The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Many orators in Paul’s day ended a speech or other persuasive work with a rousing conclusion. This was called a peroratio. We shouldn’t be surprised to find Paul used the best rhetorical devices of his day (he wrote most all of his epistles quite similarly to how the philosophers of his day wrote). Paul was, after all, a highly educated man, having been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).
There are at least two significant reasons to mention Paul’s use of first-century rhetorical devices here and in his other epistles.
One: This says something about inspiration.
God allowed each writer of Scripture to write with his own experiences, education, and background. However, the end result is his word which creates faith, leads us to his Son and salvation through Jesus. When you see how God allowed writers to be themselves and that the end result is God’s final revelation to man, you stand in awe. There is no way that the Bible can be anything other than the word of the living God. There is no way someone can explain how the Bible came together like this.
Two: This says something about God’s desire for man to understand his word.
God inspired Paul to write in a common style of the day; the people to whom Paul wrote would have been familiar with this style. God didn’t give his word in a way that men wouldn’t understand, but a way that they would readily understand. Remember that on the Day of Pentecost, the crowd said, “How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?” (Acts 2:8).
God doesn’t want his word to be so hard that people can’t understand it; he wants people to understand his word clearly. This certainly says something about Bible translations (in my humble opinion). This certainly says something about preaching and teaching style. This certainly says something about the way we reach out to others.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”
Paul said that the Christians needs to “be strong in the Lord.” That’s not fully what he said. A slightly better translation would be “be strengthened.” “Be strong” is in the passive tense. In other words, the Christian cannot make himself strong; there is not a single thing you can do to make yourself strong. God makes the Christian strong.
However, the verb is in the imperative mood, meaning that Paul is making a command. He is telling the Christians in Ephesus to allow God to make them strong. How does the Christian allow God to make him strong?
The Christian is to be strengthened “in the Lord.” In Ephesians 6:10, “Lord” stands as the antithesis to “devil” (v 11), “flesh and blood,” “rulers,” “authorities,” “cosmic powers,” and “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (v 12). Why does the Christian need the Lord to stand against Satan and his minions?
The Christian to allow God to strengthen him “in the strength of his might.” How much power does God have? How has God demonstrated his power? How can God’s power help the modern Christian?
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
“Be strong” in verse 10 is passive. God makes the Christian strong; the Christian cannot make himself strong. However, that does not mean the Christian has nothing to do.
The Christian is to “put on the whole armor of God.” “Armor of God” is a genitive of source (or origin) in Greek. That means God is the source (origin) of the armor. In other words, the armor comes from God, not the Christian. As we examine the armor, we’ll want to pay special attention to how God supplies it.
While God supplies the armor, the Christian must put it on. Why doesn’t God put the armor on the Christian? How does the Christian go about putting on God’s armor.
The Christian must put on the whole armor of God. The Greek term is panoplia, from which we get the English panoply. The Greek term panoplia refers to the complete set of armor; the English word panoply can refer to a complete set of armor as well as a complete array.
What would happen if a soldier only semi-prepared himself with some of his armor? What happens if a Christian only puts on some armor? What is the most important part of the Christian armor one needs to wear?
The Christian who puts on God’s whole armor will be able “to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Paul didn’t call on the Christian to attack but to stand. Why didn’t Paul tell the Christian that he needed to attack Satan? What does it mean to stand?
The Christian wears God’s armor to stand against Satan’s schemes. The Greek term “schemes” in Paul’s day meant a cunning or crafty method. The verbal cognate meant to defraud, to deceive, or to pervert. In other words, Satan doesn’t tell the truth. Why does Satan lie? What are some of the lies Satan tells?
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over their present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Paul outlined why the Christian needs God’s armor; the battle is spiritual. Our ideas and our thinking won’t work; what makes sense to a human may make no sense spiritually. Therefore, the Christian must always be mindful that his battle is spiritual. Does the spirit ever wage war against the flesh? Why is the spirit often willing but the flesh weak? How can the Christian keep his flesh in subjection to the spirit?
Paul literally says, “For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh.” The term “wrestling” can refer to a fight or battle in a general sense, but the word often refers to the ancient act of wrestling. Ancient wrestling was brutal and nasty; it wasn’t uncommon for someone to end up dead. This wasn’t a battle fought with cruise missiles and tactical bombing; it was close-up, hand-to-hand combat. Satan doesn’t attack us from a distance, but he comes into our hearts and attacks. Can there be anything more personal than being attacked in your heart?
Our struggle isn’t against “flesh and blood.” Might the struggle be easier if it were against flesh and blood? How can the Christian remember that his struggle isn’t against flesh and blood?
Paul then listed four categories of evil forces which fight the Christian. Some have thought that these categories are different levels of demonic beings; that’s possible, however, we have evidence that’s what Paul meant. It’s much more likely that Paul gave the attributes of the spiritual forces against whom the Christian fights.
- “Rulers” refers to their authority. What authority do demonic forces have?
- “Authorities” (literally “power”) refers to their power. What power do demonic forces have?
- “Cosmic powers over this present darkness” point to their wide influence over the present world. What kind of influence over the present world do demonic forces have?
- “Spiritual forces of evil” refers to their evil character. How evil are demonic forces?
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Paul has already urged the Ephesians to take up the “whole armor of God.” Why would he repeat himself?
Remember that “armor of God” means the armor God supplies. Thus, as the Christian takes up this armor, he is utilizing tools God has supplied for him. The Christian isn’t supply anything himself; he’s simply using what God has placed before him.
With the armor God has supplied, the Christian “may be able to withstand in the evil day.” What is “the evil day?” In what way is the Christian able to withstand in the evil day?
Once the Christian puts on the armor of God, he is “to stand firm.” What does standing firm mean? Why does the Christian need to stand firm?
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
Paul listed the armor here in the way that the Roman soldier would have put it on. As we said previously, there is likely no special reason Paul assigned Christian attributes to the armor items he did. In other words, there’s no significance in belt of truth verses breastplate of truth. Each item in the armor was important for the Roman soldier, and attribute Paul listed is important for the Christian; however, the pairing likely makes no difference.
The Christian is to stand after he has “fastened on the belt of truth.” What is the importance of a belt?
According to one story, a general told his soldiers to go and cut the belts of the enemy while they were sleeping. The next morning the soldiers were so busy holding up their pants that they couldn’t fight. They, therefore, lost the battle.
In antiquity, the belt was important so that one could gird his loins. One would tuck his tunic into his belt so that it wouldn’t get in his way. One couldn’t run (and, thus, couldn’t fight) well unless he girded his loins.
What is the importance of truth? What is the truth God supplies? How does the Christian live truth? How does the truth help the Christian in his fight against Satan?
After the Christian puts on the belt of truth, he must also put on “the breastplate of righteousness.” The breastplate covered the Roman soldiers from his neck to his thighs. Therefore, all vital organs would have been covered. It was made of either bronze or chain mail.
What is righteousness? What righteousness does the Christian have? How does the Christian live righteousness? How does righteousness help the Christian in his fight against Satan?
After the Christian puts on the breastplate of rightness, he must have “as shoes for [his] feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” The Greek term for shoes refers to the half boot Roman soldiers wore. These boots were essential in fighting the enemy, for soldiers could advance without worrying about what they might step on. A Roman soldiers could not, in any circumstances, go into battle without his shoes.
Paul used the imagery of the heard from Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” (Is 52:7). The idea of the shoes of the gospel is that the Christian is advancing the kingdom of God through preaching that gospel. How can the Christian enlarge the kingdom of God? How does enlarging the kingdom of God help in the fight against Satan?
Notice that the good news about Jesus is called “the gospel of peace.” Paul, though, was writing about war. Through this language, Paul seems to have been saying that the gospel is the medium through which we can have peace over Satan. How does the gospel give peace over Satan? How does advancing the kingdom of God through preaching the gospel bring peace over Satan?
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”
“In all circumstances. . . .” This little phrase reminds us of the importance of always being prepared to fight Satan. Why does someone always need to be prepared for battle against “the evil one?” What happens when one is not prepared for battle against “the evil one?”
A soldier would never think about going into battle without his shield for protection. Why would the Christian consider going into battle against Satan unprotected?
Roman soldiers carried large, rectangular shields which were four feet high. The fronts of these shields were made of leather; therefore, they were wetted before they entered into a battle where flaming darts might be used. The first row of Roman soldiers would hold these shields in front of them, and the soldiers behind them would hold the shields up over their heads. When the soldiers were in this formation, they were nearly invulnerable to flaming darts.
Both the Greek and Roman gods of passion (Eros and Cupid) used flaming darts in mythology. Paul could have conceivably been speaking about the sin of lust. However, it’s far more likely that he speaks of Satan’s temptations more broadly.
Faith is the shield which extinguishes Satan’s flaming darts. What does “faith” mean in this context? How does the Christian live in that kind of faith? How does one’s faith extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one?
Notice the designation of Satan as “the evil one.” In Greek, the adjective “evil” is simply used with an article: “the evil.” “One” is supplied for the English to make sense. The idea is that Satan’s entirety, his character, is evil. How is Satan evil? How does knowing that Satan is evil help the Christian in his daily battle against him? You have the same exact construction, by the way, in the Lord’s Prayer. I really believe it should be translated, “And deliver us from the evil one.”
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
The Christian is to take up “the helmet of salvation.” Roman soldiers only wore their helmets (made of bronze or iron) for battle. There wasn’t anything ceremonial about their helmet; rather, it was used to protect the soldier’s head. This reminds us that we are in a battle. What might be the consequences of losing that battle? How can remembering we’re in a battle help us in daily life?
The Christian’s helmet is described as “the helmet of salvation.” The phrase “helmet of salvation” comes from Isaiah 59:17: “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head.” In Isaiah 59, the people of Judah were living in wickedness and there is no one seeking to do the right thing. God then clothes himself for battle and goes against his enemies.
The Greek grammar means that the helmet is salvation; grammatically, we could translate this as “And take the helmet which is salvation . . . “ How does God give “the helmet of salvation?” How does your salvation protect you in a fight against Satan? How does a Christian live in light of his salvation?
The Christian must also take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Roman soldiers carried several offensive weapons, but Paul only provided the Christian with one. The front line of Roman battalion would hurl their lances at the enemy; after that, every soldier needed his double-edged sword for hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. Presumably the idea here is that the sword of the Spirit allows the believer to take back territory from Satan.
The Christian’s sword is “of the Spirit.” “Of the Spirit” is a subjective genitive. In other words, you can make the phrase “the sword of the Spirit” into a sentence the “Spirit” as the object of the verb. “The sword the Spirit gives.” In what way does the Spirit give the word?
The sword the Spirit gives is the “word of God.” “Of God” could mean that God gave the word (he obviously did) or a closely related idea that the word originated with God. I prefer the latter myself. How did the word originate with God?
How can the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, be an offensive weapon in the fight against Satan? In other words, how does the word help us take back lost territory from Satan? How can the word help the Christian in his battle against Satan? How can a Christian live in light of God’s word?
As the Christian takes the sword of the Spirit, he is to be “praying at all times in the Spirit.” The way Paul words this does cause me to think he intends prayer to be part of the Christian’s weaponry. How could prayer be part of the Christian’s armor? How does God give the Christian prayer? How can prayer help the Christian fight Satan?
The Christian is to be “praying at all times.” How can the Christian complete that part of his armor, i.e., how can a Christian literally be “praying at all times?” How could praying at all times not just help with fighting Satan but with life in general?
This continual prayer is to be “in the Spirit.” What does Paul even mean? How can prayer be in the Spirit?
As the Christian is praying at all times in the Spirit, he is to do so “with all prayer and supplication.” What is the difference between prayer and supplication? For what sort of things do we need to pray and supplicate?
“To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
One must “keep alert with all perseverance.” The Greek term “keep alert” means “to suffer from insomnia” or “to pass a sleepless night. Metaphorically, it means to stand watch or to keep alert. For what does the Christian to keep alert? In other words, for what is he watching?
Paul continued his military language here. Just as soldiers needed to keep watch, the Christian needs to keep watch.
One uses “all perseverance” to keep alert. What is perseverance? What does the Christian need perseverance?
The Christian is to be “making supplication for all the saints.” As I previously stated, prayer seems to be a part of the Christian armor. The Roman soldier was vulnerable by himself; only as part of a group was he nearly invulnerable. Paul here, using that imagery, calls on the church to pray for one another. Why do Christians need to pray for each other?
Paul wrote that the Ephesians were to make supplication “also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Paul was unashamed to ask the Ephesians to pray for him. I fear that too often some Christians are embarrassed to ask their brethren to pray for them. Why might some Christians be too embarrassed to ask for prayer? Why should no Christian be too embarrassed to ask for prayer?
Notice, however, that Paul did not ask for prayers for any selfish reason. He didn’t ask for comfort, he didn’t ask for release, nor did he ask for good health. It would in no way have been wrong for Paul to have made such requests made known to God (cf. 1 Pet 5:7). Why did Paul not make any selfish request?
While one can obviously take any concern to the Father in prayer, is it possible for a Christian to pray too selfishly? How might the child of God not pray selfishly while also praying for all his concerns?
Paul wanted words to be given him to open his mouth boldly to proclaim the gospel. How could words be given to Paul? Can words be given to ministers today? If so, how?
Paul wanted to proclaim the gospel boldly. What is the danger of not proclaiming the gospel boldly? What is the danger of proclaiming the gospel boldly? In other words, can one be too blunt in proclaiming the gospel? How can one be careful not to be too blunt but also be bold when sharing the gospel?
Paul reminded the Ephesians that he was an ambassador in chains.
This Bible class was originally taught by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.