chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, written around AD 60–62 from Rome during his imprisonment, focuses on practical Christian living in relationships and spiritual warfare. Paul addresses household dynamics, urging obedience and love, and equips believers to stand against spiritual forces with God’s armor, concluding with a call to prayer and personal greetings.
Key Sections
Household Relationships (6:1–9): Children should obey parents in the Lord, honoring them for blessing (Exodus 20:12). Fathers must nurture, not provoke, their children. Slaves (or bondservants) are to obey masters sincerely, as serving Christ, expecting divine reward. Masters must treat slaves justly, knowing both are accountable to God, who shows no partiality.
The Armor of God (6:10–20): Paul urges believers to be strong in God’s power, wearing His full armor to stand against the devil’s schemes. The battle is spiritual, against cosmic powers. The armor includes truth (belt), righteousness (breastplate), gospel peace (shoes), faith (shield), salvation (helmet), and God’s word (sword), sustained by prayer. Paul requests prayer for boldness in proclaiming the gospel, as an ambassador in chains.
Final Greetings (6:21–24): Paul sends Tychicus to update the Ephesians, encouraging their hearts. He prays for peace, love, faith, and grace for all who love Christ with undying devotion.
Cross-References
Household Relationships: 
Colossians 3:20–4:1: Parallel household code.

Deuteronomy 5:16: Honor parents.

1 Timothy 6:1–2: Slaves and masters.
Children and Parents: 
Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child.

Colossians 3:21: Don’t provoke children.

Exodus 20:12: Promise for honoring parents.
Slaves and Masters: 
Philemon 1:16: Slave as brother.

1 Peter 2:18–20: Submit with patience.

James 2:1: No partiality with God.
Spiritual Warfare: 
2 Corinthians 10:3–5: Spiritual weapons.

1 Peter 5:8–9: Resist the devil.

Romans 16:20: Crush Satan underfoot.
Armor of God: 
Isaiah 59:17: God’s righteousness as armor.

Romans 13:12: Armor of light.

1 Thessalonians 5:8: Faith, love, hope as armor.
Prayer and Boldness: 
Colossians 4:2–4: Pray for open doors.

Acts 4:29: Boldness in speaking.

Philippians 1:20: Courage in Christ.
Tychicus and Greetings: 
Acts 20:4: Tychicus as companion.

Colossians 4:7–8: Tychicus’s role.

2 Timothy 4:12: Sent to Ephesus.
Theological Meaning
Godly Relationships: Christian households reflect Christ’s love through mutual submission, honor, and justice (6:1–9; Colossians 3:18–21).

Spiritual Battle: Believers face spiritual, not human, enemies, requiring divine strength and vigilance (6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3–4).

God’s Armor: Spiritual protection equips believers to stand firm, rooted in truth, faith, and the gospel (6:14–17; Romans 8:37).

Prayer’s Power: Constant prayer sustains spiritual warfare and gospel proclamation (6:18–19; Philippians 4:6).

Equal Accountability: God judges all without partiality, uniting diverse roles under Christ (6:9; Romans 2:11).

Gospel Mission: Believers, like Paul, are ambassadors, sharing Christ despite opposition (6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
Questions and Answers
Why obey parents “in the Lord” (6:1)?
Obedience aligns with God’s will, limited by faith, ensuring it’s righteous (6:1; Acts 5:29).

What does “not provoke children” mean (6:4)?
Fathers should nurture with love, avoiding harshness that breeds resentment (6:4; Colossians 3:21).

How do slaves serve “as to Christ” (6:5–6)?
By working sincerely, seeing service as worship to God, not just humans (6:6; Colossians 3:23).

Who are the spiritual enemies (6:12)?
Demonic forces and cosmic powers, not human adversaries (6:12; Ephesians 2:2).

What is the “armor of God” (6:13–17)?
Spiritual tools—truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, salvation, Scripture—for resisting evil (6:14–17; Isaiah 11:5).

Why pray for Paul’s boldness (6:19–20)?
To proclaim the gospel fearlessly, despite imprisonment (6:20; Acts 28:30–31).

How does this apply today?
Honor relationships, stand firm in faith, pray constantly, and share the gospel boldly (6:18; 1 Peter 5:8–9).
Additional Notes for Readers
Historical Context: Written during Paul’s Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16–31), this chapter addresses Ephesus’s diverse church (Acts 19:10), steeped in a pagan, hierarchical culture. Household codes (6:1–9) adapt Greco-Roman norms, infusing them with Christ’s ethic (Colossians 3:18–4:1). Ephesus’s spiritual climate, with magic and idolatry (Acts 19:19), underscores the warfare imagery (6:12). Tychicus (6:21) was a trusted courier (Acts 20:4).

Cultural Questions: “Honor parents” (6:2) echoes Jewish law, vital in Ephesus’s family-centric society (Exodus 20:12). “Slaves” (6:5) refers to common Roman bondservants, not modern slavery (Philemon 1:16). “Armor” (6:14–17) mirrors Roman soldier gear, familiar in Ephesus’s garrison (Isaiah 59:17). “Rulers and authorities” (6:12) reflects Jewish cosmology of spiritual powers (Colossians 1:16). Prayer (6:18) counters Ephesus’s reliance on incantations (Acts 19:13–16).

Application: Ephesians 6 calls believers to nurture godly relationships, resist evil with spiritual resources, and pray for gospel boldness. It challenges cultural hierarchies and spiritual apathy, urging unity, vigilance, and mission in a hostile world (Romans 12:12; James 4:7).