Ephesians 6: Put on the full armor of God

Where Ephesians 6 sits

In the story

Act VI, Church: Acts–Jude · Rome, AD 60s and later

In the Bible

New Testament · Letters · chapter 6 of 6 in Ephesians

In Ephesians

Walk worthy of the calling, 4:1–6:24

Before

Ephesians 5: Walk in love … walk as children of light

After

Ephesians closes here

Ephesians 6 summary

The household instructions continue. Children are to obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right, keeping the commandment “Honor your father and mother,” the first with a promise, that it may go well with them and they may live long on the earth; fathers are not to provoke their children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves are to obey their earthly masters with respect and sincerity of heart, as they would Christ, not only when watched but as servants of Christ doing God's will from the heart, serving gladly as to the Lord, knowing the Lord will reward everyone for the good he does, slave or free. Masters are to treat their slaves the same way and stop threatening, knowing that their own Master and theirs is in heaven and shows no favoritism. Finally, they must be strong in the Lord and His mighty power and put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes, for their struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So they must take up the whole armor to stand firm in the evil day: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to quench the evil one's flaming arrows, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. They are to pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer, keeping alert for all the saints, and for Paul, that he may boldly make known the mystery of the gospel for which he is an ambassador in chains. Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant, will tell them all about Paul and encourage their hearts. Peace, love with faith, and grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love.

Ephesians 6 in context

Speaking

Paul, an ambassador in chains (6:20)

Written for

Children and fathers, slaves and masters in the churches (6:1–9), and the whole church standing together against the powers (6:10–20)

Around it

Finishes the household code begun at 5:21, then gathers the whole walk into one last call to stand in God's armor (6:10–20) before Tychicus and the blessing close the letter (6:21–24)

The sections of Ephesians 6

1. Honor your father and mother
   6:1–4
2. As servants of Christ
   6:5–9
3. The full armor of God
   6:10–17
4. Pray in the Spirit at all times
   6:18–20
5. Tychicus … will tell you everything
   6:21–24

Around Ephesians 6

Also in Walk worthy of the calling

• Ephesians 4
• Ephesians 5

Read alongside

• Exodus 20
• Colossians 3
• Isaiah 59
• Isaiah 52
• Isaiah 11
• 1 Peter 5
• Acts 20
• Philemon 1

Chapters that point here

• Deuteronomy 5
• Joshua 6
• Joshua 10
• Joshua 11
• Judges 1
• 2 Chronicles 20
• Nehemiah 4
• Job 31
• Psalm 83
• Proverbs 13
• Proverbs 22
• Proverbs 29
• Daniel 10
• 2 Corinthians 10
• Colossians 4
• 1 Timothy 6
• Hebrews 4

Questions on Ephesians 6

1. Who is the believer's real enemy, and why must the armor be God's (6:10–13)?

2. Where in Isaiah do the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation first appear?

3. What three pairs make up the household code, and what grounds each one?

The answers are in TheoMaps Challenges.