Read the Bible

Family Relationships

^1 (C1)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.^2 (C1)HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise),³ SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

^4 (C1)Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but ^(C2)bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

^5 (C1)Slaves, be obedient to those who are your ^(F1)masters according to the flesh, with ^(C2)fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, ^(C3)as to Christ;^6 (C1)not ^(F1)by way of eyeservice, as ^(C2)men-pleasers, but as ^(C3)slaves of Christ, ^(C4)doing the will of God from the ^(F2)heart.⁷ With good will ^(F1)render service, ^(C1)as to the Lord, and not to men,^8 (C1)knowing that ^(C2)whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^(C3)whether slave or free.

⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, and ^(C1)give up threatening, knowing that ^(C2)both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is ^(C3)no partiality with Him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(C1)be strong in the Lord and in ^(C2)the strength of His might.^11 (C1)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the ^(C2)schemes of the devil.¹² For our ^(C1)struggle is not against ^(F1)(C2)flesh and blood, but ^(C3)against the rulers, against the powers, against the ^(C4)world forces of this ^(C5)darkness, against the ^(C6)spiritual forces of wickedness in ^(C7)the heavenly places.¹³ Therefore, take up ^(C1)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to ^(C2)resist in ^(C3)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, ^(C1)HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING ^(C2)PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,¹⁵ and having ^(C1)shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;^16 (F1)in addition to all, taking up the ^(C1)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the ^(C2)flaming arrows of ^(C3)the evil one.¹⁷ And take ^(C1)THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the ^(C2)sword of the Spirit, which is ^(C3)the word of God.

^18 (F1)With all ^(C1)prayer and petition ^(F2)(C2)pray at all times ^(C3)in the Spirit, and with this in view, ^(F3)(C4)be on the alert with all ^(C5)perseverance and ^(C6)petition for all the saints,¹⁹ and ^(C1)pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me ^(C2)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with ^(C3)boldness ^(C4)the mystery of the gospel,²⁰ for which I am an ^(C1)ambassador ^(C2)in ^(F1)chains; that ^(F2)in proclaiming it I may speak ^(C3)boldly, ^(C4)as I ought to speak.

^21 (C1)But that you also may know about my circumstances, ^(F1)how I am doing, ^(C2)Tychicus, ^(C3)the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.^22 (F1)(C1)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know ^(F2)about us, and that he may ^(C2)comfort your hearts.

^23 (C1)Peace be to the brethren, and ^(C2)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ ^(F1)with incorruptible love.