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.
Mafundisho Kuhusu Watoto Na Wazazi
16:1 Kol 3:20; Mt 6:20Enyi watoto, watiini wazazi wenu katika Bwana, kwa kuwa hili ni jema. 26:2 Kut 20:12; Kum 5:16; 27:16; Yer 35:18; Eze 22:7; Mal 1:6; Mt 15:4; Mk 7:10“Waheshimu baba yako na mama yako,” hii ndio amri ya kwanza yenye ahadi, 36:3 Kut 20; 12; Kum 5:16“upate baraka na uishi siku nyingi duniani.”
46:4 Kol 3:21; Mit 13:24; 22:6Ninyi akina baba, msiwachokoze watoto wenu, bali waleeni kwa nidhamu na mafundisho ya Bwana.
Mafundisho Kuhusu Watumwa Na Mabwana
56:5 Tit 2:9; Kol 3:22; Efe 5:22Ninyi watumwa, watiini hao walio mabwana zenu hapa duniani kwa heshima na kwa kutetemeka na kwa moyo mmoja, kama vile mnavyomtii Kristo. 66:6 Rum 6:22; Kol 3:22, 23Watiini, si tu wakati wakiwaona ili mpate upendeleo wao, bali mtumike kama watumwa wa Kristo, mkifanya mapenzi ya Mungu kwa moyo. 76:7 Kol 3:23Tumikeni kwa moyo wote, kama vile mnamtumikia Bwana na si wanadamu. 86:8 Kol 3:24Mkijua kwamba Bwana atampa kila mtu thawabu kwa lolote jema alilotenda, kama yeye ni mtumwa au ni mtu huru.
96:9 Ay 31:13, 14Nanyi mabwana, watendeeni watumwa wenu kwa jinsi iyo hiyo. Msiwatishe, kwa kuwa mnajua ya kwamba yeye aliye Bwana wenu na Bwana wao yuko mbinguni, naye hana upendeleo.
Silaha Za Mungu
106:10 Hag 2:4; Efe 1:19Hatimaye, mzidi kuwa hodari katika Bwana na katika uweza wa nguvu zake. 116:11 Rum 13:12Vaeni silaha zote za Mungu ili kwamba mweze kuzipinga hila za ibilisi. 126:12 Efe 1:21; Rum 8:38; Efe 1:3Kwa maana kushindana kwetu si juu ya nyama na damu, bali dhidi ya falme, mamlaka, dhidi ya wakuu wa giza na majeshi ya pepo wabaya katika ulimwengu wa roho. 136:13 Efe 6:11; 2Kor 6:7; 10:4, 11; Efe 5:16Kwa hiyo vaeni silaha zote za Mungu ili mweze kushindana siku ya uovu itakapokuja nanyi mkiisha kufanya yote, simameni imara. 146:14 Isa 1:5; Za 132:9Kwa hiyo simameni imara mkiwa mmejifunga kweli kiunoni na kuvaa dirii ya haki kifuani, 156:15 Isa 52:7; Rum 10:15nayo miguu yenu ifungiwe utayari tuupatao kwa Injili ya amani. 166:16 1Yn 5:4; Mt 5:37Zaidi ya haya yote, twaeni ngao ya imani, ambayo kwa hiyo mtaweza kuizima mishale yote yenye moto ya yule mwovu. 176:17 Isa 59:17; Ebr 4:12Vaeni chapeo ya wokovu na mchukue upanga wa Roho, ambao ni Neno la Mungu. 186:18 Lk 18:1; Mt 26:41; Flp 4:6Mkiomba kwa Roho siku zote katika sala zote na maombi, mkikesha kila wakati mkiwaombea watakatifu wote.
196:19 1The 5:25; Mdo 4:29; 2Kor 3:12Niombeeni na mimi pia, ili kila nifunguapo kinywa changu, nipewe maneno ya kusema, niweze kutangaza siri ya Injili kwa ujasiri, 206:20 2Kor 5:20; Mdo 21:23ambayo mimi ni balozi wake katika vifungo. Ombeni ili nipate kuhubiri kwa ujasiri kama inipasavyo.
Salamu Za Mwisho
216:21 Mdo 20:4Tikiko, aliye ndugu mpendwa na mtumishi mwaminifu katika Bwana, atawaambia kila kitu, ili pia mpate kujua hali yangu na kile ninachofanya sasa. 226:22 Kol 4:7-9Ninamtuma kwenu kwa ajili ya kusudi hili hasa, ili mpate kujua hali yetu, na awatie moyo.
236:23 Gal 6:16; 1Pet 5:14Amani iwe kwa ndugu, na pendo pamoja na imani kutoka kwa Mungu Baba na Bwana Yesu Kristo. 246:24 Tit 2:7; 1Pet 1:8Neema iwe na wote wampendao Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo kwa upendo wa dhati. Amen.
