1The relative duties of children, 4and parents; 5of servants, 9and masters. 10Paul exhorteth the brethren to resist spiritual enemies by putting on the whole armour of God, 18and by perseverance in prayer, which he requireth for all saints, and particularly for himself, that he might preach the gospel with due boldness. 21He commendeth Tychicus, 23and concludeth with good wishes to all sincere Christians.
1CHILDREN,a obey your parents 1in the Lord: for this is right.
a Col. 3:20.
1 As Eph. 5:21, in the fear of God, that is, in everything which is not contrary to the Lord or His command and fear. See Luke 14:26.
2Honourb thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment 2with promise;)
b Exod. 20:12; Deut. 5:16; 27:16; Mat. 15:4; Mark 7:10.
2 Gr. in promise, that is, with a special promise of long life and prosperity. For, else the second commandment has also a general promise of God’s mercy towards many thousands.
3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long 3on the earth.
3 Where the fifth commandment says, upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, having respect to the land of Canaan, this Paul says in general, on the earth, because the Lord under the New Testament has now hallowed all the lands of the entire earth, and promises His blessing to them that obey Him in what land so ever they be. For, godliness has the promise both of the present life and of that to come, 1 Tim. 4:8.
4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children 4to wrath: butc bring them up in 5the nurture and 6admonition of the Lord.
4 That is, by too much harshness to such wrath, as may cause diffidence and obstinacy in the children against their parents; otherwise, God sometimes also commands to use due severity against the great faults of children. See Prov. 13:24; 19:18; 23:13, etc.
c Deut. 6:7, 20; Psalm 78:4; Prov. 19:18; 29:17.
5 Or, chastisement, as this word also signifies. See Heb. 12:7.
6 Or, instruction, which is able to direct them to the fear of the Lord, or such as is taken out of the Word of the Lord.
5Servants,d be obedient to them that are your masters according 7to the flesh, 8with fear 9and trembling, in singleness of your heart, 10as unto Christ;
d Col. 3:22; 1 Tim. 6:1; Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18.
7 That is, according to the body, or according to the outward state of man. For, over the conscience and in spiritual matters, God only is a Lord.
8 That is, with reverence.
9 That is, with carefulness of not provoking them to wrath. For, a slavish fear, proceeding only from the consideration of a prepared punishment, the apostle commends not in Christians, as the following words declare, see Rom. 13:5.
10 Namely, Lord of us all. See Eph. 5:22.
6Not with 11eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing 12the will of God from the heart;
11 That is, serving well only in the presence and before the eyes of their master, as many servants are apt to do; mocking and stealing from them oftentimes behind their back.
12 Namely, by serving faithfully and uprightly. For, that is the will of God concerning servants. Gr. doing the will of God from the soul.
7With good will doing service, as 13to the Lord, and 14not to men:
13 Namely, Christ Jesus, in this your service, as to Him Who has imposed the same upon you in this calling. See John 15:14.
14 Namely, only or principally.
8Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, 15the same 16shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
15 That is, the reward of the same. He speaks here of a reward of grace, as Paul therefore calls this reward of servants which God shall give to them who shall have served faithfully, the reward of the inheritance, Col. 3:24.
16 Or, shall get, or, carry away, namely, in the last judgment. See 2 Cor. 5:10.
9And,e ye masters, 17do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neitherf is there 18respect of persons with him.
e Col. 4:1.
17 Namely, what is good, and is rewarded by the Lord, as he has spoken concerning servants in the previous verse. For, he does not command the masters to obey or to serve their servants, but that they should command and govern them with all equity and gentleness, as the following words declare.
f Deut. 10:17; 2 Chron. 19:7; Job 34:19; Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; Col. 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17.
18 That is, the Lord shall not respect the outward state of man in His judgment, namely, whether anyone is a master or servant, noble or ignoble, rich or poor, but whether he, each one in his calling, has obeyed His commandments. See Rom. 2:11.
10Finally, my brethren, 19be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
19 That is, see you get daily more and more strength through the power of the Lord against your enemies. The means whereof are set down from the 13th verse forwards.
11Putg on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the 20wiles of the devil.
g Col. 3:12; 1 Thes. 5:8.
20 That is, deceitful temptations. See Eph. 4:14.
12For we wrestle 21not against 22flesh and blood, but against 23principalities, againsth powers, against the rulers 24of the darkness of this world, against 25spiritual wickedness 26in high places.
21 Namely, only, or principally. For, the world and our own flesh are also continually fighting against us, but our most important enemy, who also makes use of the world and our flesh for this purpose, is Satan. See 1 Peter 5:8.
22 That is, weak men, as we also are ourselves. See Mat. 16:17; Gal. 1:16.
23 The apostle here gives Satan and his angels these titles, not because they are established by God to be true rulers and governors of the world, as God oftentimes makes us of the service of the good angels, Eph. 1:21; 3:10, but because by the same power, which the good angels have from God, and these have lost by their fall, they are nevertheless used tyrannically, by fraud and force, over the corrupt and wicked world; and that, by the just judgment of God for the punishment of the evil, and exercise of the good, the same is permitted them for a time. See 2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Thes. 2:9, 10. See also the annotations on Eph. 2:2.
h Eph. 2:2.
24 Such the kingdom of Satan is called, because he brings, through incognizance or ignorance of God and His Word, men unto all manner of sin and wickedness. See Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13.
25 Gr. the spiritual ones of malice, that is, spirits which are inclined unto all maliciousness, and seek also to bring people thereunto.
26 Gr. in the heavenly or super-celestial places; this word is differently understood here than in the other places of this epistle, because the air is sometimes called heaven, Lev. 26:19; Mat. 6:26, and the apostle heretofore in Eph. 2:2, expressly names Satan, the prince of the power of the air; for, that Satan has no more place nor power in the true heaven, appears out of 2 Peter 2:4; Jude, verse 6; Rev. 12:8, etc.
13Wherefore take unto you 27thei whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in 28the evil day, and having 29done all, to stand.
27 Or, the entire armament. Namely, wherewith God in His Word arms us against all assaults of Satan.
i 2 Cor. 10:4.
28 That is, the time of temptation, as Christ speaks in Luke 8:13. For, although we must always be upon our guard, yet notwithstanding there are at certain times and occasions, in which Satan most of all seeks to assault us, to bring us to a fall.
29 Or, having overcome, namely, what lies upon us to do in this combat, for the conquering of these enemies, which is afterwards described.
1430Standj therefore, having your 31loins girt about with 32truth, andk having on the breastplate of 33righteousness;
30 Namely, as good soldiers, watchful, and each in his station, without yielding or giving place in the least. See 1 Peter 5:9.
j Luke 12:35; 1 Peter 1:13.
31 The military girdles in former times were broad and strong, made of strong material. And over-laid with iron or copper plates, whereby the weakest part of the body, that is, the loins and upper part of the belly, were girded, stiffened, and protected.
32 Some hereby understand uprightness, in contrast to hypocrisy; others, the truth of doctrine in contrast to all errors and heresies. See 1 Tim. 1:18, 19.
k Isa. 59:17; 2 Cor. 6:7.
33 That is, godliness of life, and a good conscience, as Paul also speaks to Timothy in the place last quoted.
15And your 34feet shod with the 35preparation of the gospel 36of peace;
34 Whereby are also understood the shins or legs up to the knees, which the ancients likewise used to arm all over with small boots and shin-plates, not only against the discomforts of the weather, but also to resist an arrow or blow.
35 That is, being always ready to make profession of the faith and to give account of the hope that is in you, Rom. 10:10; 1 Peter 3:15. For, those who are ashamed or fearful in this point, Satan usually and easily misleads unto grievous sins.
36 That is, whereby peace with God is proclaimed unto us, Rom. 10:15.
16Above all, taking 37the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to 38quench all 39the fiery darts of the wicked.
37 That is, of true confidence in God through Christ. For, hereby are covered all the imperfections of the foresaid weapons, and we are protected against all assaults of Satan, Psalm 91:1, etc.; 1 Peter 5:9, etc.
38 That is, not only keeping them off, but also the taking away of all their fierce and venomous power of doing hurt.
39 Some understand this of poisonous darts, which by their venom inflame the body and the wounds, as with a burning fire, of which sort many were wont to be used in the war in former times; others, of such darts which points were put in the fire, to become the harder, and do the more hurt, or also to shoot fire into any place. All this agrees well with the nature of Satan’s temptations, which, as poison and fire, wound and pierce the soul if they be not stopped and quenched in time.
17Andl take the helmet 40of salvation, andm the sword 41of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
l Isa. 59:17; 1 Thes. 5:8.
40 That is, of the hope of salvation, as Paul adds 1 Thes. 5:8, whereby we are stirred to despise all transitory things, Rom. 8:18, 24.
m Heb. 4:12; Rev. 2:16.
41 That is, of the Holy Spirit, which He does, as it were, put into our hand to resist Satan against all imaginable temptations. See Heb. 4:12, and the example of Christ against Satan, Mat. 4:1, etc.
18Praying alwaysn with all 42prayer and supplication 43in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication 44for all saints;
n Luke 18:1; Rom. 12:12; Col. 4:2; 1 Thes. 5:17.
42 Some distinguish these thus, that by the word prayer is understood a petition to avert evil, or temptations; and by the word supplication, an earnest prayer for God’s help and grace, to the end that, if indeed it would please God to let us fall therein, we may be able to stand in the temptation, and may obtain a good issue, 1 Cor. 10:13. See of this difference also, 1 Tim. 2:1.
43 That is, with earnestness and from the heart, as John 4:24; or, through the Spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit, Rom. 8:26, 27.
44 That is, believers, who are also in the same warfare in this world.
19And foro me, that 45utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
o Acts 4:29; 2 Thes. 3:1.
45 That is, the sufficiency and ability to speak the Word of God with steadfastness and boldness. An Hebraism, as the following verse declares.
20Forp which I am 46an ambassador 47inq bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
p 2 Cor. 5:20.
46 Namely, on behalf of God and Christ, see 2 Cor. 5:19, etc.
47 Of this manner of imprisonment, see the annotation on Acts 28:16.
q Acts 28:20.
21Butr that ye also may know 48my affairs, and how I do, 49Tychicus,s a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
r Col. 4:7.
48 Or, my matters, that is, how matters stand with me here at Rome in my prison, which Luke, Acts 28, briefly relates from verse 16 to the end of the chapter.
49 This Tychicus accompanied Paul everywhere in his travels through Asia, as may be seen, Acts 20:4, and did not forsake him in his imprisonment at Rome, whom Paul also made use of to send unto Ephesus, and other congregations in Asia, for the confirmation of the same. See of him also, Col. 4:7; Titus 3:12.
s Acts 20:4; Col. 4:7; Titus 3:12.
22Whom I have sent untot you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort 50your hearts.
t 2 Tim. 4:12.
50 Namely, not only by other discourses out of God’s Word, as a minister of Christ, but also by the information which he shall give you of the liberty given me by the Emperor in these my bonds.
2351Peace be to the brethren, and 52love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
51 Hereby, according to the phrase of the Hebrews, is understood all manner of happiness in soul and body.
52 That is, increase or growth in love with faith. For, he writes to them who believed already, Eph. 1:1.
24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in 53sincerity. Amen.
53 That is, to the obtaining of incorruptibleness, and the unfading inheritance in heaven, as Peter speaks in 1 Peter 1:4. Others understand by this word sincerity, the uprightness of love, of which he speaks here.