NAME: ODERINDE DAVIDSON ENIOLA

MATRIC NUMBER: 212576

DEPARTMENT: COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE ARTS

COURSE: RCS 425 – STUDIES IN EPISTLES II

TASK: Identify The Weapons Paul Highlighted In Ephesians 6: 10-24, And Their Uses.

Ephesians 6:10-24 encapsulates a profound metaphorical depiction of spiritual warfare,

where the apostle Paul employs the imagery of a Roman soldier's armor to illustrate the
spiritual weapons essential for believers in their battle against the forces of darkness. In this
passage, Paul delineates various components of the believer's armor and their corresponding
uses, emphasizing the need for spiritual readiness and resilience in the face of adversity.
Through an in-depth exploration of these weapons and their significance, we gain valuable
insights into Paul's understanding of spiritual warfare and its practical application in the
Christian life.

THE ARMOR OF GOD

The true source of strength for the believer is not physical weaponry or carnal ability. As Paul
saliently notes, the armor of God is only effective if the believer places complete trust in God.
Paul commands the believer to be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
Despite the fact that God has provided the believer with the necessary apparatus by which to
withstand the “wiles of the devil”, the Christian must not lose sight that every element of the
armor of God is the creation of God and thus is His provision.

Another vital aspect of the armor of God is the mandate to put on the “full armor of God.” A
soldier who goes into battle missing any element of his armor is in peril of being struck down
by the enemy in the very area where the armor is either weak or absent. Additionally, the
believer must properly don all aspects of the armor of God. As noted by Puritan theologian
William Gurnall “the powers of the one and the senses of the other are divinely protected. No
part is left exposed…God designs each part of the armor for a particular purpose; therefore,
the saint must be properly attired…the saint is called to keep his armor ready for use and
shining.”
This imagery, when combined with that of a soldier who is refined in the art of close-combat
warfare, provides a complete illustration of the nature by which the believer is to engage the
enemy. The elements of the armor of God, when combined with the visualization of a
wrestler/soldier outlined by Paul in Ephesians 6:12 clearly identify the dangerous nature of
the battle which believers face. More importantly, the armor was “forged on no earthly anvil,
and tempered by no human skill.” The believer must be ever vigilant to depend on the
strength of the Lord to combat evil in his time rejecting any methodology which encourages
human efforts.

BELT OF TRUTH

After making all necessary preparations for battle, Paul exhorts the believer to gird their loins
with the belt or girdle of truth. For the Roman solider, the belt was the aspect of his clothing
which prevented his outer tunic from being an impediment in battle. As noted by author John
MacArthur, “since the greatest part of ancient combat was hand-to-hand, a loose tunic was a
potential hindrance and even a danger.” Early church father Chrysostom notes that Paul is
“setting in contrast, by this metaphor, the soldier who is slack and dissipated in his appetites,
who lets his thoughts creep on the ground…just like the keel of a ship the loins are the central
balancing support of our whole body.” Essentially, without the girdle, the soldier would be
veritably unable to successfully stand in battle.

The importance of the girdle to the Roman soldier was immense and the parallels for the
believer are equally important. The spiritual application of this portion of the armor of God
resides in the nature of the truth the believer is to depend on. We are commanded not to be
dependent on our self-prescribed intellectual acumen, but rather a thorough comprehension of
the truth that is outlined in God’s Word. As noted by theologian Jack Cottrell, “just knowing
what the Bible teaches is not enough, however; we must also believe the truth and love the
truth.”20 The Word of God is to be our sound foundation for the distinction between truth
and falsehood. As the girdle served as the point of balance for the Roman soldier the Bible
must serve as the underpinning of the believer.

Furthermore, just as the girdle took the slack out of the Roman soldier’s cloak enabling him
to be ready at all times for battle, truth enables the believer to avoid being “slack in his
dealings with God or with himself.” Christians should take inventory of their spiritual life in
order to identify anything which has the potential of encumbering their ability to fight the
enemy. Paul reminds believers in Second Corinthians 10:5 to bring into captivity “every
thought to the obedience of Christ.” This concept is also explicated in Hebrews 12:1 where
the author urges believers to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily
entangles us.”

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The breastplate was a sleeveless piece of armor that covered the Roman soldier from the neck
to the thighs and typically consisted of two parts – the front and the back. A soldier who went
to battle without his breastplate would be exposed to “every thrust of his enemy and even to
every random spear. In such a state flight or death is inevitable.” This essential piece of armor
protected the soldier from attack at all angles though the greatest point of protection would
have been allotted to the front of the soldier’s body.

The spiritual application of the breastplate is noteworthy. Paul urges believers to put on the
“righteousness which is from God in faith” (Philippians 3:8-9). This type of righteousness
cannot be attained by attempts at moral rectitude apart from faith in God. Isaiah 59:17 depicts
God as putting on a “breastplate of righteousness” and “garments of vengeance” as He
assailed His enemies and those who sought to attack His children. In many respects, to be
clothed in righteousness and to stand before God “not condemned but accepted – is an
essential defense against an accusing conscience and against the slanderous attacks of the evil
one.”

A believer who wholeheartedly depends on God for righteousness and justification in their
life will find that the “completeness of pardon for past offense and the integrity of character
that belong to the justified life, are woven together into an impenetrable mail.” Paul exhorts
the believer to be justified by faith donning the breastplate of righteousness in order to
withstand the full “bodily” assault of the enemy.

FEET SHOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE

Roman soldiers typically wore what was known as a caligae; a half boot used especially for
long marches. This type of sandal was normally constructed of tough material with hobnails
to increase traction. Wood notes that the “military successes both of Alexander the Great and
Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies’ being well shod and thus able to
undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain.”
Once again the Apostle Paul hearkens back to the Old Testament in applying the image of the
Roman solder to the life of the believer. Isaiah 52:7 declares “how beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace.” F. F. Bruce
avers that “those who must at all costs stand their ground need to have a secure footing; in the
spiritual conflict, this is supplied by the gospel, appropriated and proclaimed.” It is the
kerygma of the salvific message of Christ which pushes back the advance of the enemy. The
spread of the gospel in

obedience to the command of the Great Commission will do the most damage to the plans of
Satan. As noted by early church father Theodoret, “your footwear is not put on in order that
you may walk about foolishly but to accomplish the course of the gospel.”

Paul also admonishes the believer to a state of “readiness” when donning their spiritual
footwear. This denotes a constant stance of alertness to share the gospel signifying that those
who are “properly equipped with God’s armor have their feet fitted, prepared and ready in
their spiritual warfare.” Furthermore, Paul exhorts believers to stand firm. Typically a phrase
denotes a defensive posture, particularly when couched in military language. In this pericope,
however, Paul urges believers to press the battle into enemy territory “announcing the
promise of divine rescue to captives in the realm of darkness.” An embodiment of this
attitude can be observed in the Apostle Peter’s command in First Peter 3:15 to “be prepared
to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have.” This demands a
constant commitment to the study of God’s word to effectively spread the message of the
gospel of peace to a world that increasingly succumbs to the wiles of the devil.

SHIELD OF FAITH

A shield worn by a typical Roman soldier was constructed of wood covered with leather
creating a flame retardant mode of protection. This type of shield, called the thereos, was
utilized by soldiers who were positioned in the front lines of the battle. The thereos covered
the soldier’s entire body and when a row of soldiers stood side by side in battle, they formed
a protective phalanx against the flaming arrows that were the typical method of assault used
by their enemies. Additionally, as noted by Snodgrass, this type of shield was not used purely
for defensive measures “for a line of soldiers with interlocked shields and weapons poised
could push right through enemy ranks.”

The importance of the shield of faith cannot be overstated. As with other elements of the
armor of God, the metaphor of the shield is also depicted in the Old Testament. A shield is
portrayed as the protection of God for His people (Gen. 15:1, Ps. 5:12). Proverbs 30:5 states
that God is a “shield to those who take refuge in Him.” O’Brien avers that to take the shield
of faith, is to “appropriate the promises of God on our behalf, confident that He will protect
us in the midst of the battle.”

Taking up the shield of faith is essential if the believer expects to withstand the “flaming
arrows of the evil one.” These flaming arrows represent the vicious attacks inflicted
incessantly upon the people of God. The early church fathers believed the flaming arrows
referred to “burning lusts and desires…the satanic assaults, sudden and terrible – such
suggestions to evil, such unaccountable impulses to doubt or blaspheme…as often distract
persons.” By taking up the shield of faith as part of the armor of God, the believer will not
only be able to deflect the attack of the enemy, but they will also be able to extinguish to a
large extent satanic attack. Of vital importance is for the believer to ensure their faith is not
self-contrived. Faith instead must be rooted in God alone. Only by trusting in God’s
sovereignty will the Christian be able to resist the enemy and to take up the shield up faith in
an offensive rather than strictly defensive posture.

HELMET OF SALVATION

The next piece of equipment Paul refers to is the helmet of salvation. The function of the
helmet was the protection of the soldier’s head. The perikephalaia was typically made of
bronze with attachments often added to protect the side of the face. Stott notes that “helmets
were decorative as well as protective, and some had magnificent plumes or crests.” Helmets
often signified rank within the Roman army.

The concept of a helmet is replete throughout scripture. Isaiah 59:17 states that God wears the
helmet of salvation thus referring to the bestowing of salvation to His people. In First
Thessalonians 5:8 Paul discusses putting on the “hope of salvation as a helmet” that believers
will receive at the Parousia while in Ephesians 6:17, the helmet of salvation is viewed as
immediately available to the believers. The salvation provided by God has subsumed within it
aspects of eternal and present security for the Christian as it is also the only true source of
protection against attack both now and eternally. Hodge rightly avers that salvation enables
the believer to “hold up his head with confidence and joy.” Perhaps no other element of the
armor of God brings such peace to the believer when engaging the enemy. Having confidence
in one’s eternal security enables the believer to enter the battle boldly as they “have every
reason to be confident of the outcome of the battle.”
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

The type of sword referred to by Paul is the sword commonly used in close quarter combat.
The machaira was a “short two-edged cut-and-thrust sword wielded by the heavily armed
legionary.” It was typically carried in a leather sheath attached to the soldiers’ belt and was
always at hand ready to be used at a moments notice. MacArthur notes this type of sword was
“carried by the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus in the Garden, wielded by Peter when he cut
off the ear of the high priest’s salve, and used by Herod’s executioners to put James to
death.”

The sword of the spirit is arguably the only strictly offensive weapon mentioned by Paul in
his dialogue on the panoply of God. Paul clearly equates the sword of the spirit with the
Word of God. The Word of God is the “gospel, or revealed will of God – and to us it is in
effect Holy Scriptures, not in any restricted sense, as limited either to its commands or its
threatenings.” Christ set the example for the believer on how to properly wield the sword of
the spirit. When He was tempted by Satan, it was not an eloquent exposition of thought or
keen intellect that enabled Christ to repel Satan’s attacks. Rather it was by utilizing God’s
Word that Christ was able to defeat the enemy. Theologian John Allen saliently notes that “as
Jesus used the words of Scripture to repulse the tempter, so must the Christian the words the
Spirit has inspired to drive away Satan.”

In order to properly wield the sword of the spirit, the Christian must become acutely familiar
with God’s Word. Only through knowledge of Scripture can the believer properly utilize this
element to attack the enemy. As noted by MacArthur, the “Christian who does not know
God’s Word well cannot use it well. Satan will invariably find out where we are ignorant or
confused and attack us there. Scripture is not a broadsword to be waved indiscriminately, but
a dagger to be used with great precision.” Hebrews 4:12 reveals that when appropriately used
“the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as
far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow.” When brought to bear on the
enemy, God’s Word will decimate the enemies’ ranks.

PRAYER FOR THE SAINTS

The Apostle Paul concludes his pericope on spiritual warfare with a reminder to be in an
attitude of alertness constantly praying for our fellow believers. Early church father
Theodoret reminds Christians that “those who have wars continually pressing on them do not
even sleep. Therefore the holy apostle tells them under conditions of battle to keep awake and
pray constantly.” Prayer is a vital component of the armor of God and Paul uses the word
“all” four times in Ephesians 6:18 to remind the believer of the need to make constant
petitions for the saints. Prayer is often one of the most under utilized elements of the
Christians’ spiritual repertoire despite the constant admonition in Scripture to pray. First
Thessalonians 5:17commands us to “pray without ceasing.” Additionally, James 5:16 states
that the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.” Perhaps the most
important example for the believer is the dependence which Christ had on prayer. The
Gospels are replete with

references to Christ spending a copious amount of time in communion with his Father
through prayer.

Not only does Paul admonish believers to pray at all times, he also states that believers
should pray “with all kinds of prayers and requests.” O’Brien comments that the type of
request Paul is referring to is intercession serving to “underscore emphatically the importance
in the Christian’s warfare of believing and expectant prayer.” Intercession is to be made not
only for our fellow saints but for our spiritual leaders as well. Paul asked the church at
Ephesus to keep him in prayer that “whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me
so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for whose sake I am an
ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:19-20). Christians should pray for those whom God has
appointed as spiritual leaders so that these individuals may be attuned to the leading of the
Holy Spirit as they proclaim the gospel.

Finally, Paul outlines the need for Christians to boldly proclaim the gospel of Christ. Hodge
comments that it “becomes the man who is an ambassador of God to speak with boldness,
being assured of the truth and importance of the message which he has to deliver.” A battle
for the hearts of minds of mankind is being waged. A Christian who effectively wields the
power of prayer will be able to not only effectively personally engage the enemy, but,
through intercession for fellow soldiers in the faith, enable others through the power of the
Holy Spirit to themselves engage the enemy camp.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the weapons outlined by Paul in Ephesians 6:10-24 provide a comprehensive

strategy for spiritual warfare, equipping believers to stand firm against the schemes of the
devil and to experience victory in their Christian walk. From the belt of truth to the sword of
the Spirit, each weapon serves a distinct purpose in fortifying the believer's defenses and
enabling them to engage actively in battle against the forces of darkness. By embracing these
spiritual weapons and cultivating a lifestyle of prayer and dependence on God, believers can
effectively resist the enemy and advance the kingdom of God, experiencing the abundant life
and victorious living that Christ has promised to all who follow Him.

References:

Cottrell, Jack. The Faith Once for All. Joplin: College Press Publishing Company, 2002.

Eadie, John. Commentary on Ephesians. Vestavia Hills: Solid Ground Christian Books,
2005.

Bock, Darrell. “A Theology of Paul’s Prison Epistles.” In A Biblical Theology of the New
Testament p. 319. Edited by Roy B. Zuck. Chicago: Moody Press, 1994.

Gurnall, William. The Christian in Complete Armour, Volumes 1-3. East Peoria: Versa
Press, 2009.

O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Ephesians. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdman’s
Publishing Company, 1999.

Snodgrass, Klyne. The NIV Application Commentary: Ephesians. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1996.