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Outline and Comments on Chapter Six I. Parent-child relationships. 6:1-4
A. Children obey parents in the Lord. 6:1
a. For this is right. 6:1
1. Children to honor their father and mother. 6:2
a. Honor involves not only respect, but also
assistance in providing their needs when
necessary.
b. First commandment with promise. 6:2
c. That it may be well with thee. 6:3
d. That thou mayest live long on the earth. 6:3
B. Fathers not to provoke their children to wrath.
(Create in them a rebellious spirit). 6:4
1. Fathers to bring up their children in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord. 6:4
II. Servant and master relationships. 6:5-9
A. Servants to be obedient to them that are their
masters according to the flesh. 6:5
1. Obey with fear and trembling. 6:5
2. Obey with singleness of heart. 6:5
3. Obey with singleness. 6:5
4. Obey not with eye service as men pleasers. 6:6
5. Obey as the servants of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart. 6:7
6. Obey with good will (cheerfulness) as to the
Lord, and not to men. 6:7
7. Obey knowing that whatsoever good thing any man
doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.
6:8
a. This is true whether a man be bond (slave) or
free (hired). 6:8
B. Master’s are to do likewise unto their servants
(slaves). 6:9
1. Forbear threatening. 6:9
a. Knowing that they have a Master in heaven to
whom they must give an accounting. 6:9
b. There is no respect of persons with their
Master in heaven. 6:9
III. Christians are to be strong in the Lord and the power
of his might. 6:10-17
A. Put on the whole armour of God. 6:11
1. That they might be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. 6:11
2. That they might be able to withstand in the evil
day. 6:13
3. That have done all, they may be able to stand.
6:13
B. The Christian warfare.
1. Not against flesh and blood (not carnal) 6:12
2. Against principalities and powers. 6:12
3. Against the rulers of the darkness of this
world. 6:12
4. Against spiritual wickedness in high places.
6:12
a. Their warfare was against Satan and his
instruments, whether they be governments,
powers of wicked men in general. Those who
everywhere opposed the gospel and persecuted
those who obeyed it.
b. The armour and weapons of the Christian
warfare are described in 6:14-17.
C. The Items of the Christian armour. 6:14-17
1. Loins girt about with truth. 6:14
a. Truth is necessary to the Christian life.
John 8:32
b. Error and deceit will not do. John 8:32; 2
Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Peter 3:17
2. Breastplate of righteousness. 6:14
a. Cf. Luke 1:6
b. Righteous by doing God’s will. Psalm 119:172;
1 John 1:7, 9
3. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of
peace. 6:15
a. the thought is preparedness.
b. A knowledge of the Scriptures.
c. Ready to give answer. 1 Peter 3:15
4. Shield of faith. 6:16
a. Strong faith is essential. Romans 10:17; 1
Corinthians 15:58
b. A strong faith will enable one to quench all
the fiery darts of the wicked. 6:16
5. Helmet of salvation. 6:17
a. A scriptural assurance of salvation protects
the Christian and encourages him to fight
with confidence and joy.
6. Sword of the Spirit. 6:17
a. “Which is the word of God.” 6:17
b. The word of God is the agency or
instrumentality by or through which the
Spirit cuts, pricks or operates upon the
heart of man. Acts 2:37-38; Hebrews 4:12
c. The word of God is the weapon of the
Christian warfare. Hence, they need to learn
to use it effectively.
IV. Paul admonishes Christians to pray for all saints and
himself in particular. 6:18-19
A. Manner of praying:
1. Pray always. 6:18-19
2. Pray will all prayer and supplication in the
spirit. 6:18 (Fervency)
3. Watching in prayer with all perseverance
(steadfastness) and supplication. 6:18
B. Things for which they were to pray. 6:19-20
1. That utterance may be given me. 6:19
a. That he might have opportunity to preach the
gospel.
b. That he might be bold to preach the gospel as
he ought to do. 6:19-20
V. Paul sends Tychicus unto Ephesus. 6:21
A. So that they might know of his affairs and state.
6:21-22.
B. That he might comfort their hearts. 6:22
VI. Paul concludes with a prayer on their behalf. 6:23-24.
A. Peace be to the brethren from God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ. 6:23
B. Love with faith to the brethren from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. 6:23
C. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity. 6:24
Howard I. See © 1970 Top of the page |
