1. What is the promise for honoring parents in Ephesians Chapter 6 verse 3?
2. Are any of the other nine commandments associated with a promise? Why is the fifth commandment described as the first commandment with a promise?
Here are the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:3-13
Only you can answer this question, so there’s no need to compare.
However, consider sharing your answer with others.
ONE MAN'S OPINION: I don’t know, perhaps it is because it was the first commandment taught to children. It seems the 2nd and 3rd commandments contain a general promise.
3. How can we honor our parents as adult children?
Only you can answer this question, so there’s no need to compare.
However, consider sharing your answer with others.
1. What are the other 2 commandments restated in Chapters 4 and 5 of Ephesians?
2. How do fathers sometimes exasperate their children? If your father or mother exasperated you, how did you overcome it?
Only you can answer this question, so there’s no need to compare.
However, consider sharing your answer with others.
3. Does the Bible condone slavery?
No. According to the Archaeological Study Bible - In the Greek and Roman world, slavery was considered an economic and practical necessity, an assumed part of life.
It is possible that up to one third of the people living in Greece and Rome were slaves in Paul’s day. People became slaves through birth, parental sale or abandonment, captivity in war, inability to pay debts or voluntary attempts to better their situations.
Race was not a factor. Paul was simply advocating that both slaves and their master treat each other as Christ would treat them. Slaves were to obey their masters as though they were obeying Christ and masters were to treat the slaves as Christ would treat them.
The ancient master-slave situation was basically a labor relationship. We can learn Christian principles for our modern-day work relationships by studying this ancient cultural hierarchy.
What reasons do the following verses give us for obeying our superiors or “masters” in a modern-day work environment?
Ephesians Chapter 6, verses 5-9
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with
sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve
wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 `because
you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does,
whether he is slave or free.
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.
Colossians Chapter 3, verses 22-25
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only
when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of
heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with
all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know
that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is
the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid
for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
I Timothy Chapter 6, verses 1-2
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.
2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for
them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even
better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.
Titus Chapter 2, verses 9-10
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to
please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them,
but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
I Peter Chapter 2, verses 18-21
18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only
to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But
if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable
before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
1. From Ephesians Chapter 6, what are the 6 pieces of the armor of God and for what do they represent?
2. From the following verses in Ephesians Chapter 6, what does the armor of God allow us to do? Is there a theme? If so, what is it?
There is a theme - To Stand!
3. What are the 2 offensive weapons mentioned in verses 10-18 of Ephesians Chapter 6?
1. What does verse 18 of Ephesians Chapter 6 provide for us in analyzing the following aspects of prayer?
2. What does Paul ask the believers in Ephesus to pray for in verses 19 and 20 of Ephesians Chapter 6?
Twice Paul asks the believers to pray that he will declare the gospel fearlessly
3. What titles does Paul use to describe himself in the following verses; which one would you prefer if you had to choose from the four for yourself? Why?
1. What do we learn about Tychicus from the following verses? What title might he use to describe himself?
He was a messenger for Paul
Paul twice calls him a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant
2. What can we learn about sharing our faith from verses 19 and 20 of Ephesians Chapter 6?