Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Ephesians
Chapter 6: The Whole Armour of God
Ephesians 6 completes the Spirit-filled walk in the home and on the battlefield. Children are to 'obey your parents in the Lord,' and fathers to 'bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' Servants serve 'as unto Christ... doing the will of God from the heart,' and masters treat them justly, 'knowing that your Master also is in heaven.' Then Paul sounds the call to battle: 'be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.' For 'we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers.' He names each piece, truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and 'the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,' and calls for constant prayer 'in the Spirit.' The letter closes with peace, love, and grace 'to all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.' The chapter shows us godly homes, spiritual warfare, and standing firm in the strength of the Lord.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Ephesians chapter 6, the final chapter of the epistle. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Paul orders the Christian home, calls believers to put on the whole armour of God, and closes the letter with peace, love, and grace. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Children and Parents
Children obey, and fathers train them in the Lord.
As Unto Christ
Servants and masters serve one Master in heaven.
The Whole Armour of God
Put on God's armor to stand against the devil.
The Sword of the Spirit
The word of God and prayer in the Spirit.
Serving as Unto Christ (Ephesians 6:1-9)
Children, parents, servants, and masters all live before one Master in heaven, doing the will of God from the heart.
The Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him."
Word Study
"nurture," Greek paideia (παιδεία). The word means the training and discipline of a child, upbringing, instruction that shapes character; it is used of the Lord's own discipline of His children (Hebrews 12:5-11). "Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Fathers are charged not merely to feed and house their children but to raise them, to shape them through loving training and correction, "of the Lord", that is, according to God's truth and toward God. The paideia is balanced by the warning just before it: "provoke not your children to wrath." Godly training is firm but not harsh, disciplined but not embittering; it corrects without crushing. The goal is to bring children up knowing and loving the Lord, forming them by instruction and example in His ways. This is the sacred task of Christian parents, and especially fathers: not to exasperate their children, but to nurture them in the truth and admonition of the Lord, so that the faith is passed on and the child is shaped for God. Raising children is a discipleship, a paideia in the Lord.
Explanation
The household code continues. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord," the first commandment "with promise." "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath," but nurture them "in the... admonition of the Lord." "Servants, be obedient... as unto Christ," working "as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." And masters are to "do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening" — for both slave and master have the same "Master... in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him." The gospel does not overturn every earthly station at a stroke, but it levels them before God and transforms them from within.
Gospel Focus
The Spirit-filled, mutually submissive life continues into the household. To children: "obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right," and "honour thy father and mother," which Paul notes is "the first commandment with promise," a promise of blessing and long life. Obedience and honor to parents are right and God-blessed. To fathers: a double charge, negative and positive. "Provoke not your children to wrath", do not exasperate them with harshness, favoritism, or unreasonable demands, "but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Fathers are to raise their children with loving discipline and instruction centered on God. Then Paul addresses servants and masters, transforming even slavery in that culture by the lordship of Christ. Servants are to obey "as unto Christ," "not with eyeservice, as menpleasers," working only when watched, "but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." Their true Master is Christ, so they serve "with good will... as to the Lord, and not to men," knowing that whatever good they do, "the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free." The lowest servant works for the highest Master and will be rewarded by Him. And masters are told to "do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening," treating their servants justly and kindly, "knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him." The master has a Master, and God shows no partiality between master and servant. So the whole household, children and parents, servants and masters, is reordered by one truth: all live before the one Lord in heaven, serving Him from the heart. The gospel does not merely change private devotion but transforms every relationship, as each person does the will of God from the heart, as unto Christ.
Put On the Whole Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-24)
Against unseen spiritual foes, believers put on the whole armor of God, stand firm, and pray always in the Spirit.
The Sword of the Spirit, Which Is the Word of God
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."
Word Study
"whole armour," Greek panoplia (πανοπλία). The word joins pas, all, with hopla, weapons or armor; it means the full equipment of a soldier, the complete set of armor and weapons; from it comes our word "panoply." "Put on the whole armour of God." Paul does not offer a piece or two but the complete outfit God provides, and he insists on the whole of it, for a soldier with a gap in his armor is exposed at that point. The panoplia is "of God", it is His armor, supplied by Him and, in truth, the very graces of Christ: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. The battle is not against human enemies, "not against flesh and blood," but against unseen spiritual powers, "principalities... powers... the rulers of the darkness of this world... spiritual wickedness in high places." Such foes cannot be met with human strength or weapons, but only with God's full armor, and by standing "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Note the repeated aim: to "stand," to "withstand," and "having done all, to stand." The armor is largely for holding ground against the enemy's assaults. Put on the whole of it, leave no part off, and stand firm in the strength of the Lord.
Explanation
The letter ends on a battlefield: "be strong in the Lord... put on the whole armour of God." The real enemy is not human — "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities... spiritual wickedness in high places." Piece by piece Paul names the armor: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, "above all, the shield of faith," the helmet of salvation, and "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" — and over it all, "praying always." The Christian's stance is not attack but to "stand," clothed in God's own armor, holding the ground Christ has won.
Gospel Focus
Paul ends the letter with a call to war. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." The Christian's strength is not his own but the Lord's; we fight from His power. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." The enemy is real and crafty, and he attacks with "wiles," schemes and deceptions. And the conflict is spiritual: "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Our true enemies are not people but unseen powers of darkness; so we need armor no human forge can make. Paul names each piece: "loins girt about with truth", the truth of God holding everything together; "the breastplate of righteousness", the righteousness of Christ guarding the heart; "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace", ready to stand and to advance in the peace the gospel brings; "above all, the shield of faith", faith that "quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked," the flaming accusations and temptations of the enemy; "the helmet of salvation", the assurance of salvation guarding the mind; and "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God", the one offensive weapon, the Scripture, wielded by the Spirit, with which Jesus Himself repelled the tempter. And over the whole armor, prayer: "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." The armored soldier fights on his knees, in constant, watchful, Spirit-led prayer, for himself and for all God's people. Paul asks prayer even for himself, "an ambassador in bonds," that he might "make known the mystery of the gospel" with boldness. He commends Tychicus, who will bring them news and "comfort your hearts." And the great letter closes as it began, in blessing: "peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Peace, love, faith, and grace, all from the one God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, rest on all who love Him in sincerity. So be strong in the Lord, put on His whole armor, stand firm against the powers of darkness, pray always in the Spirit, and rest in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapter 6 in Review
Ephesians 6 completes the walk of the Spirit-filled life in the home and in spiritual battle. Children "obey your parents in the Lord," and fathers "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Servants serve "as unto Christ... doing the will of God from the heart," and masters deal justly, "knowing that your Master also is in heaven." Then Paul sounds the call to arms: "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God," for "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers." He names the armor, truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God", and calls for constant prayer "in the Spirit." The letter closes in "peace... love with faith... grace... from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
For the Apostolic reader this final chapter grounds the whole Christian life, home and warfare alike, in the lordship and strength of Christ. Every relationship is reordered before the one Master in heaven: children and parents, servants and masters, all serving God from the heart. And the believer is called to a real spiritual war, not against people but against unseen powers of darkness, which cannot be fought in human strength. So we are to be strong in the Lord and put on His whole armor, leaving no part off, standing firm in truth and righteousness and faith and salvation, wielding the one weapon, the word of God, by the Spirit, and covering it all with constant, watchful prayer. The strength is His, the armor is His, the victory is His. So stand firm in the strength of the Lord, take the whole armor of God, pray always in the Spirit, and rest in His grace, for grace is with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
- Children obey and honor parents; fathers train them "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (6:1-4).
- Servants and masters serve one Master in heaven, "doing the will of God from the heart" (6:5-9).
- "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (6:10).
- "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers" (6:12).
- Put on the whole armor and take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (6:11, 17).
- Pray "always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (6:18).
Questions for Reflection
- Do you serve, work, and lead "as unto Christ," before your Master in heaven?
- Do you recognize that your real battle is spiritual, not against people?
- Have you put on the "whole" armor of God, leaving no part off?
- Is constant prayer "in the Spirit" covering your spiritual warfare?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Children, parents, and the home: Ephesians 6:1-4; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Colossians 3:20-21; Proverbs 22:6. Servants and masters serving Christ: Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-4:1; 1 Peter 2:18; Deuteronomy 10:17. The whole armour of God; spiritual warfare: Ephesians 6:10-17; Isaiah 59:17; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Romans 13:12. Prayer in the Spirit; the closing blessing: Ephesians 6:18-24; Colossians 4:2-4; Jude 20; Philippians 4:7. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Children, parents, servants, masters, serving as unto Christ: Ephesians 6:1-9; Colossians 3:20-4:1.
- The whole armour of God; spiritual warfare: Ephesians 6:10-17; Isaiah 59:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8.
- Prayer in the Spirit; peace, love, and grace: Ephesians 6:18-24; Colossians 4:2-4; Jude 20.