Children and Parents
v.1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
“obey” means to hear under (as a subordinate), to listen attentively, to heed or conform to a command or authority
“in the Lord” means supreme in authority
“right” means equitable in character or act, innocent, holy
For further study: Proverbs 23:22 and Colossians 3:20
v.2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise.
“honour” means to prize, fix a valuation, to revere
“promise” means an announcement for information, assent or pledge, a divine assurance of good
For further study: Exodus 20:12, Deut. 5:16, 27:16, Jeremiah 35:18, Ezekiel 22:7, Malachi 1:6 and Mark 7:10
v.3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
v.4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
“provoke” means to anger alongside, enrage
“nurture” means tutorage, education or training, disciplinary correction
“admonition” means calling attention to, rebuke or warning
For further study: Colossians 3:21, Genesis 18:19, Deut. 4:9, 6:7, 20, 11:19, Psalms 78:4, Proverbs 19:18, 22:6 and 29:17
Servants and Masters
v.5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ;
“servants” means a slave, subjection or subserviency
“fear” means alarm or fright
“trembling” means quaking with fear
“singleness” means sincerity (without dissimulation or self-seeking, or generosity) (copious bestowal)
“heart” means thoughts or feelings
For further study: Colossians 3:22, 1 Timothy 6:1, Titus 2:9, 1 Peter 2:18, 2 Corinthians 7:15, Philippians 2:12, 1 Chronicles 29:17
v.6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
“eyeservice” means sight-labour, that needs watching (remissness)
“menpleasers” means man-courting, fawning
“will” means a determination, active choice, special purpose, decree, volition or inclination
v.7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.
“good will” means kindness, conjugal duty
“service” means to be a slave to
v.8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
“good thing” means something useful and profitable
“receive” means to tend, take care of, to provide for, to carry off from harm
“free” means unrestrained (to go at pleasure), as a citizen and not a slave whether freeborn or manumitted, or exempt from obligation or liability
For further study: Romans 2:6, 2 Cor. 5:10, Col. 3:24, Gal. 3:28 and Col. 3:11
v.9 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.
“forbearing” means to send, to let up, slacken, or desert, desist
“threatening” means a menace
“respect of persons” means partiality, favortism
For further study: Col. 4:1, Lev. 25:43, John 13:13, 1 Cor. 7:22, Rom. 2:11 and Col. 3:25
The Christian’s Armour
v.10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
“strong” means to empower
“power” means vigour
“might” means forcefulness
For further study: Ephesians 1:19, 3:16 and Colossians 1:11
v.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
“wiles” means travelling over, travesty (trickery)
For further study: Romans 13:12, 2 Cor. 6:7, Eph. 6:13 and 1 Thess. 5:8
v.12 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.
“flesh” means implying weakness, frailty, imperfection, both physical and moral
“principalities” means a commencement, or chief in order, time, place or rank
“powers” means ability, privilege, force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control, delegated influence
“rulers” means satan and his angels
“darkness” means a state of moral darkness, wicked men under the influence of satan
“world” means an age, perpetuity
“spiritual” means spiritual forces of wickedness
“wickedness” means depravity, malice, plots, sins
“high” means the lower heavens, the sky or air as the seat of evil spirits
For further study: Matthew 16:17, 1 Cor. 15:50, Romans 8:38, Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 2:15, Luke 22:53, John 12:31, 14:30, Ephesians 2:2 and Colossians 1:13
v.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
“withstand” means to stand against, oppose
“evil” means times that are full of sorrow and affliction
For further study: 2 Cor. 10:4, Eph. 6:11 & 5:16
v.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
“loins” means the hip, procreative power
“girt about” means to gird all around, to fasten on one’s belt
“breastplate” means the chest, a corslet
“righteousness” means equity of character or act, Christian justification
For further study: Isaiah 11:5, Luke 12:35, 1 Peter 1:13, Isaiah 59:17, 2 Cor. 6:7 and 1 Thess. 5:8
v.15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
“shod” means to bind under one’s feet, put on shoes or sandals
“peace” means prosperity
For further study: Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15
v.16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
“faith” means persuasion, credence, moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), reliance upon Christ for salvation, constancy in such profession, the system of gospel truth
“quench” means to extinguish
“fiery” means to kindle, to be ignited, glow, be refined, to be inflamed with anger, grief or lust
“darts” means a missile, spear or arrow
For further study: 1 John 5:4
v.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
“helmet” means encirclement of the head
“sword” means a knife, dirk, war, judicial punishment
For further study: Isaiah 59:17, 1 Thess. 5:8, Hebrews 4:12, Revelation 1:16, 2:16 and 19:15
v.18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
“praying” means to pray to God, supplicate, worship
“supplication” means a petition
“watching” means to be sleepless, keep awake
“perserverance” means persistency
v.19 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,
“utterance” means the power of speech, delivery, oratory, eloquence
“boldly” means all out-spokeness, frankness, bluntness, publicity
“to make known” means spoken of a teacher who unfolds divine things, to announce, declare, proclaim
“mystery” means to shut the mouth, a secret, silence imposed by initiation into religious rites
“gospel” means the gospel plan of salvation, it’s doctrines, declarations, precepts, promises
v.20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
“ambassador” means to be a senior, act as a representative
“bonds” means a fetter or manacle
“boldly” means to be frank in utterance, or confident in spirit and demeanour
Benediction
v.21 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:
“minister” means a Christian teacher
v.22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
v.23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
v.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.