armored

Armor was a common sight when Paul wrote his letter to the Christ followers in Ephesians.

They would have seen Roman soldiers walking about around town, controling & protecting it.

They would have seen troups passing through town, on their way to or from a place of confrontation or battle.

So they would have been very familiar with armor of the day, & its functions in any scenario.

Armor was something a person wore for one reason - protection

Paul uses that armor as an illustration of what the Ephesian Christ followers had to be & do to survive in the Roman world - a world still very, very hostile toward what the Christ followers believed.



Ephesians 6

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

        12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,

        but against evil rulers

       and authorities of the unseen world,

       against mighty powers in this dark world,

       and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.


13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.

Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

14 Stand your ground,

        putting on the belt of truth

        and the body armor of God's righteousness.

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News

        so that you will be fully prepared.

16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

17 Put on salvation as your helmet,

and take the sword of the Spirit,

     which is the word of God.