(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Children and Fathers
- Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- “Honor your father and mother–” (which is the first commandment with a promise)
- “–so it may be well with you, and you will be long-lived on the earth.”1quotation/allusion to Exodus 20:12
- And fathers, don’t provoke or exasperate2“provoke or exasperate… …to anger” is one word in Greek, which means to provoke and/or exasperate someone to anger. your children to anger, but bring them up to maturity by discipline and admonishment in the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
- Slaves, obey your masters in the flesh with fear and trembling in sincerity of your heart, like you do with the Anointed.
- And not only while the master watches3“only while the master watches” is one word in Greek, which literally means “eye-service”. That is, only provide good service while the master watches. like people-pleasers do, but like slaves of the Anointed doing the will of God from the heart,
- serving with goodwill like it’s to the Lord and not to men,
- *knowing that whatever good each man does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether he’s a slave or free.
- And masters, do the same things to them by giving up threatening, *knowing that their master and also yours is in the heavens, and there’s no partiality with Him.
The Armor of God
- From now on, be empowered in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
- Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so you’re able to stand against the deceitful schemes of the Accuser,
- because our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the rulers of this world’s darkness; against the evil spiritual forces in the heavenly places.
- Because of this, take up the full armor of God so you might be able to oppose4The Greek word used here is also a military term referring to troops “holding the line” against the opposing army, typically by fighting back. i.e. taking a firm stand and refusing to be moved. them in the day of evil, and having done all things, to stand firm.
- Therefore stand firm; having girded your loins in truth,5quotation/allusion to Isaiah 11:5 and having clothed yourselves with the breastplate of righteousness,6quotation/allusion to Isaiah 59:17
- and having put your feet in the preparation of the gospel of peace,7quotation/allusion to 52:7
- and in all things,8“in all things” There’s a textual variant here, centering on the preposition that begins the sentence. The Textus Receptus and many later minuscule manuscripts have “ἐπί πᾶσιν”. That could be translated either “above all” indicating importance, or “over all”, being a word picture of soldier holding a shield over his head to protect himself from enemy arrows. Other manuscripts read “ἐν πᾶσιν”, which would mean “in all”, or “in everything”. having taken up the shield of faith; by which you’ll be able to quench all the *flaming arrows of the evil one.
- And welcome the helmet of salvation,9quotation/allusion to Isaiah 59:17 and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s spoken word,10“spoken word” The Greek word used here refers only to words that are spoken, never to words that are written. Most translation add the definite article here (“the” in English) to make it “the word of God”, but the definite article isn’t present here in Greek.
- through all prayer and supplication, praying in every season in the Spirit. And to the same purpose, being vigilant with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
- Also pray for me, so a word might be given to me during the opening of my mouth in boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel,
- for which I’m an ambassador in a chain; so I might be bold in it, as I ought to speak.
Closing
- Now, so you also *know the news concerning me and what I’m doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make all things known to you,
- whom I sent to you for this same purpose: so you might know everything about us and so he might encourage your hearts.
- Peace to the brothers, and ^love with faith from God the Father and the Anointed Lord Jesus.
- Grace be with all the men ^loving our Lord Jesus the Anointed in incorruptible sincerity.
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