Ephesians 6 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 60-62
Location
Ephesus, a major port city in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day Turkey)
Audience
Christian believers in Ephesus, likely a mixed congregation of Jewish and Gentile converts
Situation
Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned (likely in Rome under house arrest). He addresses practical Christian living within the Roman household structure and spiritual warfare against unseen evil forces.
Key Background
Ephesus was a wealthy commercial center known for the Temple of Artemis and widespread practice of magic and occult arts. The Roman household structure included clear hierarchies between parents/children and masters/slaves, which Paul addresses. Roman soldiers were a common sight, making Paul's armor imagery immediately recognizable to his audience as he described spiritual rather than physical warfare.
to your parents because you belong to the — it's the right thing to do.
for your father and mother" — this is the first that comes with a promise attached:
"so that go for you and you a on the earth."
don't to the Instead, raise them with the kind of and that comes from the Lord.
Those of you who are do what your say with the same seriousness and sincerity you'd give to the — not out of fear, but from the
Don't just on a when to win their approval. Instead, as who are to the do what God wants from the of who you are.
Serve with as if you're serving the and not just people.
Because you know that the Lord will every person for the good they do — whether they're or
And treat them the same way. You know that both you and they share the same Master in heaven — and he
Finally, the Lord's — let his power fuel you.
Put on the God provides so you can against the
Because we're not fighting against We're up against of this and of in the
So pick up every piece of God's armor. Then when the you'll be able to hold your position — and after you've fought through everything, be
So Strap around your waist like a belt. Put on as your chest armor.
up with the that comes from the of
Above all, pick up the of in — with it you'll be able to put out every arrow the fires at you.
Take the helmet of and the the — which is
And about everything, all the time, the Be and never give up. Keep praying for all of
Pray for me too — that whenever I open my mouth, the out, so I can make the of the known.
I'm an in for this message. Pray that I'll speak as as I should.
— a I and a in the Lord's work — will fill you in on everything about how I'm doing and what's happening with me.
I'm sending him to you for this exact reason — so you'll know how we're doing and so he can
to all of you who are of this and with in — from the Father and the Lord Jesus, the
to everyone who our Lord Jesus, the One, with a that