World English Bible · Under Rome
Ephesians 6
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Children, your parents in , for this is right. " your and mother," which is the first with a promise: "that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." You fathers, don't provoke your children to , but nurture them in the and of . Servants, be obedient to those who according to are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of , as to Christ, not in of only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of from , with good will doing as to and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from , whether he is bound or free. You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in , and there is no partiality with him. Finally, be strong in and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of , that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against and , but against the , against the powers, against the of of this age, and against the of wickedness in the places. Therefore put on the whole armor of , that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of , and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the of peace, above all, taking up the shield of , with which you will be able to quench all the darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of , and of , which is the word of ; with all and requests, praying at all times in , and being watchful to this end in all and requests for all . for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my , to make known with boldness of the , for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, , the beloved brother and servant in , will make known to you all things. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your . Peace be to the brothers, and love with , from and . be with all those who love our with incorruptible love. .
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The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.