Paul's Armor of God in Ephesians 6 Context
In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul instructs believers to "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11, 6:13 ESV). This imagery, likely inspired by the Roman soldiers Paul would have observed while imprisoned in Rome, serves as a metaphor for the spiritual resources God provides for believers to resist evil [4, 7].
The command to "put on" the armor implies that God has already prepared it; believers merely need to appropriate it [5]. John Gill notes that this armor is called "the armor of God" because it is divinely provided, spiritual in nature, intended for God's battles, and its efficacy comes from Him [6]. The purpose of donning this armor is "to stand against the strategies of the adversary" (Ephesians 6:11 Rotherham) and "to withstand in the evil day" [1, 2]. The "evil day" refers to times of intense spiritual assault from Satan [5].
Paul's emphasis is not on the precise function of each piece of armor, but on the overall provision of God's gifts for defense against spiritual attacks [4]. The armor is primarily defensive, enabling believers to "stand firm" against the devil's schemes [3, 4, 8]. Adam Clarke suggests that this divine armor renders believers "invulnerable and immortal" when properly used [10]. The repetition of the exhortation in Ephesians 6:13 underscores its importance, especially given the powerful spiritual enemies mentioned in the preceding verse [9].
The concept of "putting on" the armor is linked by some commentators to "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14), suggesting that being in Christ and living as a "new man" is integral to wearing God's armor [7]. This spiritual equipment allows believers to maintain their ground and resist the devil's attacks, ensuring they can stand firm even when evil seems to prevail [3, 4].
Sources
- Ephesians “Ephesians 6:11 (Rotherham) — Put on the complete armour of God, with a view to your having power to stand against the strategies of the adversary;”
- Ephesians “Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. -- Ephesians 6:13”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 6:13: 6:13 God’s armor gives believers the ability to resist the attacks of the devil in the time of evil—when evil seems to prevail—and to keep standing firm.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 6:14: 6:14-17 Paul uses the physical armor worn by Roman soldiers as imagery for spiritual armor used by believers. Most of this equipment is to defend, not to attack. Paul’s focus is not on the precise functions of each piece but on God’s gifts. Grounding in Christ and Scripture provides protection and ability to stand your ground (cp. Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8-9). 6:14 God’s righteousness: Either the righteousness God credits to those who believe in Christ, or the righteous way of life brought about by the transforming work of the Spirit of God in believers’ lives. The on”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 6:13: take . . . of God--not "make," God has done that: you have only to "take up" and put it on. The Ephesians were familiar with the idea of the gods giving armor to mythical heroes: thus Paul's allusion would be appropriate. the evil day--the day of Satan's special assaults (Eph 6:12, Eph 6:16) in life and at the dying hour (compare Rev 3:10). We must have our armor always on, to be ready against the evil day which may come at any moment, the war being perpetual (Psa 41:1, Margin). done all--rather, "accomplished all things," namely, necessary to t”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 6:11: Put on the whole armour of God,.... Not that which God himself is sometimes clothed with, and uses against his enemies; but what he has provided for his people, and furnishes them with; the particulars of which are after mentioned: and it is called "the armour of God", because it is prepared by him for his people, and is bestowed on them by him; and because it is in its own nature divine and spiritual, and not carnal; and because it is provided for fighting the Lord's battles, and is used in them; and because the efficacy of it is from him, and the execution it doe”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 6:11: the whole armour--the armor of light (Rom 13:12); on the right hand and left (Co2 6:7). The panoply offensive and defensive. An image readily suggested by the Roman armory, Paul being now in Rome. Repeated emphatically, Eph 6:13. In Rom 13:14 it is, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ"; in putting on Him, and the new man in Him, we put on "the whole armor of God." No opening at the head, the feet, the heart, the belly, the eye, the ear, or the tongue, is to be given to Satan. Believers have once for all overcome him; but on the ground of this fundament”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 6:11: 6:11 Put on all of God’s armor: See Rom 13:12; 2 Cor 10:4-5. It is only by the Lord’s protection that a believer can stand firm against all strategies of the devil (cp. 1 Pet 5:8-9).”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 6:13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,.... This is a repetition of the exhortation in Eph 6:11; which repetition seems necessary by reason of the many powerful enemies mentioned in the preceding verse, and serves to explain what is meant by putting it on: and leads on the apostle to give an account of the several parts of this armour: the end of taking it is much the same as before, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day; that is, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles and stratagems of Satan, against his power and might, to oppose his”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 6:13: Wherefore - Because ye have such enemies to contend with, take unto you - assume, as provided and prepared for you, the whole armor of God; which armor if you put on and use, you shall be both invulnerable and immortal. The ancient heroes are fabled to have had armor sent to them by the gods; and even the great armor-maker, Vulcan, was reputed to be a god himself. This was fable: What Paul speaks of is reality. See before on Eph 6:11 (note). That ye may be able to withstand - That ye may not only stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, but ”