Ephesians 6:6

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 6:1-20

III. THE CHRISTIAN’S CONDUCT 4:1-6:20Practical application (chs. 4-6) now follows doctrinal instruction (chs. 1-3)."Now the apostle moves on from the new society to the new standards which are expected of it. So he turns from exposition to exhortation, from what God has done (in the indicative), to what we must be and do (in the imperative), from doctrine to duty, . . . from mind-stretching theology to its down-to-earth, concrete implications in everyday living." [Note: Stott, p. 146.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 6:5-8

The duty of slaves 6:5-8The third group that Paul addressed was slaves and masters (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24). Most slaves served in the home in Paul’s day, so this section fits in well with what precedes about other household relationships. Some students of Roman history have estimated that about one-third of the population in the Roman Empire at this time was slaves, approximately 60 million individuals. [Note: Wood, p. 83.] Many of these people were Christians. Most ancient Greeks and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 6:6

Fifth, service was to be consistent, whether the master was watching or not. Paul may have also had in mind doing work that the human master could not check on. Sixth, it needed to arise from proper motives, not to please men only but, more importantly, to please the Lord. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 6:1-24

Rules for the Family. The Christian’s Aemoue1-4. Second illustration of orderly subordination: the relation between children and parents.1. As before, those who have to obey and submit are taken first. Cp. in the Lord here with ’unto the Lord’ (Ephesians 5:22) and ’unto Christ’ (Ephesians 6:5). Right] both nature and the express Law of God enjoin it. 2. With promise] the first which is accompanied with a promise: cp. ’with the word’ (Ephesians 5:26). We might punctuate, ’the first commandment,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 6:1-9

[5.Practical Exhortation continued (Ephesians 5:22 to Ephesians 6:9).(4)THE BEARING OF THE TRUTH OF UNITY ON THE THREE GREAT RELATIONS OF LIFE.(a)Between husbands and wives—a relation which is a type of the unity between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:22-33).(b) Between parents and children—a relation hallowed as existing “in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1-4).(c)Between masters and servants—a relation softened and deepened by common service to the one Master (Ephesians 6:5-9).] read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 6:5-9

(4 c.) In Ephesians 6:5-9 the hardest form of subjection, that of slaves to masters, is dealt with, still under the same idea that both are “in Christ.” The slave is the servant of Christ in obeying his master, the master is a fellow-servant with his slave to the same Divine Lord. We notice on this particular subject a remarkable emphasis, and a singular closeness of parallelism between this Epistle and the Epistle to the Colossians; probably to be accounted for by the presence of Onesimus with... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 6:6

(6) Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers.—This verse is merely an expansion of the idea of singleness of heart. The word “eyeservice” (used here, and in Colossians 3:22) is peculiar to St. Paul, and to these passages; the word “menpleasers” is not found elsewhere in the New Testament, but is used in the LXX.; and the antithesis of “pleasing men” and “pleasing God “is not unfrequent with St. Paul. (See Galatians 1:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:4.) To a slave, looking on his master’s authority as mere... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ephesians 6:1-24

The Canon of Conduct Ephesians 6:1 I. The Standard of Christianity. 'Right' is a law of conduct not based on accident or convenience; it arises out of the depths of eternity, and is comprehended in the depths of our nature. Duty is sublime, founded on eternal relationships; conscience is the index of the Divine and supernatural; right differs essentially from might; justice and convenience are terms wide asunder by the breadth of the heavens; righteousness is the law of the unchanging... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:1-9

Chapter 27THE CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLDEphesians 6:1-9THE Christian family is the cradle and the fortress of the Christian faith. Here its virtues shine most brightly; and by this channel its influence spreads through society and the course of generations. Marriage has been placed under the guardianship of God; it is made single, chaste, and enduring, according to the law of creation and the pattern of Christ’s union with His Church. With parents thus united, family honour is secure; and a basis is... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ephesians 6:5-9

5. Exhortations to Servants and Masters CHAPTER 6:5-9 The servants exhorted were slaves. Slavery existed throughout the Roman Empire at that time. Nowhere is slavery attacked in the New Testament, nor is there a statement telling believers that it was a sin to own slaves and incompatible with the gospel. Paul wrote a courteous letter to Philemon and sent it by Onesimus, the runaway slave, who probably had stolen money from Philemon, his master. The gospel is not here to reform the world, to... read more

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