Children, y’all are to obey your* parents in the Lord, for this is right. “You must honor your father and mother,” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “so that it may go well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” +Deut 5:16
Fathers, y’all must not provoke your* children to anger, but instead y’all are to nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves, y’all should be obedient to those who according to the flesh are masters, with respect and fear, in sincerity of your* heart as to Christ, not serving only someone’s eyes are watching as people pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Serve with good will as to the Lord and not to humans, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, they will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether slave or free.
Masters, y’all are to treat them the same way. Y’all must not threaten them because you* know that he who is both their Master and your* is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
The Armor of God
Finally, y’all be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Y’all are to put on the whole armor of God, so that y’all will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavens.
Therefore y’all must take up the whole armor of God, so that y’all will be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Y’all stand firm then, fastening the belt of truth around your* waist, putting on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In everything, y’all should take up the shield of faith with which y’all will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one. And y’all take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
With all prayer and requests, pray at all times in the Spirit, and be watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints. Pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I represent in chains, so that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Final Greetings
So that y’all may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved sibling and faithful deacon in the Lord, will make everything known to y’all. I have sent him to y’all for this very purpose so that y’all may know our state and that he may comfort your* hearts.
Peace be to the siblings, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with indestructible love. Amen.