“Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.”EPHESIANS 6:13 · BSB · READ THE CHAPTER →Greek: panoplia (G3833), the full armor
Paul wrote Ephesians as a prisoner. He called himself an ambassador in chains, and he likely spent his days within sight of Roman soldiers. He looked at their gear and saw a picture of how a believer stands.
The word for whole armor is panoplia, the complete equipment of a heavy-armed soldier. Not a few pieces. All of it. The belt of truth held everything together. The breastplate of righteousness guarded the heart. The shoes gave grip and readiness so a soldier would not be pushed back.
The shield Paul names is the thureos, a large shield shaped like a door that covered most of the body. Some historians suggest soldiers soaked their leather-covered shields in water so flaming arrows would sputter out on impact. That is faith: soaked in God's Word, so the fiery darts of accusation and fear go out when they hit.
The helmet of salvation guards the mind. And then comes the one offensive weapon: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The word for word here is rhēma, often used of a spoken word. The sword is the machaira, a short blade for close combat. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He fought with three spoken sentences from Deuteronomy, each starting “It is written.”
Notice the goal of all this armor. Not to charge, but to stand: having done everything, to stand. Paul's very next words are about praying always. The armor is put on in prayer, and the battle is won on your knees. Get dressed every morning.
- Which piece of armor have you been leaving off?
- What verses do you have memorized and ready to speak when you're attacked?
- Is prayer your first weapon or your last resort?
Pray through the armor piece by piece every morning this week before you look at your phone.
Jesus didn't die to make you comfortable. He died to make you His.