Ephesians 6:1-9: Instructions to Children, Parents, Slaves, and Masters

Introduction

Ephesians 6:1-9 is a passage that speaks to the heart of relationships within the household—children and parents, slaves and masters. While the cultural context of Paul’s time is vastly different from our own, the principles embedded in these verses remain deeply relevant. This passage calls us to mutual respect, responsibility, and Christlike living, challenging us to honor one another as equals in Christ. By carefully unpacking these verses, we can find guidance for navigating our relationships today, even as we acknowledge the historical and cultural gaps between Paul’s world and ours.

Children and Parents (Ephesians 6:1-4)

The Call to Obedience and Honor

Ephesians 6:1-3 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’”

Paul begins by addressing children, urging them to obey and honor their parents. This instruction is rooted in the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12), which carries a unique promise: “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Honoring parents is not just a cultural expectation; it is a timeless principle that transcends time and place. It reflects the importance of family relationships and the role of parents in providing guidance, care, and stability.

Obeying and honoring parents is, across the board, a good thing. It fosters respect, gratitude, and a sense of belonging. However, Paul’s addition of “in the Lord” is crucial. It reminds us that this obedience is not blind or absolute but is to be guided by a higher authority—God’s will. This means that while children are called to respect their parents, they are ultimately accountable to God, who calls us to love and justice.

Parental Responsibility in Nurturing Faith

Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Paul’s instruction to parents is equally significant. He warns against provoking children to anger or frustration, emphasizing instead the responsibility to raise children with love, patience, and spiritual guidance. This verse challenges parents to create an environment where children can grow in faith and character, rather than forcing them into a mold that doesn’t align with their God-given identity.

The role of parents is not to dictate every aspect of their children’s lives but to nurture them in the faith so that they can grow into adults who embrace their own relationship with God. This means allowing children the space to explore, question, and ultimately own their faith. As theologian N.T. Wright notes, the goal is to raise children who are not merely compliant but who are deeply rooted in Christ and equipped to live out their faith in the world.

Slaves and Masters (Ephesians 6:5-9)

Paul’s Instructions to Slaves

Ephesians 6:5-8 – “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Do not work only to please them when they are watching, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.”

Paul’s instructions to slaves are among the most challenging parts of this passage for modern readers. Slavery in the ancient Roman world was a complex institution, differing significantly from the chattel slavery of American history. Roman slavery was not based on race, and slaves could sometimes earn their freedom or hold positions of responsibility. However, it was still a system of exploitation and dehumanization.

Paul’s words here do not explicitly condemn slavery, but they do subvert its oppressive nature. By calling slaves to serve “as if serving the Lord,” Paul affirms their inherent dignity and worth. As Gordon Fee explains, Paul’s instructions elevate the work of slaves to a spiritual level, reminding them—and us—that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not to human authorities. This was a radical idea in a culture where slaves were often treated as property rather than people.

It’s also important to acknowledge that there were slaves in the early church. Christianity was not a dominant cultural force in Paul’s time, and he had no social standing to dictate laws to Caesar. Instead, Paul worked within the existing structures to transform relationships through the gospel. His teachings laid the groundwork for the eventual abolition of slavery by affirming the equal worth of all people in Christ.

Paul’s Instructions to Masters

Ephesians 6:9 – “And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”

Paul’s words to masters are equally radical. He calls them to treat their slaves with fairness and respect, recognizing that they too are accountable to God. This instruction challenges the power dynamics of the ancient world, reminding masters that they are not above their slaves in God’s eyes. In Christ, there is no hierarchy or favoritism—only equality and mutual responsibility.

Paul is calling for a mutuality of kindness, dignity, and respect. This means that there were slaveholders in the early church, and Paul is urging them to “take off the old man and put on the new man” (Ephesians 4:22-24). He is asking them to follow Christ, even when it means going against cultural norms. This is a profound challenge to live out the gospel in ways that transform relationships and systems of power.

The Biblical Trajectory Toward Abolition

While Paul doesn’t directly condemn slavery in Ephesians 6, the broader biblical story points toward its eventual undoing. Galatians 3:28 makes a radical claim: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” In a world built on divisions, Paul is saying that in Christ, those barriers don’t hold. That’s not just theology—it’s an earthquake shaking the foundations of how people relate to one another.

Then there’s Philemon. Paul writes to a Christian slaveholder, urging him to receive his runaway slave, Onesimus, not as a slave but as “a beloved brother” (Philemon 16). Paul doesn’t demand freedom outright, but his words are a time bomb. How can you keep someone as a slave when you’re supposed to love them like family? The gospel doesn’t leave the system untouched—it plants seeds that will crack it apart.

Paul may not have had the social power to abolish slavery in his time, but the movement of scripture is clear. The more the church leaned into the truth that every person bears the image of God, the more impossible it became to justify slavery. And that same trajectory calls us to be people who challenge systems of injustice wherever they exist today.

Finding a Way Forward: Principles for Today

1. Honor and Respect in Family Relationships
   The call to honor parents and raise children in the faith is a timeless principle. It reminds us of the importance of mutual respect and responsibility within families, as well as the need to create spaces where children can grow into their own faith.

2. Dignity and Equality in All Relationships
   Paul’s instructions to slaves and masters challenge us to treat one another with dignity and respect, regardless of social status or power dynamics. In our modern context, this means advocating for justice and equality in all areas of life.

3. Christ as the Model for Service
   Whether we are parents, children, employers, or employees, we are called to follow Christ’s example of service and humility. Our actions should reflect His love and grace, pointing others to the hope found in Him.

4. Transforming Power of the Gospel
   While Paul does not directly challenge the social structures of his day, his teachings point toward the transformative power of the gospel. As followers of Christ, we are called to work for justice and equality in our world, challenging systems of oppression and advocating for the dignity of all people.

Conclusion

Ephesians 6:1-9 challenges us to reflect on how we live out our faith in all our relationships. While the specific instructions may be tied to the cultural context of Paul’s day, the underlying principles of mutual respect, responsibility, and Christlike living remain timeless. As we navigate these verses, let us seek to honor one another as equals in Christ, working together to build a world that reflects God’s justice, love, and grace. In doing so, we bear witness to the transformative power of the gospel and point others to the hope found in Him.