Ephesians 6:14-15 Commentary
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Ephesians 6:14-15 Commentary PREVIOUS EPHESIANS - CHRIST AND THE CHURCH NEXT Click chart to enlarge Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission SYMMETRY OF EPHESIANS EPHESIANS 1-3 EPHESIANS 4-6 The Root The Fruit Spiritual Wealth Spiritual Walk Christian Privilege Christian Conduct The Position The Practice of the Believer of the Believer God Sees World Sees Us in Christ Christ in Us Privilege Practice Doctrine Duty Doctrinal Practical Revelation Responsibility Christian Christian Blessings Behavior Belief Behavior Privileges Responsibilities of the Believer of the Believer Our Heritage Our Life In Christ In Christ Know your Live by faith in the light of your Resources (Riches) in Christ Resources (Riches) in Christ The Finished Work The Faithful Walk of Christ of the Christian Work Work of Christ of Christ In Us Through Us We Christ in Christ in Us Word Walk of God of the Christian Heavenly Earthly Standing Walk Who You Are Whose You Are In Christ In Christ Identity Responsibility Position Practice of the Believer of the Believer Theology Ethics Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, (NASB: Lockman) Greek: stete (2PAAM) oun perizosamenoi (AMPMPN) ten osphun humon en aletheia, kai endusamenoi (AMPMPN) ton thoraka tes dikaiosunes Amplified: Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, (Amplified Bible - Lockman) NLT: Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: Take your stand then with truth as your belt, righteousness your breastplate, (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: Stand therefore, having girded your loins in the sphere of truth, and having clothed yourself with the breastplate of righteousness, Young's Literal: Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about in truth, and having put on the breastplate of the righteousness STAND FIRM THEREFORE, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH: stete (2PAAM) oun perizosamenoi (AMPMPN) ten osphun humon en aletheia: Ep 5:9; Isaiah 11:5; Luke 12:35; 2Corinthians 6:7; 1Peter 1:13 Ephesians 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Ephesians 6:14: Spiritual Warfare - 3 - Wayne Barber Ephesians 6:14 Protected by Truth and Righteousness - Steven Cole Ephesians 6:14 The Believer's Armor, Part 1 The Belt of Truthfulness - John MacArthur Ephesians 6:14 The Believer's Armor, Part 2 The Breastplate of Righteousness - John MacArthur Ephesians 6:14 The Armor of God: The Belt of Truthfulness and The Breastplate of Righteousness - John MacArthur STAND FIRM SAINTS OF GOD Stand firm therefore - this is the third time Paul calls on believers to stand firm (see notes Ephesians 6:11; 6:13) thus emphasizing the need for immovable steadfastness in the face of a relentless, ruthless foe. Stand firm (2476) (histemi) means literally to support oneself on the feet in an erect position. It means to take up or maintain a specified position or posture. In context it conveys the idea of digging in (the Roman sandals had spikes for this purpose). From a practical standpoint one stands firm by living the obedient, Scripture–dominated, Spirit–empowered life - the Spirit in such a state is not quenched or grieved and strengthens the obedient believer to stand firm. The greatest weapon we have in warfare is not what we say to the devil but how we live the ''Christ life''. Obey, surrender, submit for this is your greatest weapon. It's not binding but it's bowing, saying ''yes'' to Jesus and committing to do His Word...at the moment He says it...then at that moment you become a fortress against the devil. Again Paul like a military general barks out a command to the troops of saints to stand firm. Thea orist imperative conveys a sense of urgency. Do it now! Don't delay! The active voice means that we must make the choice to stand firm. God gives us the want to and the enablement but He won't force us to choose to stand. We must live in light of the fact that just as much as "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life," so it is true that "Satan hates you and has a terrible plan for your life" - we do have an enemy who wishes us nothing but evil Using the metaphor of a battle, in the military sense to stand firm meant to hold a watch post or to stand and hold a critical position on a battlefield while under attack! The intent of Paul's exhortation is not unlike that of our Lord to the embattled church at Thyatira, whom He commanded, “hold fast (aorist imperative) until I come” (Re 2:25-note). The believer needs to be strengthened in the inner man, letting our mind be affected by the truth, and letting the Spirit of Christ motivate us (Ezekiel 36:27, Php 2:12-note) and live His life through you. Stand firm by being in His word, obeying His word, repenting quickly and returning to your first Love. If you are disobedient you are deceived and a deceived person doesn't even know it! Furthermore when you are deceived you are primed for defeat! That is how good the Deceiver is. Remember his territory is the darkness, this present evil world system, and even though believers have been transferred out of darkness and into God's marvelous light, we can still choose to place ourselves under his domain of darkness when we willingly disobey God's Word. Therefore (3767) (oun) introduces a logical result or inference from what precedes. Whenever you encounter a term of conclusion, pause to ponder what is the writer concluding? The items of armor appear in the order in which a soldier would put them on and together make up the full armor (panoplia) every soldier had put on before taking the field in mortal combat. Expositor's Greek Testament - First in the list of these articles of equipment is mentioned the girdle. Appropriately so; for the soldier might be furnished with every other part of his equipment, and yet, wanting the girdle, would be neither fully accoutered nor securely armed. His belt was no mere adornment of the soldier, but an essential part of his equipment. Passing round the loins and by the end of the breastplate (in later times supporting the sword), it was of especial use in keeping other parts in place, and in securing the proper soldierly attitude and freedom of movement.” (Ephesians 6 Commentary) The Belt (Girdle) Having girded (4024) (perizonnumi from perí = about or around + zonnumi = gird, gird around especially with a belt) means to gird all around as preparation for work or activity. Figuratively, perizonnumi speaks of readiness for activity while ungirding denotes rest. This picture derives from the custom of shortening the long flowing garments of Orientals which were pulled up and knotted at the waist for freedom of movement. The idea is to tuck up one’s long garment by pulling it through a belt. From the belt hung the scabbard in which the soldier's sword was sheathed. The belt tied tightly around the waist indicated that a soldier was ready for combat. Conversely, to slacken the belt equated with the soldier going off duty, something that is never to be in a Christian soldier. We are always on duty, for our foe never rests. In the middle voice perizonnumi means you yourself have to fasten on the belt, wrapping yourself around. No one can accomplish this girding for you. Salmond notes that "The soldier might be furnished with every other part of his equipment, and yet, wanting the girdle, would neither be fully accoutered nor securely armed. His belt...was no mere adornment of the soldier, but an essential part of his equipment...it was of especial use in keeping other parts in place, and in securing the proper soldierly attitude and freedom of movement." Vine summarizes the uses of perizonnumi writing that it means... to gird around or about, is used (a) literally, of girding oneself for service, Luke 12:37; 17:8; for rapidity of movement, Acts 12:8; (b) figuratively, of the condition for service on the part of the followers of Christ, Luke 12:35; Eph. 6:14; (c) emblematically, of Christ’s Priesthood, Rev. 1:13, indicative of majesty of attitude and action, the Middle Voice suggesting the particular interest taken by Christ in girding Himself thus; so of the action of the angels mentioned in 15:6. (Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson) There are 31 uses of perizonnumi in the Septuagint (LXX) Ex 12:11; Jdg 3:16; 1 Sa 2:4, 18; 2 Sa 3:31; 20:8; 21:16; 1 Ki. 20:32; 2 Ki. 1:8; 3:21; 1 Chr. 15:27; Ps. 18:32, 39; 30:11; 45:3; 65:6, 12; 93:1; 109:19; Isa. 3:24; 15:3; 32:11; Jer. 1:17; 4:8; 6:26; 49:3; Lam. 2:10; Ezek. 7:18; 44:18; Da 10:5; Joel 1:8, 13 Here are some representative uses... Exodus 12:11 'Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded (LXX = perizonnumi), your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste-- it is the LORD's Passover. Psalm 18:32 The God who girds me with strength, And makes my way blameless?..39 For Thou hast girded me with strength for battle; Thou hast subdued under me those who rose up against me.