Wallace E. Moyer
08/19/90
The Christians Warfare And Its Armaments
" The Whole Armour Of God "
Ephesians 6:10 - 20
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The text in the following notes is from the KJV with
differences from the NKJV in brackets. There are very
brief notes and are not intended to be exhaustive. The
book "Warriors Of Rome" by Michael Simkins (Blandford)
has excellent background on Roman Armor.
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The Christians Warfare And Its Armaments
" The whole armour of God "
I Introduction:
(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles [craftiness] of the devil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul was in prison -- in the imperial city --
Rome -- the very arsenal of that incomparable
engine of conquest --- the Roman Army. The
striking illustrations that follow in this
passage were borrowed from the Roman style of
equipment visible to PAUL as a prisoner.
Verse 12 describes the enemy:
(12) For we wrestle [do] not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world [age] , against spiritual [hosts of]
wickedness in high [heavenly] places.
The demonic hosts of satan assembled for mortal
combat. Christians are at variance with the world
system. The values that are the by-product
(fruit) of the Holy Spirit are the opposite of
the worlds values. We are at war !!
II The whole armor of God:
(13) Wherefore take unto you [up] the whole
armour of God, ~~~~~ ~~~~ that ye may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all, to stand.
First century warfare was the holding of fixed
positions or the assault on those positions.
Today desert warfare or war in any place can be
very mobile. To stand is to "hold the fort" or
not let the line be breached for the entry of the
enemy to our lines.
A. Gird your loins with truth
(14a) Stand therefore, having [girded your waist]
your loins girt about with truth,
An en-girding garment -- the cingulum.
B. Breastplate of righteousness
(14b) and having [put] on the breastplate
of righteousness;
(Lorica - cuirass) This armor protects the vital
mid section of the body where any wound is fatal
- at least at that time.
C. Shod feet with the gospel
(15) And [having] your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace;
Armored sandal with cleats on the bottom with the
upper foot enclosed in a cage work of metal rods
for protection against injury and as facility to
motion. The job of the infantry is to walk. The
ultimate work shoe. Bad foot ware -- or stubbed
toes -- could not check the advance of the great
imperial legions of Rome.
D. Shield of faith
(16) Above all, taking {take not receive} the
shield of faith, [with which you] wherewith ye
shall be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of
the wicked [one].
The Roman shields (scutum) came in many shapes
and styles. While I am not sure which model Paul
was referring to ---- some wooden-frame models
were covered with leather and sometimes soaked in
water, before battle, in order to better deflect
the fiery darts of the enemy.
E. The Helmet of Salvation:
(17a) And take {RECEIVE} the helmet of
salvation, ........sword.....
(galea) Head covering for battle. It was a
symbol of rank and membership in a unit. Very
functional but also decorative. Protected head,
neck, face etc.
F. Sword of the spirit:
(17b ) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God:
The major offensive item mentioned in the list.
The roman sword was designed to stop, stun and
cut the enemy in close personal infantry combat.
It was two edged and sometimes very ornate.
III The warfare of the Christian:
(18) Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, [being watchful to
this end] and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Prayer is a military tactic in the strategic
Christian warfare in this life. Without it we
are headed for defeat.
True Prayer is a consciousness that we are
holding a conversation with our God and Savour.
It is not addressing an emptiness or vacancy in
space.
(19) And for me, that utterance may be given unto
me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make
known the mystery of the gospel,
(20) For which I am an ambassador in [chains]
bonds: that [in it] therein I may speak boldly,
as I ought to speak.
The ambassador depends on the authority of the
government he represents.
IV Are we equipped ?
We daily face spiritual warfare. The implements
of survival and tools for coordinated victory are
given to us by grace from the divine armory.
And they are:
Gird your loins with truth.
~~~~~ =====
Breastplate of righteousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~ =============
Shod feet with the gospel.
~~~~~~~~~ =======
Shield of faith.
~~~~~~ =====
The Helmet of Salvation.
~~~~~~ ==========
Sword of the spirit.
~~~~~ =======
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