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Eph.6:1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, Just as a sculptor, reproducing the figure of a human body, first creates the head, then the neck and finally the legs; so Paul, having spoken of the husband as the first beginning, and the wife as the second beginning, now speaks of the third beginning—children. For the husband alone rules over the wife, and the wife also rules over the children. So, “obey,” he says, “to your parents,” but “in the Lord,” that is, when their commands agree with the law of the Lord. Because if a father encourages wickedness: or wants to make his daughter corrupt, or wants to teach his son a shameful course of action, such commands are disgusting to the Lord, and they should not be obeyed. for this is what justice demands. Eph.6:2. Honor your father and mother, this is the first commandment with a promise: And by nature, he says, this is fair and commanded by law. How does he say that this is the first commandment? After all, it’s not this first commandment, but: “Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery.” But notice that he added: “with promise.” For those first commandments do not speak of promise and reward, because they contain a prohibition of evil, and not a command to do good; and there is no reward for anyone who only abstains from evil. This same commandment, since it concerns the doing of good, is the first and contains a promise. And wonderful order. As soon as the legislator turned people away from evil deeds, he, intending to lead them to perform good deeds, put respect for parents in the first place. Since they are the first benefactors for us after God, as sources of life, then in justice let them be the first to enjoy our fruits. Eph.6:3. May it be good for you and you will live long on earth. Look how briefly and little he speaks in this case, because children are not able to follow lengthy speech. Moreover, even if the husband conforms to the laws that he outlined above, a little work is needed to subjugate the children. But he does not talk about the Kingdom or anything sublime, but points to what the child’s soul especially wants to hear; because his word is to children. What is more pleasant for longevity for children? Once upon a time this was determined by law for the Jews as children, since they were not able to hear something more perfect. Eph.6:4. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children, Didn't say: love; because nature requires this from them even against their will, but: “do not irritate”, that is, do not deprive them of their share and inheritance, do not rudely oppress them, treating them not as freemen, but as slaves, and constantly be patient with them. but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Goes back to the beginning and foundation of obedience and shows fathers how they can make their children obedient. For if you, he says, want your children to obey you, educate them in the word of God, and do not say that the job of monks is to read the Divine Scripture. For this is the duty of every Christian, and especially those living in the world, since they need more help, as those living in the midst of everyday unrest. Just as you need the children to listen to the Scriptures; from this they can learn: “honor your father and your mother.” Then, you raise your son on Hellenic works, from which all the worst is learned, but will you not feed him with the word of God? Eph.6:5. Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh Since the virtue of servants also contributes to the improvement of the house, he does not ignore this aspect, but comes to it last, because it is the last in its dignity. But he speaks to them not as foolish children, but as perfect ones, as we will indicate ahead. Obey, he says, the masters according to the flesh, that is, the temporary ones. Now he consoles them, pointing out that slavery is temporary and is destroyed along with the flesh. with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, like Christ, Regarding the wife, he simply said: “let her fear her husband,” but here it is more strongly expressed: for trembling is the highest degree of fear. For a wife is equal to her husband and free, but slaves are not equal. Although they are brothers in Christ, since he commands that the free should submit to each other, even the wife to her husband, then how much more should slaves submit to their masters. For this is not some kind of humiliating thing, but on the contrary, the highest nobility - to be able to humble yourself and yield to your neighbor. And since many of the slaves fear their masters not out of favor, but secretly deceive and plot against them, he adds: “in the simplicity of the heart,” eliminating the malice. Eph.6:6. not with only apparent helpfulness, like people-pleasers, That is, not only in the presence and before the eyes of the masters, but also in their absence, serve them in this way. A man-pleaser does not serve Christ, as he says elsewhere: “If I were still a people pleaser, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10). doing the will of God from the heart, Eph.6:7. serving with zeal, Since you can serve in simplicity of heart and sincerely, but not with all your strength, performing only some specific task; that is why he now adds: “from the soul,” that is, from all his strength and readiness; even “with zeal,” that is, with all devotion and desire, and not under compulsion. In this case, the baseness of slavery is eliminated if the slaves voluntarily do good and do not wait for coercion and beatings. The will of God either calls submission (for this is what God desires, that is, good order), or it says: in this, slaves, obey your masters, which is what God desires. For it may happen that it is also said about children: masters encourage them to do something shameful or to wickedness, and this is not the divine will. as the Lord, and not as men, For God Himself accepts favor towards the masters, since He also established this good order, and he who does not serve them as he should opposes the divine law. Eph.6:8. knowing that everyone will receive from the Lord according to the good he has done, whether slave or free. Since, probably, many of the masters - Greeks and unbelievers - did not do any kindness to the slaves who served them well, he says: if you do not receive a reward from a master in the flesh, then you will receive it from the Lord of all. And here he showed that he spoke to them as if they were perfect, and not as with children. For he pointed out to the children earthly longevity, and with this he pointed to the future. Eph.6:9. And you, gentlemen, do the same with them, "Likewise." How? Serve willingly and not as people-pleasers, but with fear and trembling, that is, in relation to God. For although he did not directly express this in words, he desires this. After all, the master also serves the slave, taking care of him and providing him with everything he needs and generally supporting him and condescending to him, and, as Solomon says: sharing his work with him. But listen to what it says next: He did not say: leaving the scourge, but: even “severity”, and even more so punishment, that is, do not be cruel in threats. Eph.6:9. Knowing that there is a Lord in heaven both over you and over them 14, Look how intimidating it is. For the Lord says: “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2). Don’t you hear: “Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me; Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your companion?” (Matthew 18:32–33). with whom there is no partiality. Do not think, he says, that if you are cruel to your slave, you will not give an answer before God due to the insignificance of this person (slave). This is characteristic of external laws, which know the difference between nobility and slavery, because these laws come from people. But this is not the case here, because you yourself are a slave of the same Lord, even if you were cruel towards the slave: for from the beginning God did not create slavery, but it was created by covetousness (so in relation to captives) and insult to parents, as happened with Canaan. But even if it did not come from God, God legitimizes submission for the sake of improvement, and so that life is not burdened with blood. Eph.6:10. Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Everyone’s home is like an army: therefore, having put all the forces in order, he leads them out to war. For if each individual does not violate his own order, then military affairs will be in a good position. And since he has already put many things in order that seemed out of order, do not be afraid, he says, but be confident in the strength of the Lord. For He has not just strength, but “the power of strength,” that is, He has ineffable power that overcomes everything. Eph.6:11. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can stand against the wiles of the devil, What the whole weapon consists of will be shown a little later. But notice why he didn’t say: battles or wars, but “machinations.” "Pilots" are seduction and entrapment through cunning. For the enemy does not openly offer sin, for example, he does not openly incline towards idolatry, but he encourages it in a different way, by deceit, that is, by speaking truthfully and using cunning. Paul, by indicating that the enemy is terrible and cunning, encourages them and encourages them to be careful. Eph.6:12. because our struggle is not against flesh and blood, And he doesn’t say this to incite fear, but in order to make people attentive. For he who points out the strength of the enemy thereby makes his own more cautious. We are dealing, he says, not with an ordinary enemy, and not with people similar and equal to us. but against the authorities, against the authorities, Just as God has beginning and power, so the arrogant tyrant has established similar orders for himself. Not in the sense of the owners of the world or the creature. Because Scripture usually calls “the world” evil deeds and those who commit them, as in the expression: “you are not of the world” (John 15:19), that is, not from among those who do evil. Demons possess the same things because they voluntarily gave themselves into slavery to them. Darkness refers to obscenity that appears and exists in this age, but does not extend further. That's what he calls demons. And since angels are spirits, he added “malice”; because they are spirits of goodness and light. Saying that we are not at war with flesh and blood, through contrast he makes it clear that we are at war with the mobile, invincible in deceit and difficult to catch. under heaven (έν τοις έπουρανίοις). Through this, it again encourages the listener to be cheerful. The danger, he says, is in a great matter, for the matter is not about earthly and perishable things, but about heavenly things. The preposition “in” (έν) is used instead of “for” and “for the sake of” (διά), as if saying: we are fighting for the sake of heaven, and therefore we need to be vigilant. Eph.6:13. For this purpose take on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day That is, in the present age, because he calls it an evil day because of the evil deeds committed in it. It also encourages us by pointing out that the time of struggle is short. For, calling it a day, indicates its brevity. and, having overcome everything, stand. Having overcome all passions and shameful desires, that is, having won and killed. And since many fell even after the victory, he says: “stand.” And after victory, firmness is needed so that the defeated does not rebel again in war. For if we indulge in carelessness, the killed enemy will certainly come to life again. Note that it is possible to overcome and stand firm, and we should not then become cowardly under the pretext that our enemies are powerful. For we have been given such strength and we have been taught such art that we can fight with demons, and even more - not only fight, but be so terrible for demons, according to the power of the One who dwells in us, that we do not need to fight, but simply trample on snakes and scorpions. Paul says this because their opponents were numerous, teaching that through these demons fight against us. Therefore, do not be angry with people, but arm yourself against demons. Eph.6:14. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with the truth. In the matter of war, the first thing is to be able to stand well; Therefore, Paul first of all advises regarding standing, demanding that it be correct, befitting soldiers - straight. For he who stands properly stands erect, without bending towards anything, just as he who does not stand is not erect; for example, a person who is lusty, money-loving and lives luxuriously does not stand upright, but leans towards something. After standing, he girds the warrior, of course, in the spiritual sense, and the one who is blurred and relaxed from wishes, fastens it, tightening it with a belt. “Loins” refers to spiritual courage and all-bearing strength. Just as the bottom of ships, so the loins of animals form a kind of foundation. That’s why we often rest from fatigue by placing our hands on our loins. The same is the position of the spiritual loins, which the apostle commands to be girded with the truth, which is contained both in doctrine and in life. For none of the heretics gird themselves with the truth, but they revolve below, near the earth, not being able to comprehend anything sublime, but with human thoughts, spinning downwards, they explore the divine. Moreover, not being firm in life, and submitting to the deceptions of the world, they not only do not gird themselves with the truth, but, having fallen low, even crave lies. But we should not be like that, but follow the truth in everything: whether this is a teaching, we must look for the truth in it, whether there will be life, in exactly the same way. We must be unhypocritical, free from deceit, and not allow lies to each other. If we are thus girded, we will be able to strive towards the goal; with this girdle he lets us know that we must always be armed, as David says: “like a belt with which one is always girded” (Ps. 109:19); for we are in a constant war. Gregory the Theologian, by the loins, we mean the desirable ability (for in the loins there are the entrails, which in Scripture are a symbol of desire), and by truth, the contemplative ability. Therefore, he asserts that Paul here exhorts every desire of ours to gird ourselves with contemplation and meditation on God. For he who contemplates God and finds joy in Him as truly beloved will not allow his desire to turn to anything base and revolve around earthly objects. and putting on the breastplate of righteousness, Here he refers to a generally virtuous life as truth, as if to say: having clothed your chest with righteous deeds. For just as armor makes a person invulnerable, so does the truth of the one who puts it on. Eph.6:15. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; He also offers us armor well. By this he says either that we must be ready for the gospel and preaching. For “beautiful,” he says, “are the feet of him who proclaims peace” (Is. 53:7). Or that we should be ready for the outcome, living according to the Gospel. For feet are a symbol of life; therefore he says: “Tread carefully” (Eph. 5:15). The readiness to preach the gospel is good deeds, to which the Lord listens, according to what was said: “thy ear will listen to the preparation of their heart” (Ps. 9:38) 15. He also said well: “peace.” Since he mentioned war and battle, he shows that this war must be waged against demons, and not against people, - for the gospel is about peace, - and that, fighting with demons, we are in peace with God, whom we should not again provoke to war against ourselves, disturbing the peace. Eph.6:16. and above all, take the shield of faith, The words “above all” indicate the above-mentioned truth and truth and the hope of the Gospel. For all this requires faith. But what he calls faith here is not the knowledge of true reverence for God, but faith that is alien to doubt, which makes one believe in the future as the present, which performs signs and is so fiery and ardent that it even moves mountains. So, just as a shield covers the entire body, enclosing and protecting it like a wall, so faith, without a doubt, is the fence of the entire soul. Such faith, and not sophistication, is a shield. The shield covers, but they only get in the way. with which you will be able to quench all the fiery arrows of the evil one; That is, shameful wishes, thoughts of unbelief (such as: will there be a resurrection? will there be a judgment?) and temptations. “Incandescent” not only because lusts kindle and ignite to shameful deeds, but also because here we are, as it were, burned by conscience. Moreover, the devil sets us on fire both through thoughts of unbelief and through temptation. Faith extinguishes this; because if she conquers demons, then even more so passions. For if lust inflames you, you, believing in future blessings and joy, will extinguish it; Whether temptation burns you, believing in the future, you will find consolation. Think about what kind of fire Abraham was burning when he sacrificed his son, but faith extinguished this flame. Eph.6:17. and take the helmet of salvation, That is, saving and protecting. For if we have faith (which saves and protects us), we will soon receive saving thoughts that protect our head or guiding mind. and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In the above, Paul armed us so that our enemies would not harm us, but now he gives us weapons with which we ourselves can cause great harm to our enemies. So, the sword of the Spirit allegorically refers to either the Spirit itself, or the spiritual life with which the head of the dragon is crushed. This spiritual sword is the word of God, that is, a commandment. For if we keep His commandments, we will kill the evil serpent, as Isaiah says (Isaiah 27:1). Or the word of God is the expression: “in the name of Jesus Christ, rise and walk” (Acts 3:6), and the like. Or he simply calls spiritual wisdom the sword of the Spirit. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any sword” (Heb. 4:12), and he who has the gift of this spiritual sword and speaks divine things is invincible, as Paul himself was. Eph.6:18. Pray at all times with every prayer and supplication in the Spirit, Having armed them, he finally leads them to the King to beg Him to stretch out His hand. For having said: “you will be able to quench” so that you do not become proud, he says: you have a need for God and can complete the whole matter together with the mentioned prayer, praying not simply, but “with every prayer and petition,” with crying, beating the chest, kneeling and similar actions. And not only at set hours, but “at all times” and “in the spirit,” that is, asking for spiritually, not worldly. But when he says: “Pray with every prayer,” he hints that even when performing a prayer, you can not pray when someone talks idle talk. Either he is talking about all-night vigils here, or about the wakefulness of the soul, both can be understood. For he who is armed and stands before the king must be watchful. with all constancy and prayer Like the Canaanite woman, the widow, and Anna. For this is truly prayer combined with patience. So, you should not only pray for yourself. But note the humility: he puts himself last and asks his disciples to pray, and this is the one who was in bonds for Christ. Yes, Peter was in bonds, and the Church prayed fervently for him. so that the word would be given to me - openly with my mouth So, he does not care about what to say, but as Christ said: “Do not worry about how or what to say, for in that hour it will be given to you what to say” (Matthew 10:19), so he, opening his lips, conveyed what God commanded; so he accomplished everything by divine grace. From here you will understand the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel, Eph.6:20. for whom I perform an embassy in prison, so that I can boldly preach as I should. That is, so that I can defend myself, as I should, as a preacher of the faith, with boldness and courage and great prudence. But to whom are you carrying out the embassy? To people to reconcile them with God; but they tied me up, although by law ambassadors should not be subjected to any violence. So, although bonds have been placed on me to curb my boldness, your prayer will open my mouth to be bold and say everything that the one who entrusted me with the embassy commanded me. You see, the sword is boldness in preaching the word of God, which Paul wanted to speak by revelation of the mouth. Eph.6:21. And so that you too may know about my circumstances and affairs, Tychicus, beloved brother and faithful one, will inform you about everything. As for teaching and consolation, he himself explained through the message; but when he remembered the bonds, he did not stop talking about them, but left something for Tychicus to tell about him, so that the presence of this brother would not be useless. Since he is the “beloved,” he knows everything; since he is “faithful”, he will not lie. That is, serving for God and in a divine cause, and not for the sake of anything worldly or in relation to something earthly; or - brother in the Lord, that is, spiritual brother. Eph.6:22. whom I sent to you just so that you would know about us and so that he would comfort your hearts. Saint John Chrysostom says this: “so that you know about us,” that is, let him tell you what is with me and will not allow you to be sad because of me, since I am in troubles and am in chains. And this indicates love both on his part for them and on the part of those towards him. Eph.6:23. Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He asks them for peace and love with faith. And this means the following: either that they love not the heterodox, but only the faithful, or that they need to have faith in order to have hope for the future. For without faith love is useless, and even more, without faith there would be no love. Which is what he said in words: peace and love with faith. Teaching how the world will be, he added: through love. And how about love? If we have faith. Eph.6:24. Grace be with all who always love our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Here he separated the world from grace, placing both separately, although everywhere he united them. “In incorruption” (in Russian - invariably), that is, in purity, or those who love Christ not in wealth and glory, but in incorruptible goods, that is, for the sake of the incorruptible; or - that he who loves Christ through virtue loves Him. For sin is corruption, and virtue is incorruptibility. For just as we say about a virgin that she is corrupted, so it is about the soul; That’s why Paul says: “lest your minds be corrupted” (2 Cor. 11:3), and “having a corrupt mind” (2 Tim. 3:8). Therefore, we should also show love for Christ through purity in life and striving for those incorruptible blessings, and in general through every virtuous life, which keeps the soul blameless, not corrupted by either teaching or wickedness, keeping in Christ Himself, the blameless Bridegroom, virgin and blameless souls, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. At the blzh. Theophylact does not have the words “and above them.” In Russian translation: “Thy ear heard the devotion of their hearts.” – Approx. Ed. You might be interested in: