Djeca i roditelji
1Djeco, slušajte svoje roditelje jer ste Gospodinovi i jer je tako pravedno. 2“Poštuj oca i majku!” To je prva od Deset Božjih zapovijedi, popraćena obećanjem: 3“Da ti bude dobro i da dugo živiš na zemlji.”6:2-3 Izlazak 20:12.
4A vi, očevi, ne ogorčujte svoju djecu, nego ih odgajajte Gospodnjom stegom i urazumljivanjem.
Robovi i gospodari
5Robovi, pokoravajte se svojim gospodarima sa strahopoštovanjem i služite im iskreno, kao Kristu. 6Nemojte raditi samo dok vas vide, samo da ugodite gospodaru, nego kao Kristovi robovi zdušno ispunjajte Božju volju. 7Služite dragovoljno kao da služite Gospodinu, a ne ljudima. 8Znajte da će Gospodin nagraditi svakoga tko čini dobro, bio on rob ili slobodan čovjek.
9I vi, gospodari, također tako postupajte prema robovima. Nemojte im prijetiti. Ne zaboravite da na nebesima imate istoga Gospodara i da on nije pristran.
Božja bojna oprema
10Budite ubuduće jaki u Gospodinu i u njegovoj silnoj moći. 11Navucite svu Božju bojnu opremu da se možete suprotstaviti đavolskim lukavštinama. 12Jer ne borimo se protiv ljudi od krvi i mesa, nego protiv nevidljivih zlih vladara i vlasti koji vladaju ovim našim mračnim svijetom; protiv zloduha koji borave u nebeskim prostorima.
13Zato stavite na sebe svu Božju opremu da se u zlo vrijeme uspijete oduprijeti neprijatelju i održati se kad sve nadvladate. 14Stojte dakle čvrsto. Opašite svoje bokove istinom. Obucite oklop pravednosti. 15Noge obujte u spremnost za evanđelje, za mir. 16U svemu imajte uza se štit vjere da njime možete ugasiti vatrene strijele Zloga. 17Uzmite kacigu spasenja i mač Duha, to jest Božju riječ. 18Uvijek i u svakoj prigodi molite se u Svetome Duhu. Budno i ustrajno se molite za sve svete.
19Molite se Bogu i za mene da mi dade prave riječi dok hrabro obznanjujem tajnu Radosne vijesti. 20Sada sam, zato što ju propovijedam kao Božji poslanik, u okovima. Molite se da i dalje o njoj govorim hrabro, kako valja.
Završni pozdravi
21Da biste znali što je sa mnom i kako mi je, sve će vam ispričati moj voljeni brat Tihik, vjerni sluga Gospodnji. 22Šaljem ga k vama baš zato da znate kako smo i da vas ohrabri.
23Draga braćo, neka vam Bog dade mir, ljubav i vjeru našega Boga Oca i Gospodina Isusa Krista. 24Neka je Božja milost sa svima koji ljube našega Gospodina Isusa Krista vječnom ljubavlju.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2‘Honour your father and mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise – 3‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’6:3 Deut. 5:16
4Fathers,6:4 Or Parents do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.
The armour of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final greetings
21Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23Peace to the brothers and sisters,6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family. and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
