Children, (1) obey your parents (2) in the (a) Lord: (3) for this is right. (1) He comes to another part of a family, and shows that the duty of the children toward their parents consists in obedience to them. (2) The first argument: because God has so appointed. And upon this it follows also that... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) Honour thy father and mother; (5) (which is the first commandment with (b) promise;) (4) A proof of the first argument. (5) The third argument taken of the profit that ensues from it: because the Lord gave this commandment among all the rest a special blessing. (b) With a special promise: for... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and (c) admonition of the Lord. (6) It is the duty of fathers to use their fatherly authority moderately and to God's glory. (c) Such information and precepts which are taken out of God's book, and are holy a... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters (8) according to the flesh, with (d) fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; (7) Now he descends to the third part of a family, that is, to the duty both of the masters and of the servants. And he shows that the duty... [ Continue Reading ]
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, (9) doing the will of God from the heart; (9) To cut off occasion of all pretences, he teaches us that it is God's will that some are either born or made servants, and therefore they must respect God's will although their service i... [ Continue Reading ]
With good will doing service, as to the (e) Lord, and not to men: (e) Being moved with a reverence for God, as though you served God himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free. (10) Although they serve unkind and cruel masters, yet the obedience of servants is no less acceptable to God, than the obedience of those that are free.... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there (f) respect of persons with him. (11) It is the duty of masters to use the authority that they have over their servants, modestly and in a holy manner, seeing tha... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (12) He concludes the other part of this epistle with a grave exhortation, that all are ready and fight constantly, trusting in spiritual weapons, until their enemies are completely put to flight. And first of all he w... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) For we wrestle not against flesh and (g) blood, but against (h) principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. (13) Secondly, he declares that our chiefest and mightiest enemies are invisible, so that we may not... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the (i) evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) He shows that these enemies are put to flight only with the armour of God, that is, with uprightness of conscience, a godly and holy life, knowledge of the... [ Continue Reading ]
And your feet shod with the (k) preparation of the gospel of peace; (k) The preparation of the Gospel may be as it were shoes to you: and it is very fitly called the Gospel of peace, because, seeing we have to go to God through most dangerous ranks of enemies, this may encourage us to go on bravely... [ Continue Reading ]
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the (l) Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (l) That holy prayers may proceed from the Holy Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) But that ye also may know my affairs, [and] how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: (15) A familiar and very amiable declaration of his state, together with a solemn prayer, with which Paul is accustomed to end his epistles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Grace [be] with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ (m) in sincerity. Amen. "[To [the] Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.]" (m) Or to immortality, to life everlasting.... [ Continue Reading ]