Ephesians 6:10-20

Previewing in Outline Form (Ephesians 6:10-20)

D.

Put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-20.

1.

Exhortation to be strengthened. Ephesians 6:10-13.

a.

Strengthened in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10.

b.

Strengthened by putting on the armor. Ephesians 6:11; Ephesians 6:13.

c.

Strengthening necessary because our enemies are spiritual. Ephesians 6:12.

2.

The armor described. Ephesians 6:14-17.

a.

Girdle of truth. Ephesians 6:14 a.

b.

Breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14 b.

c.

Feet shod with preparation. Ephesians 6:15.

d.

Shield of faith. Ephesians 6:16.

e.

Helmet of salvaton. Ephesians 6:17 a.

f.

Sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17 b.

3.

Exhortation to prayer. Ephesians 6:18-20.

a.

At all seasons for all saints. Ephesians 6:18.

b.

For Paul. Ephesians 6:19-20.

(1)

That he might speak the right words. Ephesians 6:19 a.

(2)

That he might speak with boldness. Ephesians 6:19-20.

Text (Ephesians 6:10)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

Thought Questions (Ephesians 6:10)

365.

From what source does Paul say we must get our strength?

366.

How can we obtain the help available to us through the strength of God's might?

Paraphrase

10.

Henceforth, my brethren, be strengthened by the access you have to divine help in the Lord, and by the mighty strength which God has made available to help you.

Notes (Ephesians 6:10)

1.

The expression finally carries the idea of For the remainder, or henceforth.

2.

Be strong is better understood in a passive sense, Be strengthened, or Be made strong.

3.

Spiritual strength does not exist in us by nature, and it does not automatically and permanently remain ours when we have once gained it. Redeemed people need to feel dependence at every step.

4.

Paul could say Be strong knowing that he had set an example for the Ephesians and knew every struggle they would have to face.

5.

Strength of his might is an expression describing the power by which God strengthens us, Similar descriptions of His power are in Ephesians 1:19 and Ephesians 3:16. We can avail ourselves of the strength of God's might by putting on the armor of God described in Ephesians 6:14-17, and by prayer.

Fact Questions

314.

In whom are we to be strengthened?

315.

How is the power which God gives to aid us described?

Text (Ephesians 6:11-13)

11 Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

Thought Questions (Ephesians 6:11-13)

367.

What is the armor of God? Is this the armor that God wears, or is it the armor that He provides to us?

368.

What are wiles? Why does the devil use wiles? Is human strength sufficient to stand against the devil's wiles?

369.

What is flesh and blood? Don-'t we have to contend with flesh and blood? Doesn-'t the devil employ flesh and blood to do his work?

370.

How can we be wrestling while wearing armor?

371.

How can we be wrestling with spiritual forces when we cannot see them?

372.

Why is this world called darkness (Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:18)?

373.

Where do the wicked spiritual hosts dwell? How can they harm us from there?

374.

What is the difference between withstand and stand?

375.

What is the evil day in which we must be able to withstand?

376.

After being fully armed and enabled to stand, what are we to do? Upon whom does this place responsibility?

Paraphrase

11.

Put on the complete armor provided by God for us, so that, being fully protected, you may be able to stand firm against the treacherous tricks of the devil, by which he aims to destroy your soul.

12.

It is absolutely necessary to be thus fully armed. For our struggle is not against human beings, flesh and blood, but against the very highest orders of evil angels, those with great power, those that rule over the idolatrous and sinful men in this world of darkness, against wicked spiritual hosts who inhabit the heavenlies, that is, the regions of the air, from whence they conveniently assault us and seek to get us to commit sin.

13.

For this reason, that you wrestle with spiritual enemies, take up the complete armor which God has provided, that you may be able to stand against the assaults of the devil in the day of temptation. Then, having completed all of this preparation, stand with determination and steadfastness.

Notes (Ephesians 6:11-13)

1.

The expression, whole armor, is a translation of the word which we transliterate panoply.

2.

A Christian's own understanding and gifts do not sufficiently arm him, The Christian warrior must fight with weapons divinely provided.

3.

Take the armor of God, Don-'t attempt to make your own.

4.

Satan is a real being, filled with power, great knowledge, and great hate. Only those who make themselves fools by professing great wisdom deny his existence. (See note 6 on Ephesians 2:1-3.)

5.

Our battle with Satan is raging within us, and yet we are scarcely aware of it, The silence of the conflict is one of the perils of it, We are contestants, not spectators who can slumber as they contemplate the struggle.

6.

Wiles are tricks, devices, pits dug in unsuspected places. The devil does not leave us at conversion, but troubles, seduces, and besets us. As we had to depend on Christ to save us at the beginning of our Christian life, so we must still depend on Christ to carry us through. Our strength is in the Lord. As much as man dislikes to admit it, man alone is unable to cope with evil.

7.

Here are some of the wiles of the devil:

(1)

Sin is presented as a virtue, or even as a religious act.

(2)

The vileness of sin is disguised under excuses, such as youth, old age, strong temptation, necessity to keep one's job, or to provide for one's family.

(3)

The hypocrisy of church members is pleaded as an apology for sin.

(4)

God's mercy is stressed and His holiness and judgment ignored.

(5)

The individual is caused to think that he is strong enough to stand against sin (1 Corinthians 10:12).

(6)

Christ is presented as saving us from sin's consequences rather than from sin itself.

(7)

We are told that the majority must be right, and that the saints are few in number and misfits in society.

(8)

We are lulled by the idea that we shall be accepted because of good deeds and offerings, and not because of our relationship to Christ.

8.

We must STAND against the wiles of the devil. In other passages we are told to flee sin (1 Corinthians 6:18), We should flee from temptations to do wrong, but stand fast in doing what is right.

9.

Although we are told to put on armor, as if to fight on a battlefield, we are told that our struggle is also a wrestling. No armor is worn by wrestlers. While there is a mixing of figures of speech here, both the idea of wrestling and the idea of armor are important for our understanding.

We, like Jacob, have to wrestle alone with the enemies of our souls, and with ourselves (Genesis 32:24-31; Hosea 12:3-4). Our struggle is described as wrestling, because it is an individual struggle and does not have the outward clangor of the battlefield. But it is fully as deadly.

10.

The armor of God does not just defend Us, but strengthens us.

11.

If we do not overcome Satan, he will overcome us. It is a struggle for life. We cannot be neutral or make peace with Satan. Satan is mightier than we are. He is invisible; he is near us; he has strong help within us. We lose everything forever if he defeats us now.

12.

We do not fight against flesh and blood, other human beings. Our weapons are not of the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:4). We turn the other cheek. We oppose those who do Satan's work, not because we are against them, but because we are against Satan who works through them.

13.

Concerning the wrestling against the principalities, any adult person knows that nothing goes right in this old world unless God or some good person works to make it go right. We would never know the reason for all of this trouble if the Bible did not tell us that all about us are unseen forces of evil, the devil and his angels, all organized into an efficient army with ranks and authorities. (See notes on Ephesians 3:10.) Satan's forces dwell in the heavenly places, which refers to the region of the air (Ephesians 2:1-2; 1 Peter 5:8; Job 1:7). Satan is the prince of the power of the air (and where do we not contact the air?). We do not see these spiritual hosts, but that is only because we, like the servant of Elisha, do not have our eyes opened to behold spiritual creatures (2 Kings 6:15-17).

14.

This darkness refers to our present world, which is predominantly occupied by those who are darkened in their understanding. (Compare Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18.)

15.

The capacity for producing evil within the spiritual hosts of wickedness is only exceeded by their appetite to do evil.

16.

Withstand carries the idea of standing against, One can stand when he has no adversaries, but he should still be standing after withstanding the assault of the enemy.

17.

We must take up the whole armor of God, If we put on only five out of six pieces, we shall be vulnerable with an Achilles heel, The word all in the expression having done all, means quite all, the whole.

18.

The evil day is the season of temptation, This is usually brief, lasting only a day, But it is the crucial time.

Fact Questions

316.

What are we to put on?

317.

Against what are we to be enabled to stand?

318.

What are wiles?

319.

What are the principalities and powers?

320.

Where are the spiritual hosts of wickedness?

ARMOR

The Romans copied their armor from the Greeks, but changed it considerably during the centuries. The Greeks used bronze for their armor, but the Romans used more iron. The Greeks showed their artistic nature in the design of their armor. Roman armor was less beautiful, but more practical.
The historian Polybius (about 200 B.C.) wrote a description of Roman armor in his time. His description indicates that the Roman armor at that time was much more like the armor of the Greeks than that used near the time of the apostles.
Polybius said that the Roman panoply consisted, in the first place, of a shield (thureos), and that along with the shield was a sword (machaira). Then next came two javelins (hussoi) and a helmet (perikephalaia) and a greave (knemis). The majority, when they had further put on a bronze plate, measuring a span every way, which they wore on their breasts, and called a heart guard (kardiophulax), are completely armed. But those citizens who were assessed at more than 10,000 drachmae wore instead, together with the other arms, curiasses made of chain mail.

Let us consider what the pieces of armor which Paul mentioned in Ephesians were like:

I.

THE BREASTPLATE (or curiass)

This was the principal piece of defensive armor. The Greeks wore a breastplate made of two curved pieces of bronze. One section covered the front of the body, and another the back. These were bound together at each side of the body. A wide bronze band passed over each shoulder, and was coupled to the front and back sections of the breastplate. The Greeks hung wide leather strips from the lower edge of the breastplate to form a sort of skirt. The Greek soldier did not protect his abdomen and thighs because he wanted to keep his movements free.
The original design for the Roman legionary's hooped curiass was borrowed from the Greeks, but the Romans remodeled it to suit their own fancy. Instead of making the breastplate in two large sections, they made it in hoops, which were wrapped around the body like ribs. These were actually supported by the leather tunic to which they were sewn. The hoops were hinged at the back and clasped in front. The shoulder pieces were made in four strips, less cumbersome than the single plate of the Greeks. The leather tabs at the bottom of the curiass were retained by the Romans, and they added others over the upper arms.

II.

GIRDLE

The Roman soldier wore a military belt (Greek, zoster or zone; Latin, balteus). This secured the body armor at the waist and sometimes served as a sword belt. More often the sword was supported by a baldric over the left shoulder.

III.

FOOTGEAR

The Greeks wore sandals and custom-tailored bronze greaves, which covered their ankles, shins, and knees. These greaves were so carefully formed that they required no straps to hold them in place. Goliath wore greaves of brass (1 Samuel 17:6). The Greek word, knemis, used by Paul actually means a greave.

However, the Roman soldiers of Paul's time apparently wore greaves only rarely. They usually wore high-topped sandals, which we might call boot-sandals. It would be much easier to make a long forced march in such footgear than in the greaves of the Greeks.

IV.

HELMET

Helmets were of many styles. Some Greek helmets even had metal coverings over the face, leaving only the eyes exposed. Greek helmets were sometimes adorned with elegant plumes of horsehair.
The Roman legionary's helmet had reinforcing bars crossing one another at the crown of the head. At the crossing of the bars there was a ring to support the crest, Most Roman helmets had hinged cheek guards. The helmets of officers had plumes of feathers or other materials.

V.

SWORD

In its heyday the Roman sword was about twenty-two inches long, double-edged, and perfectly straight, the point at quite an obtuse angle, It was worn on the right side, usually hanging from a sword belt (or baldric), Roman swords were made in Spain.

(Paul naturally omits reference to the Roman soldier's chief offensive weapon, the pilum, an iron-headed, thick-handled spear.)

VI.

SHIELD

The legionary's shield was large and oblong, approximately 2½ feet by 4 feet, The corners were sometimes cut out. It was curved to fit the body. On its face was the insignia and the number of the legion to which its owner belonged. The shields were sometimes made of metal, and sometimes of wood covered on the outside with thick leather, which not only deadened the shock of a missile, but protected the frame of the shield from fire-tipped darts.
These -fiery-darts (falarica) were headed with lead, in or about which some combustible substance was placed and set aflame to destroy enemy defences.

The Romans and Greeks also used small circular shields (Greek, aspis; Latin, clipeus). But the shield to which Paul refers was the large door-like shield. In fact, its Greek name thureos (from thura) means door. The shield of faith is not a small protection, but a large and adequate one.

The Greeks used the large shields to make a solid wall of defence before them. They stood side by side with their shields before them, overlapping the edges. Their long spears were thrust before them. Since the spears were sometimes as much as 21 feet long, and even those carried by the sixth rank projected out well ahead of the front line of shields, any enemy faced a very prickly obstacle. This well illustrates that when Christians stand together, they have greater strength than when they stand alone.

GREEK HOPLITE (foot soldier)

THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

(Ephesians 6:10-20)

This is a lesson which you can teach to children or adults. You will need other notes, illustrations, etc., but the following outline will be helpful. A useful visual aid is The Christian Soldier for flannelboard, by Helen Stephens Leonard, published by Christian Publications, Inc.

INTRODUCTION

1.

Paul saw many Roman soldiers in his lifetime.

a.

A centurion escorted him to Rome (Acts 27:1).

b.

During his two years-' imprisonment in Rome, he was chained to a soldier guard (Acts 28:16-20).

2.

Paul observed the soldier's armor very carefully.

3.

Paul thought about how essential a soldier's armor is.

a.

Without it he is only a civilian.

b.

With it he can defeat a dozen unarmed men.

4.

Paul thought about how he was a soldier for Christ.

5.

Paul thought about the terrible spiritual enemies of the Christian (Ephesians 6:11-12).

6.

Paul thought of the various means of protection that God has provided for the Christian. These he compares to the armor of a Roman soldier.

I.

LOINS GIRDED WITH TRUTH

1.

Describe how Roman armor protected the loins.

2.

Football pants protect the loins of athletes.

3.

Truth girds our loins.

4.

The plain inference is that untruth is deadly.

a.

Denominational doctrines.

b.

Marrying out of the faith.

c.

Evolution, modernism.

II.

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

1.

Describe the Roman breastplate.

2.

The breastplate protects the heart. Bullet-proof vests are still used.

3.

Righteousness and abstaining from vice (such as alcohol, tobacco, cursing, etc.) will protect your life from great harm.

III.

FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL

1.

Describe Roman and Greek footgear.

2.

George Washington's soldiers at Valley Forge had bleeding, shoeless feet. Such soldiers are nearly helpless. The church needs a bleeding heart for lost souls, but not bleeding, crippled feet.

3.

Prepare yourself to march for Christ by memorizing Scriptures, collecting visual aids, reading good books.

IV.

SHIELD OF FAITH

1.

Describe the large door-like shields.

2.

Describe the fiery darts.

3.

Faith protects us from the fiery darts of doubt, despondency, discouragement, dread, disappointment, and death.

V.

HELMET OF SALVATION

1.

Describe Greek and Roman helmets.

2.

Helmets are worn for protection and beauty, both in combat and on dress parade.

a.

Salvation protects (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 4:4).

b.

Salvation makes beautiful (Isaiah 61:3).

VI.

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (the Word of God)

1.

Describe Roman swords.

2.

Skill in handling the Word of God is powerful in both defense and offense.

VII.

KEEP IN CONTACT WITH HEADQUARTERS BY PRAYER (Ephesians 6:18-20)

1.

Walkie-talkies have helped in many battles.

2.

Prayer keeps us in contact with heaven, and helps our fellow-warriors for Christ.

CONCLUSION

1.

Too many churches are hospitals for wounded feelings, and not recruiting centers for soldiers of the cross.

2.

Will you put on the gospel armor to battle for Christ?

Text (Ephesians 6:14-17)

14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(The article on Armor, page 189, and the lesson on page 194 will be helpful in considering this section.)

Thought Questions (Ephesians 6:14-17)

377.

What similarities can you see between truth and a military girdle (or belt)?

378.

Why is the breastplate a most important piece of armor? Why is righteousness like a breastplate?

379.

In what ways is preparation like a soldier's footgear?

380.

Why should we be in armor for conflict, if our gospel is a gospel of peace?

381.

Name three things which you would consider as fiery darts of Satan.

382.

What are the purposes of helmets? Why is salvation like a helmet?

383.

Why is the word of God called the sword of the Spirit? What part did the Holy Spirit have in the creation of the sword of the spirit? In its use? In its effects.

Paraphrase

14.

Stand therefore, having girded your loins about with the truth of the gospel, as soldiers are girded with the military belt; and having put on the breastplate of righteousness as a protection against the mortal injuries of sin.

15.

And, like soldiers who prepare and protect their feet and legs with shoes and greaves, stand, having shod your feet with the preparation needed for preaching the gospel of peace.

16.

In all your arming of yourself, take up the great shield of faith, the firm belief in the doctrines and promises of the gospel, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of Satan, the evil one.

17.

And take the helmet of salvation, as a protection and adornment to the soul; and take ye that sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that you may protect yourself and put your enemies to flight.

Notes (Ephesians 6:14-17)

1.

Other passages referring to the gospel armor are 1 Thessalonians 5:8 and Romans 13:12.

2.

Girded with truth: Too many people are girded with such broadmindedness that they are indifferent to the truth, Such lack of convictions is sickening to the Lord.

3.

Breastplate of righteousness:

He is but naked though locked up in steel,
Whose conscience with unrighteousness is corrupted.

4.

Gospel of peace: We work for peace, even while fighting Satan. We maintain a peaceable spirit toward Satan's followers, while struggling against Satan within them. Peace is both a means and an objective in our warfare.

5.

Shield of faith: To increase faith, it is necessary to study the word of God diligently, since faith comes by hearing. Faith will stop and put out not some, but all of Satan's fiery darts.

6.

Our helmet of salvation keeps us from the fatal effects of temptation, the fear of death, worldly terrors, envy of the rich, etc., so that such things will not pervert our imaginations.

7.

The sword of the Spirit, the word of God, sent Satan scurrying when Jesus used it in the wilderness, saying, It is written (Matthew 4:10-11).

The sword of the Spirit must be wielded to do any good. It cuts deeply (Hebrews 4:12; Acts 7:54). It is both defensive and offensive. God's Spirit inspired the word of God (2 Peter 1:21). When the word of God is preached, God's Spirit causes it to produce good fruit in the human soul. Sometimes the fruit is produced long after the word is preached (Isaiah 55:10-11).

8.

The helmet, pointing toward the skies, is a natural figure of the Christian hope and salvation directed toward a higher and better world.

Fact Questions

321.

With what are our loins to be girded?

322.

What is the Christian's breastplate?

323.

With what is the Christian to be shod?

324.

What is our shield?

325.

From whom do fiery darts come at the Christian?

326.

What is our helmet?

327.

What is the sword of the Christian?

328.

Quote Ephesians 6:10-17 from memory.

Text (Ephesians 6:18-20)

18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, 19 and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Thought Questions (Ephesians 6:18-20)

384.

Is armor enough to make a soldier? Why is there a necessity for prayer?

385.

What is praying in the Spirit? (literally in spirit)

386.

What is there about praying that requires watching?

387.

For whom is prayer to be offered?

388.

What was Paul's specific need in prayer?

389.

Which was more important to Paul, his message or his personal welfare? How can you tell?

390.

What is most unusual about an ambassador being in chains?

Paraphrase

18.

Put on your armor with all prayers of devotion and request, praying thus at every season with earnestness of spirit, and not going to sleep, but watching and persevering in requests for all of the saints.

19.

And especially do you watch in prayer in my behalf, that there may be given unto me the proper words when I open my mouth in defence before the judges, and in speaking to those who daily come to my house (Acts 28:30-31), that I may make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 3:3).

20.

In behalf of that gospel, I execute the office of an ambassador while bound by a chain. And I request your prayers that I may be made bold to speak the gospel as I ought to speak it.

Notes (Ephesians 6:18-20)

1.

It is not armor and weapons alone that make a soldier. Without courage, a man in armor is no soldier. Therefore, prayer is needed.

2.

Prayer is that which is addressed to God (emphasizing devotion), and supplication is seeking or asking (emphasizing need).

3.

Watching means not going to sleep. We should be continuously alert to see needs that should be prayed about.

4.

Praying in spirit probably means praying with earnestness and in a sincere way that will please the Spirit and be aided by the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27).

5.

Prayer should be offered for all saints, and particularly for ministers and leaders. We must not become like Elijah who thought that he was the only one left in Israel that served the Lord (1 Kings 19:10). The battle for the right is not the battle of one person alone. Therefore, we must pray for all the saints.

6.

Utterance here refers to skill in speaking, the faculty of speech, saying the right words at the right time.

7.

An ambassador from one sovereign government to the capital of another nation is a privileged inviolable man. It is unthinkable that an ambassador would be put in chains. Yet Paul thus stood, an ambassador from the kingdom of God, representing his sovereign in Caesar's court, bound with a chain. It is a strange and moving scene.

8.

Concerning Paul's chain, Paul was tied to the soldier with a chain fixed on his right wrist, and fastened to the soldier's left arm. The chain was of such length that the two could walk together with ease, wherever the apostle's affairs called him. The soldiers who were thus chained to Paul no doubt received great benefit from the apostle's conversation and preaching, and some were doubtless won to Christ.

9.

Boldness is the great need of ministers. Even Paul needed it. (Compare Acts 4:29.)

Fact Questions

329.

What were the Ephesians to be doing while taking up the armor of God (Ephesians 6:18)?

330.

In what were they to pray (Ephesians 6:18)?

331.

When did Paul desire the Ephesians to pray (Ephesians 6:18)?

332.

For whom were the prayers to be offered?

333.

What did Paul wish the Ephesians to ask on his behalf?

334.

What office did Paul fulfill in bonds?