The Bible Book

303

See also: The Nature of Faith 236–41 ■ The Crucifixion 258–65 ■ The Road to Emmaus 272–73 ■

The Power of the Resurrection 304–05 ■ The Final Judgment 316–21

ACTS, EPISTLES, AND REVELATION

The Armor of God

According to Ephesians, the

conflict with Satan is a spiritual one.

Thus, one requires a full complement

of spiritual weapons to use against

him and other evils.

Sword of

the Spirit

(6:17)

Feet fitted with

peace (6:15)

Belt of truth

(6:14)

Helmet of

salvation

(6:17)

Breastplate of

righteousness

(6:14)

Shield

of faith

(6:16)

Ephesus Standing on the Aegean coast^

of Asia Minor (roughly modern

Turkey), Ephesus was an

intellectual and cultural hub of

up to 250,000 people and capital

of the Roman province of Asia.

The city was also an important

religious center renowned for

magical practices, mystery cults,

and, above all, the worship of

Artemis, Greek goddess of woods

and hunting and the most

venerated deity of Asia Minor.

Her temple at Ephesus was one

of the seven wonders of the

ancient world and the largest

Greek temple ever built.

According to the Book of Acts,

Paul visited Ephesus twice.

He most likely founded the

community of Christian

believers there on a brief visit

during his second missionary

journey. Later, during his third

mission, Paul spent more than

two years in the city before

he and his companions were

forced to leave—their ministry

success triggered a riot among

silversmiths, who saw them

as a threat to their livelihood,

which depended on making

devotional offerings to the

goddess Artemis.

of God and the authority of the risen

Christ seated “at His right hand in

the heavenly realms, far above all

rule and authority, power, and

dominion” (Ephesians 1:20–21).

Standing firm

Just as God’s power has raised

Christ from the dead, so it has also

raised believers from their pagan

practices. Even so, Ephesians says,

the world and believers are in an

interim state. There is a fullness

yet to come—a further, definitive

stage in history “when the times

reach their fulfillment” and unity

will be brought to “all things in

heaven and on earth under Christ”

(Ephesians 1:10).

Until this happens, believers

are still vulnerable to the ever-

active forces of spiritual evil. For

this reason, they need to “be strong

in the Lord” (6:10), emphasizing

their complete reliance on God

when cultivating courage. Believers

are instructed to put on the “full

armor” of God and stand firm—

a command that is repeated in

Ephesians three times.

The full armor of God is stated

as including truthfulness,

righteousness, salvation, peace,

and faith. Ultimately, Ephesians

is about resisting the assaults of

temptation—originating in both

the individual’s sinful nature and the

spiritual forces of evil—and living

one’s daily life in a truly Christian

way by being moral, honorable,

and loving. ■

Stand firm then,

with the belt of truth

buckled around your waist,

with the breastplate of

righteousness in place,

and with your feet

fitted with ... peace.

Ephesians 6:14–15

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