How did he leave the Father? Not because he departed from the Father, but because he appeared in that form in which he is equal to the Father. 'But let the wife fear her husband.' Let her be subject as the weaker, that she may be governed. Chapter VI. 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord.' Prepare them with discipline, for he commands that they be instructed by their parents according to God. 'For this is just.' That you render mutual duties. 'Honour thy father and thy mother.' But the good; for Moses himself taught that those who come against God are not to be followed, yet we ought to show them honour for the fear of God. 'Which is the first commandment with a promise.' The first of promise in the second table, which contained precepts pertaining to humanity, six in number.
For the first table required the proper divine duties. 'That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest be long-lived upon the earth.' Not in this earth, in which even impious and wicked men grow old, but upon that earth which the Lord promises to the meek, and in which the just shall dwell; and which the Psalmist believes he shall see. 'And you, fathers, provoke not your children to anger.' Whether it is to be taken simply, lest being immoderately and without cause chided they be rather provoked to anger. 'But bring them up in the discipline and correction of the Lord.' Lest, while you live wickedly either with your wives, or after your wives, you destroy them by your own evil. 'Servants, obey your carnal masters.' Servitude nature did not give, but captivity brought it about;
nor did it begin from the curse upon Ham, as some suppose, since we read that kings too were begotten of him: but it was fulfilled in the Canaanites, who were subjugated to the sons of Israel. The Apostle provided that the doctrine of God should in no way be blasphemed, if believing servants should become useless to their masters: and one who was perhaps about to permit other servants also to become Christians would begin to repent of those already made so; but if he should see them advanced for the better and made faithful, he would not only wish others to believe, but would himself also be saved: for Christ came not to change conditions, but morals. 'With fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart.' That is, with all humility, laying aside pride. 'As to Christ.'
'You do it to Christ,' whatever you render to men for Christ's sake. 'Not serving to the eye, as pleasing men; but as the servants of Christ.' That is, do not work for your master only when present. 'Doing the will of God from the heart, with a good will serving, as to the Lord, and not to men.' In those things which are not contrary to the will of God; for in many things the minds of masters naturally concur with the law, because they desire to have servants that are faithful, and sober, and chaste, and kind. 'Serve the master not with murmuring.' 'Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man shall do, the same shall he receive from the Lord.' To whomsoever you shall do good for God's sake, from God you await the reward. 'Whether he be servant, or free.'
Let not the condition of servitude make you despair. 'And you, masters.' Hear me: if you would have them also hear you, give them an example. 'Do the same things to them.' Lest, if they flee, you begin to impute it not to religion, but to your own malice. 'Forbearing threatenings: knowing that both their Lord and yours is in heaven.' Threaten for discipline's sake, but forbear for mercy's sake, that it may be requited to you also by your Lord. 'And there is no respect of persons with God.' With the Lord you are so far one that you have been equally bought, and one inheritance is promised to you. 'For the rest, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power.' He concludes the Epistle with a general exhortation, in the example and power of the Lord.
'Put on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.' Against spiritual enemies spiritual arms are to be taken up, that by the unlikeness of nature it may be protected by the strength of spiritual arms. 'For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood.' Man is called flesh and blood. 'But against principalities and powers.' Who have usurped principality over the men of this world, and who instigate ignorant and impious men to commit sins, and seem to govern them. 'Against the rulers of the darkness of this world.' Lest anyone should think that the wicked spirits, with their author and prince the devil, rule heaven and earth and sea, he added and expressed what was fitting, of the world.
'Of this darkness,' he says, that is, of this darkness, namely of the unbelievers and impious, to whom, now believing, it was said: 'You were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord.' You were darkness, that is unbelievers; but now through the Lord you have been made faithful. 'Against the spiritual forces of wickedness.' For there are also spiritual forces of goodness. 'In the high places.' In the air, in which flying birds are called the fowls of heaven. 'Therefore take up the arms of God.' Because you have such enemies. 'That you may be able to resist in the evil day.' The day is evil for us when we are assailed by evil. 'And in all things.' Not in one only. 'To stand perfect.'
That with God's help we may perfectly resist the diabolical snares with spiritual arms, having the loins of the mind girt, that is, being chaste, and manfully prepared in every battle, and freed from all cares of the world. 'Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.' Not with hypocrisy. 'And having put on the breastplate of justice.' As a breastplate is woven with many rings or circles, so also justice is knit together with diverse kinds of virtues; and it guards not only the conscience of the breast, but also the continence of the belly, and reaches even to restraining the lust of the loins. 'And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.' As shod feet walk confidently, so do you also preach undauntedly. 'In all things taking.'
In all battles let us be covered by faith, because the shield is the defence of the very arms themselves, and without it all things are weak. So too these virtues without faith cannot save. 'The shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.' As the shield repels and shakes off all that is cast at it, so also faith extinguishes all his persuasions, although, being as it were rational, they may seem to have light. 'And take unto you the helmet of salvation.' Which protects or hides all the senses of the head from depraved offices. 'And the sword.' No soldier dares to set out for battle without a sword; for he can somehow defend himself, but he cannot slay the enemy; sometimes too he is slain, despoiled of his arms by a bold foe.
So without the word of God all justice is uncovered. 'The Spirit, which is the word of God.' The spiritual sword. 'By all prayer and supplication.' Now ask for the sword, and always have it. 'Praying at all times in the spirit.' Be not hindered from praying always, but pray for spiritual things. 'And in the same watching in all instance and supplication for all the saints and for me.' For it profits nothing for the soul to wander about while the body lies as one sleeping, since by this vanity nothing is obtained even from man. 'That speech may be given to me, in the opening of my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the Gospel.' That I may abundantly and without fear of persecution or of the hatred of the Jews set forth the reason of the people united in Christ.
'For which I am an ambassador in a chain.' For all the ambassadors of the word must needs endure such things. 'So that therein I may be bold to speak as I ought.' For there will be greater confidence if it be spoken reasonably, and there be abundance to express the reasoning. 'Therein,' he says, and not in my own strength. 'But that you also may know the things that concern me, what I do, Tychicus, my dearest brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you: whom I have sent to you for this same purpose, that you may know the things that concern us, and that he may comfort your hearts.' He acts solicitously, not only that they may advance, but also that they may not fail in his tribulations, nor be saddened in any way. 'Peace to the brethren.' Peace, charity and faith make the Christian perfect.
And at the same time it is to be noted that he affirms these things to be to us not from ourselves, but from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, that no one may glory in his own merits, and say that he receives faith not from God. From whom therefore are peace and charity, from him also is faith. Wherefore from him we ask that it may not only be increased in those who have it, but we also entreat that it may be given to those who have it not. 'And charity.' Charity is greater than peace; for one can have peace, yet not also be loved. 'With faith, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.' For without faith all things are unfruitful. And diligently attend to this, that faith itself, with the rest of the virtues, is given to us. 'Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption. Amen.'