Verses 1-4
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Children will be happier and healthier if they obey their parents. Parents, teach this principle to your children.
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Parents, and fathers especially, encourage and teach your children, and correct their behaviors using instruction from the Word. Teach them often (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)!
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Also use physical discipline—spanking—to correct behaviors (Proverbs 23:13-14).
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However, as you correct and discipline your children, control your own emotions and keep a loving attitude, or you will justify their own unruliness.
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Do not expect your children to correct behaviors that you will not correct in yourself.
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Also understand that it is more effective for a father to bring discipline to a child than a mother. Fathers should take responsibility, whenever they are present, to bring discipline to their children.
Verses 5-9
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In Paul's day, this passage spoke to slaves and masters, as slavery existed in the Greco-Roman culture. Some people were slaves, then got saved, but remained a slave. Today, this speaks to employer-employee relationships.
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As an employee, work hard at all times, with a great attitude, and not merely when your boss is looking. Work hard because you know that you are really serving Christ and want to please God.
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Verse 8. This verse is not a do-good-then-get-good-from-God principle. He's saying, “Be willing to give good to others because you know that God is good to you. Anything good you do for others, the same comes to you from God. Treat others as God is treating you.”
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As an employer, treat your workers well.
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Give up pride in remembering that you are really not the boss. You work for Christ, and you will answer to Him for your conduct.
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Verses 10-20
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Be strengthened against the enemy—spiritual forces of evil—using the spiritual tools you have from God. Our battle isn't physical; it's spiritual.
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There are forces of evil and beings in the unseen realm that purpose to destroy us. Fight well!
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Verse 14a. Know the truth of the Word well, so you are not easily deceived.
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Verse 14b. Live righteously—obedient to God—so that you are not easily tempted or falling to sin, through which we are ensnared by the devil (Hebrews 12:1, Proverbs 5:22).
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This also includes the confidence of knowing that Christ has made you righteous before God, so that you are free from the guilt and shame of old sins (Romans 5:17, Romans 8:1). This protects the mind from much weakness.
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Verse 15. Be ready and prepared to share the gospel with anyone at any time (Isaiah 52:7, 1 Peter 3:15-16), alongside good conduct also.
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This is also so that you can deliver others from the snare of the devil caused by their ignorance of the gospel.
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Verse 16. “Above all,” grow your faith so that you are not weakened by the darts of fear, doubt, and unbelief. This is of utmost importance.
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There are many problems experienced by those weak in faith. Become strong in faith, and the enemy will not be able to prevent you from doing works for the kingdom. Doubt limits what we can do for God and against the enemy (Matthew 14:29-31).
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You can grow your faith through reading and obeying the Word (Romans 10:17, James 2:17-26).
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Verse 17a. Stay focused on the hope you have in being saved (1 Thessalonians 5:8).
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If you stay focused on the joy of being saved from sin and from God's wrath, knowing that the war is ultimately won, you will not be discouraged.
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Verse 17b. Focus on the Word and speak it in order to deliver both your mind and minds of others from demonic or ungodly influence (Matthew 4:3-11, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
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Understanding, speaking, and teaching the Word helps people escape the snares that come from misinformation and false beliefs.
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Verses 18-20. Pray often, and persevere in all kinds of prayer for all fellow believers. Watch out for each other!
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Especially pray for boldness to speak the Word of God. This allows believers to bring deliverance to others.
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Verses 21-24
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Let people who love you know how you are doing, as this is a comfort to them.