1Children, obey your parents as believers in the Lord. Obey them because it’s the right thing to do. 2Scripture says, “Honor your father and mother.” That is the first commandment that has a promise. 3“Then things will go well with you. You will live a long time on the earth.” (Deuteronomy 5:16)
4Fathers, don’t make your children angry. Instead, instruct them and teach them the ways of the Lord as you raise them.
5Slaves, obey your masters here on earth. Respect them and honor them with a heart that is true. Obey them just as you would obey Christ. 6Don’t obey them only to please them when they are watching. Do it because you are slaves of Christ. Be sure your heart does what God wants. 7Serve your masters with all your heart. Work as serving the Lord and not as serving people. 8You know that the Lord will give each person a reward. He will give it to them in keeping with the good they do. It doesn’t matter whether they are a slave or not.
9Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. When you warn them, don’t be too hard on them. You know that the God who is their Master and yours is in heaven. And he treats everyone the same.
God’s Armor for Believers
10Finally, let the Lord make you strong. Depend on his mighty power. 11Put on all of God’s armor. Then you can remain strong against the devil’s evil plans. 12Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world. 13So put on all of God’s armor. Evil days will come. But you will be able to stand up to anything. And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing. 14So remain strong in the faith. Put the belt of truth around your waist. Put the armor of godliness on your chest. 15Wear on your feet what will prepare you to tell the good news of peace. 16Also, pick up the shield of faith. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Put on the helmet of salvation. And take the sword of the Holy Spirit. The sword is God’s word.
18At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit. Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19Pray also for me. Pray that whenever I speak, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news. 20Because of the good news, I am being held by chains as the Lord’s messenger. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That’s what I should do.
Final Greetings
21Tychicus is a dear brother. He is faithful in serving the Lord. He will tell you everything about me. Then you will know how I am and what I am doing. 22That’s why I am sending him to you. I want you to know how we are. And I want him to encourage you.
23May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give peace to the brothers and sisters. May they also give the believers love and faith.
24May grace be given to everyone who loves our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that will never die.
父慈子孝
1你們為人子女的，要按主的旨意聽從父母，這是理所當然的。 2因為第一條帶著應許的誡命就是：「要孝敬父母， 3使你在世上蒙祝福、享長壽。」 4你們為人父母的不要激怒兒女，要照主的教導和警戒養育他們。
主僕之間
5你們作奴僕的，要戰戰兢兢、誠誠實實、懷著敬畏的心服從你們肉身的主人，就像服從基督一樣。 6不要只做一些討好人的表面工夫，要像基督的奴僕一樣從心裡遵行上帝的旨意。 7要甘心樂意地工作，像是在事奉主，不是在服侍人。 8要知道：不管是奴僕還是自由人，每個人所做的善事都會得到主的獎賞。 9你們作主人的也一樣，要善待奴僕，不可威嚇他們。要知道你們主僕同有一位在天上的主人，祂不偏待人。
上帝所賜的軍裝
10最後，你們要靠著主和祂的大能大力作剛強的人， 11要穿戴上帝所賜的全副軍裝，以便能夠抵擋魔鬼的陰謀。 12因為我們爭戰的對象不是這世上的血肉之軀，而是在這黑暗世界執政的、掌權的、管轄的和天上屬靈的邪惡勢力。 13因此，你們要用上帝所賜的全副軍裝裝備自己，好在邪惡的時代抵擋仇敵，到爭戰結束後依舊昂首挺立。 14務要站穩，用真理當作帶子束腰，以公義當作護心鏡遮胸， 15把和平的福音當作鞋子穿在腳上準備行動。 16此外，還要拿起信心的盾牌，好滅盡惡者一切的火箭。 17要戴上救恩的頭盔，緊握聖靈的寶劍——上帝的話。 18要靠著聖靈隨時多方禱告和祈求，警醒不怠地為眾聖徒禱告。 19也請你們為我禱告，求上帝賜我口才，讓我勇敢地把福音的奧祕講解明白。 20我為傳福音成了披枷帶鎖的使者。請你們為我禱告，使我能盡忠職守，放膽傳福音。
問候
21至於我的近況，推基古會詳細告訴各位。他是主內親愛的弟兄和忠心的僕人。 22我特地派他去你們那裡，好讓你們知道我們的近況，並且叫他去安慰和鼓勵你們。
23願父上帝和主耶穌基督賜給各位弟兄姊妹平安、愛心和信心！ 24願所有忠貞地愛我們主耶穌基督的人都蒙恩典！
