Among the many images that Saint Paul uses to describe spiritual realities when he writes to various Christian communities of the first century, the metaphor of the armor of God in his letter to the Ephesians is one of the more intriguing.
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Throughout his letters, Paul uses various metaphors in reference to Greco-Roman life to describe the spiritual life. For example, in his letter to the Corinthians he compares the self-disciple of the spiritual life to the training of an athlete, “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1 Cor. 9:25).
God’s Armor
At first glance, Paul’s use of armor to describe the spiritual tools necessary to do battle appears to be in the same vein. Yet Paul being a scripture scholar steeped in the Old Testament is most likely drawing this illustration from the image of God’s spiritual armor rather than the military gear worn by a Roman soldier in the first century.(1)
While the Roman soldier at the time certainly would have worn all the pieces of armor that Paul mentions, the way in which Paul compares it to the spiritual armor necessary to defeat the Enemy is reminiscent of God “suiting up for battle” against Israel’s foes.(2)
Over the next few weeks, we will take a closer look at this famous passage and show the context that Paul is speaking into as well as the many similarities of his description of spiritual armor to that which is found in the Old Testament. In the end, Paul seeking to encourage his fellow Christians on the road toward sanctity makes an important link in the minds of his readers to the power and glory of God and how He is the one who will equip them for battle.
The following is the passage from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that will be examined:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
(Ephesians 6:10-20 RSV-CE)
Context
Immediately preceding this passage in Ephesians is a series of exhortations of Paul regarding the renunciation of pagan immorality and the practice of obedience in a Christian household in imitation of Christ. What Paul is doing is transitioning from negative admonitions to positive admonitions.(3) He starts out chapter five instructing the Ephesians to avoid any “immorality and all impurity or covetousness” and instructs them to not take “part in the unfruitful works of darkness” or even “associate” with those who walk in the way of “darkness” (Eph. 5:3,7 & 11).
Paul then transitions into positive admonitions by urging them to “t to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:21). He takes this general principal and then makes it particular in regards to wives and husbands, children and parents and slaves and masters. After the above-mentioned passage, since it is one of the final chapters, Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians with his typical farewell.
It is in this context that St. Paul urges the Ephesians to “Put on the whole armor of God.”
In the next few weeks, we will break down the passage and examine it closely to discover what type of armor God chooses to go into battle and where it can be found in the Old Testament. By learning God’s armor, we can then know how we can be successful in defeating the Enemy and save our own soul from his greedy hands.
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(1) Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch, “Ephesians,” In The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament, (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010), 353.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Nils Alstrup Dahl, “Ephesians,” In Harper’s Bible Commentary, edited by James L. Mays et al., (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988), 1218.