Children and Parents
1 Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first commandment with a promise says, 2 “Obey your father and your mother, 3 and you will have a long and happy life.”
4 Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, you must obey your earthly masters. Show them great respect and be as loyal to them as you are to Christ. 6 Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. You are slaves of Christ, so with your whole heart you must do what God wants you to do. 7 Gladly serve your masters, as though they were the Lord himself, and not simply people. 8 You know that you will be rewarded for any good things you do, whether you are slaves or free.
9 Slave owners, you must treat your slaves with this same respect. Don't threaten them. They have the same Master in heaven that you do, and he doesn't have favorites.
The Fight against Evil
10 Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks. 12 We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. 13 So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.
14 Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God's justice protect you like armor. 15 Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. 16 Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Let God's saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God's message that comes from the Spirit.
18 Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people. 19 Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I may fearlessly explain the mystery about the good news. 20 I was sent to do this work, and this is the reason I am in jail. So pray that I will be brave and will speak as I should.
Final Greetings
21-22 I want you to know how I am getting along and what I am doing. This is why I am sending Tychicus to you. He is a dear friend, as well as a faithful servant of the Lord. He will tell you how I am doing, and he will cheer you up.
23 I pray that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give peace, love, and faith to every follower! 24 May God be kind to everyone who keeps on loving our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bērniem un vecākiem
1 Bērni, esiet paklausīgi saviem vecākiem Kungā, jo tas ir taisni. 2 Godā savu tēvu un māti, šis ir pirmais bauslis ar apsolījumu: 3 lai tev labi klātos un tu ilgi dzīvotu virs zemes. 4 Jūs, tēvi, netramdiet savus bērnus, bet audziniet viņus ar Kunga doto audzināšanu un pamācību.
Kalpiem un kungiem
5 Jūs, kalpi, ar bijību un trīsām sirds skaidrībā klausiet saviem laicīgajiem kungiem kā Kristum; 6 neesiet tādi, kas kalpo tikai acu priekšā, gribēdami izpatikt cilvēkiem, bet kā Kristus kalpi, pildīdami Dieva gribu no sirds. 7 Labprātīgi kalpodami, jūs kalposiet nevis cilvēkiem, bet Kungam, 8 zinādami, ka ikviens, kas dara labu, saņems to pašu pretī no Kunga – vai vergs vai brīvais. 9 Arī jūs, kungi, izturieties pret viņiem tāpat; atmetiet draudus, zinādami, ka gan viņiem, gan jums ir Kungs Debesīs, un viņš neuzlūko cilvēku pēc viņa ārienes.
Bruņojieties ar Dieva ieročiem!
10 Un beidzot – esiet stipri Kungā un viņa spēka varenībā! 11 Bruņojieties ar visiem Dieva ieročiem, lai jūs varētu stāties pretī velna viltībām, 12 jo mūsu cīņa nav pret miesu un asinīm, bet pret varām un spēkiem, pret šīs tumsas pasaules valdniekiem un ļaunuma gara spēkiem debesīs. 13 Ņemiet visus Dieva ieročus, lai jūs varētu stāties pretī ļaunajā dienā un, visu pārvarējuši, pastāvēt! 14 Tad nu stāviet stingri, apjozušies ar patiesību, aplikuši taisnības bruņas 15 un apāvuši kājas, lai būtu gatavi cīņai par miera evaņģēliju! 16 Pie visa tā vēl satveriet ticības vairogu, ar kuru nodzēst visas ļaunā ugunīgās bultas, 17 uzlieciet pestīšanas bruņucepuri un tveriet Gara zobenu – Dieva vārdu! 18 Ar lūgšanām un aizlūgšanām lūdziet Dievu Garā ik brīdi! Esiet pastāvīgi nomodā un nepārtrauktā lūgšanā par visiem svētajiem, 19 arī par mani, lai Dievs man dotu īstos vārdus, kad man jāatdara mute, lai drosmīgi sludinātu evaņģēlija noslēpumu. 20 Kā vēstnesis es to sludinu, važās kalts; lai tad esmu bez bailēm, kā man tas pienākas.
Atvadu sveicieni
21 Bet, lai arī jūs zinātu, kā man klājas un ko es daru, tad visu to jums darīs zināmu Tihiks, mīļais brālis un uzticamais kalps Kungā. 22 Viņu es tādēļ pie jums esmu sūtījis, lai jūs uzzinātu, kā man klājas, un lai viņš mierinātu jūsu sirdis. 23 Miers brāļiem un mīlestība līdz ar ticību no Dieva Tēva un Kunga Jēzus Kristus! 24 Žēlastība lai visiem, kas mīl mūsu Kungu Jēzu Kristu ar neiznīcīgu mīlestību!
