Ephesians 6:10-20

THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR

The closing section of the Ep. St Paul has described in Ephesians 2:2 the condition of the world out of which Christians had been taken, and in which (Ephesians 5:6-13) they have still to let their light shine in ‘evil days’ (Ephesians 5:16). He has shown positively how the key to the due fulfilment of all natural human relationships is found as they are seen on both sides ‘in the Lord.’ He comes now in conclusion to apply the same key to the solution of the problem presented by the relation of the Christian to the forces of evil by which he is beset during his path through the world. The right attitude is that of a soldier who is exposed to constant and insidious attacks on the part of spiritual foes, and who has to realize, appropriate, and never lay aside the armour which is his ‘in the Lord.’ In his earliest extant Epistle (1 Thessalonians 5:8) St Paul had thrown out a hint that the imagery of Isaiah 59:17 had a Christian application. Again in Romans 13:12; Romans 13:14 a command to ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ,’ picks up and interprets a command to put on ‘the armour of light.’ Now, as a prisoner continually in charge of a Roman soldier he elaborates the figure in detail. His main interest however is no doubt centred in the O.T. analogies from the figure of Jehovah coming forth as a Warrior to deliver and avenge His people (Isaiah 59:15 ff; cf. Isaiah 63:1 f.) into which features had already been taken up from the portrait of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:5). The O.T. picture had struck the imagination of the writer of Wis 5:18-20. It is doubtful however if Wis 5:18-20 has affected in any way St Paul’s treatment of the subject.