1. Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do.
2. “Respect your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise added:
3. “so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land.”
4. Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.
5. Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling; and do it with a sincere heart, as though you were serving Christ.
6. Do this not only when they are watching you, because you want to gain their approval; but with all your heart do what God wants, as slaves of Christ.
7. Do your work as slaves cheerfully, as though you served the Lord, and not merely human beings.
8. Remember that the Lord will reward everyone, whether slave or free, for the good work they do.
9. Masters, behave in the same way towards your slaves and stop using threats. Remember that you and your slaves belong to the same Master in heaven, who judges everyone by the same standard.
10. Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power.
11. Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks.
12. For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.