| Children obey your fathers and mothers in the Lord: for so is it right. Honour thy father and mother, that is the first commandment that hath any promise, that thou mayst be in good estate, and live long on the earth. And ye fathers move not your children to wrath: but bring them up with the nurture and information of the Lord. Servants be obedient unto your carnal masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ: not with service in the eye sight, as men pleasers: but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart with good will serving the Lord, and not men. And remember that whatsoever good thing any man doeth that shall he receive again of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And ye masters, do even the same things unto them, putting away threatenings: and remember that even your master also is in heaven, neither is there any respect of person with him.
Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the armour of God, that ye may stand steadfast against the crafty assaults of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood: but against rule, against power, and against worldly rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness, for heavenly things.
For this cause take unto you the armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand perfect in all things.
Stand therefore, and your loins girt about with verity, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and shod with shoes prepared by the Gospell of peace. Above all take to you the shield of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. And pray always with all manner prayer and supplication: and that in the spirit: and watch thereunto with all instance and supplication for all saints and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to utter the secrets of the Gospell, whereof I am a messenger in bonds, that therein I may speak freely, as it becometh me to speak.
But that ye may also know that condition I am in and what I do, Tichicus my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall show you of all things, whom I sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know what case I stand in, and that he might comfort your hearts.
Peace be with the brethren, and love with faith, from God the father and from the Lord Jesu Christ. Grace be with all them which love our Lord Jesus Christ in pureness. Amen. |
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