Before coming to the close of this beautiful epis­tle, Paul goes into detail concerning the armor of God to which he has referred in the previous verses. The interpreter must always be careful that he does justice to the figure which the writer employs, and yet not press every detail concerning the various pieces of armor so that he misses the purpose for which the illustration is used.

An Armed Stand⤒🔗

Paul again begins with the words "stand there­fore." This he emphasized in verse 11, "that ye may be able to stand;" verse 13 "that ye may be able to withstand ... and having done all, to stand." There is great danger lurking everywhere for these Ephe­sian Christians and Paul wants to safeguard them against all the pitfalls of spiritual life. The only way they will be able to hold their ground is by putting on the whole armor of God.

Paul uses the imagery of the armor elsewhere in his writings. In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 he mentions some of the pieces of this armor. However, nowhere else does he speak of this armor as completely as he does in this last chapter of Ephesians. He, no doubt, has in mind the Roman soldier of his day. The Roman soldier was well equipped and certainly had been success­ful. To be able to stand in the spiritual conflict one must be just as well equipped.

The Girdle of Truth←⤒🔗

First of all he speaks of the loins being girded with the truth. He refers to the belt worn by the Roman soldier wherewith he gathered up his loose garments. This is the only way the soldier will be prepared to fight. The Christian must first of all be truthful, sincere, dependable. If he is not, none of the other pieces of armor will do him any good.

The Breastplate of Righteousness←⤒🔗

The Roman soldier also had a breastplate which covered the front and back of the person and protected his vital organs. It covered him from the neck to the thighs. This was a most important piece of equipment because it gave protection in battle against both arrow and sword and javelin. The Christian must have a breastplate when he goes into spiritual battle and his breastplate is his righteous­ness. The righteousness of Christ is not meant, but his own subjective righteousness as a believer. His moral rectitude! No one can do battle, much less stand in that warfare, if his own righteousness is lacking. The life which he lives in obedience to the law of his God must furnish him protection in battle! How can he fight if he does not live the life which is required by his Lord?

The Footwear of the Gospel←⤒🔗

The feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. The Romans had placed great em­phasis on the sturdy footwear of their soldiers be­cause only the well-shod army is able to move quick­ly and for long distances. The soldier must not be shod with the sandal common to Jewish life. The soldier in the spiritual battle must be ready at any time to move against the opponent. The shoes do not picture the gospel itself, but the preparation to use the gospel! To "buy up the opportunity." To be ready when the opportunity presents itself to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Shield of Faith←⤒🔗

The believer is also commanded to take up the shield of faith wherewith he may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. The opponents would dip their arrows in a tar-like substance, light them, and then shoot at the opposing army. The shield which the Roman soldier carried was to be used to defend against these arrows. If one would get beyond the shield, great damage would be done and life would be threatened. To say that the Chris­tian warrior must go out in faith is saying the ob­vious. But, what does this faith accomplish? It is your shield, says the Apostle. Only with that faith will you be able to extinguish the fiery darts which the evil one, the devil, sends at you! Without faith no one will be able to stand. Notice, however, that even when that faith is exercised it does not mean that the evil one will not fire his arrows at the Christian; it only means that these arrows will not penetrate to do vital damage to his person.

The Helmet of Salvation←⤒🔗

"And take the helmet of salvation." Who would go into battle with his head uncovered? Such a person would be courting disaster. The soldier of Paul's day placed a sturdy helmet on his head to protect that vital part of the body. Salvation plays that role in the battle of faith, says the Apostle. It is offered! Who would be so foolish that he would not take it? If his salvation is still questionable, a person will soon fall in battle with the evil one. This writer also be­lieves that this salvation protects his thinking. Hav­ing salvation through the blood of Christ, he will not fall victim to the false philosophies of the world.

The Sword of the Spirit — the Word of God←⤒🔗

The Christian must also take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This is really the only offensive weapon mentioned. There are some commentators who see offensive properties in some of the other parts of this armor, but this seems far­fetched. However, the sword is the primary weapon of offense. No soldier is merely going to stand on the battlefield well-protected against all opposing weap­ons; he is there first of all to conquer! The only offen­sive weapon of the Christian, says Paul, is the word of God! But, remember, that is the sword of the Spirit. It is Spirit filled and directed. With that sword one is able to vanquish any foe. Let the Chris­tian realize that with this sword he invades the ter­ritory of the opposition and conquers the opposition. The child of God is not standing, though well-protected, on a battlefield to see whether or not he will be able to endure. No, he must go on the attack! That sword has wrought great things! If that sword is blunted in any way, the Christian is helpless. The imagery used by the apostle in this chapter should alert us to the dangers whereby we are surrounded. It is not only Satan's arrows which we are to fear; we are to fear the attempts to take the sword of the Spirit out of our hands!

Completely Equipped←⤒🔗

Equipped with this whole armor of God (panoply), the believer will be able to stand. He is not placed as a defenseless individual in the midst of this world. The Lord does not throw him to the wolves! God gives him whatever he needs to be able not only to stand, but even to rob Satan of his ill-gotten goods. The Christian is not able to get along with less than that which is here offered. He must take up the whole armor of God!

Indispensible Prayer←⤒🔗

The whole armor of God reveals to us how much the believer has received out of the hand of his God to be able to function in the way he should in this world. Many indeed are the spiritual gifts given to the child of God. Properly using these he will be able to stand in the evil day. However, there is one other item absolutely necessary in order that he may be able to stand. This is prayer. He cannot live without it. He must even put on each part of the armor prayerfully. This is also the way he goes into battle — with prayer and supplication. He prays on all oc­casions and he does so in harmony with the Spirit of God. Such a person perseveres in prayer for all the saints. He lives in the spirit of the communion of saints. Prayers one for another are natural to those who love the Lord.

Paul also asks that the readers may remember him in their prayers. We must remember that he was in prison at the time he wrote this epistle. This was the first imprisonment at Rome. He does not ask them to pray for his release, but that "utterance may be given unto me." He prays that he will be found faithful in the infrequent occasions he has to bear testimony to his Lord. Of course, he is not able to go out to preach the gospel as in former days. But, he is in the presence of members of the Roman guard. He may also be brought into a courtroom again. Let him then be able to give the word of God to those who are his jailors. Boldness in making known the mystery of the gospel will be difficult. May he have the spiritual strength in that day to be faithful!

Ambassador in Chains←⤒🔗

The fact that he is in prison is not one which he seeks to hide as though he is ashamed of it, because he is being held in prison on account of his faithful­ness. Those who are not faithful to their Lord are not being imprisoned by Caesar. It is a badge of honor that he is in prison. But, he is an "ambassador" in prison. He is the emissary of the great King. Sure­ly, the King whom he represents will not allow him to remain in prison! Let those who have incarcer­ated him realize that they are hereby bringing dishonor on the name of the King whom Paul repre­sents. We would also think that this man ought to be free to publish abroad the gospel of Jesus Christ. But no, his Lord allows him to be imprisoned so that he may speak to an individual here and another later and that he may have time to write these glorious prison epistles!

Faithful Helpers←⤒🔗

There has been concern in the churches about the Apostle's welfare. The very fact that they receive an epistle from his hand cheers them but they would like to know more of the details concerning his life. Tychicus is bringing this letter. He is a most depend­able helper of Paul. When he comes they will be able to ask Tychicus and he will be able to tell them how Paul is doing. What a blessing that this man has helpers whom he can trust. He can trust them with the precious letters which have been laboriously written and can also trust them to comfort the hearts of the members of the churches. Timothy and Titus are such helpers, as is also Tychicus. Paul al­ways has the welfare of the churches in mind. He is afraid that the people may fall away from the way which he has shown them. They must be helped. They must not draw the wrong conclusions from the fact that he is imprisoned. Let them put on the whole armor of God prayerfully, and let them remember him in these prayers.

Benediction←⤒🔗

A beautiful benediction closes the book. He speaks of peace and love and faith and grace to be given to them by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Many have wondered about the order in which these blessings are named. This is a totally useless exercise. All these blessings belong to the brethren. All these proceed only from the Triune God. The Apostle ends with a beautiful description of the "brethren." They are those who love the Lord Jesus Christ with an imperishable love.

In the communion of saints; in the body of Jesus Christ; in the church of our Blessed Redeemer are all the blessings found of which he has spoken in this letter. It is a wonderful benefit to belong to the true church of Christ!

Questions for Discussion:←⤒🔗

1.  How are the details of an illustration sometimes pressed so that we lose sight of the meaning the author has in mind? Is this also done with the in­terpretation of parables?
    
2.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 the same author speaks of "the breastplate of faith and love," while here he speaks of the "breastplate of righteousness." Is there a conflict? Must these passages be harmonized? Or could you imagine that this "breast­plate" might even mean other things in other con­nections?
    
3. Is the "sword of the Spirit which is the word of God" still quite sharp today? Do those who deny the factual character of any part of Scripture still have the "sword of the Spirit"?
    
4.  Can anything be accomplished, even in full armor, without prayer?
    
5. Would any king worthy of the name, allows his ambassador to another land to be imprisoned? Do God's ways sometimes shake our faith?
    
6.  Why is Ephesians an important part of Scripture?