Letter to the Ephesians – Chapter 6
Ephesians 6 concludes Paul’s letter with instructions for household relationships (continued from Ch. 5), a call to spiritual resilience, and a benediction.
Verses 1–9: Christ-Like Love in Every Relationship (continued)
Paul continues his exposition (see ch. 5:22-33) on the Spirit-enabled life of mutual submission using the typical Greco-Roman household as a template. The implication is that this call is incumbent upon every person no matter their familial or social status. Thus, children are commanded to obey their parents “in the Lord” (v. 1). Here the word obey (hypakouō) implies attentive listening and willing compliance, and obedience “in the Lord” indicates that it should align with Christ’s teachings. In the Greco-Roman world, children were expected to submit absolutely to their father’s authority. Paul’s instructions temper this with a call for parents to nurture rather than dominate. And so, fathers are instructed to bring up (ektrephete, meaning to nurture and provide for) “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (see ch. 4:31-32).
Likewise, Paul addresses slaves (douloi) and masters, urging slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity as they would obey Christ (v. 5) and masters to treat their slaves justly, recognizing their mutual accountability to God (v. 9). This term for slaves encompassed various forms of servitude in the Roman Empire, from harsh slavery to household service. Here Paul reframes this relationship through a Christ-centered lens. His insistence that masters should “do the same” – that is, serve their slaves as they serve the Lord – goes against the cultural slave structures of the time, and casts a new vision for Christ-centered relationships based upon mutual submission.
Verses 10-20: The Armor of God
Paul calls believers to “be strong in the Lord” (v. 10) and put on the full armor of God (panoplia tou Theou). The imagery of armor would resonate in Ephesus, a city under Roman rule. The metaphor also recalls Isaiah’s descriptions of God’s armor (Isaiah 59:17), connecting the call for spiritual resilience to God’s mission of justice and salvation. Most of the armor is for defense and each piece – belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit – is tied to a spiritual discipline or virtue. Paul concludes this section by returning to the theme of prayer that opened the letter (ch. 1:15-23), a theme that again highlights the empowerment of the Spirit, the connection to all believers, and the continued revelation of the mystery (mystērion) of the gospel.
Verses 20–23: Benediction
Paul concludes with a personal note about Tychicus, his messenger (vv. 21–22), and a benediction of peace, love, faith, and grace for all who love Jesus Christ (vv. 23–24). Here again, Paul closes as he began with an emphases on the centrality of God’s grace to the whole community and the community’s undying (aptharsia, meaning incorruptible) love for the Lord.
General Discussion Questions
Use any or all of the following questions, depending how much time you have:
How familiar were you with this week’s reading? Was there anything that surprised you
What did you learn about God and/or human nature from the reading?
What aspects of the reading give you comfort or assurance? What aspects of the reading do you find difficult to accept?
Which verses stood out to you as significant in this chapter?
Discussion Questions
Verses 1-6 speak of obeying in different relationships. Verse 7 says, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” What does serving the Lord look like in your life? How can remembering verse 7 help us when we are in complicated and sometimes painful relationships and circumstances?
Paul talks in verses 6:10–18 about putting on the armor of God – the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – to stand against spiritual challenges. Which piece of the armor do you feel you most rely on, and which one do you think you need to “put on” more intentionally? How can you apply this in specific areas of your life?
Verse 18 tells us to pray to the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Is there a certain type of prayer that you go to God with more than others? What is an area of your life that you hope to share more with God?
Closing Prayer
O Lord, we give you our lives. May our heart, our minds, and our desires be yours. May our hands and feet and voices move as you would choose. May our moments and days flow in endless praise. Amen.