Ephesians 6:11

[Van]

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (NASB)

Full Armor is a translation of a single Greek word. Perhaps a better translation would be the full or complete battle implements. Both offensive hardware and defensive protection.

If we read this verse and the following passage we find our battle is with spiritual forces, and thus spiritual weapons and protections are in view.

Our protective gear starts with girding our spiritual loins with "truth."

Next we don the breastplate of righteousness.

We shod our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.

We take up our shield of faith.

And we put on the helmet of our salvation.

Finally we wield the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.

Note that our foundation is our preparation, our study, our diligence and our commitment girded in truth.

 

[canadyjd]

An argument from silence has little value

peace to you

 

[Van]

An argument from silence has little value
peace to you

Right, nothing in the OP is actually mentioned in the passage. Got it...

 

[canadyjd]

Right, nothing in the OP is actually mentioned in the passage. Got it...

I apologize. I thought I was posting in another thread. I don’t know how it ended up here.

I actually thought your post was informative and very interesting.

Again, I didn’t intend for that post to be here. I thought I was posting in a thread concerning there is no mention of the destruction of Jerusalem in New Testament gospels or letters.

peace to you

 

[Van]

I apologize. I thought I was posting in another thread. I don’t know how it ended up here.

I actually thought your post was informative and very interesting.

Again, I didn’t intend for that post to be here. I thought I was posting in a thread concerning there is no mention of the destruction of Jerusalem in New Testament gospels or letters.

peace to you

Now I feel bad, and sorry for wearing my unfounded suspicions on my sleeve.

Van

 

[Salty]

And the ONLY offensive weapon is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God!

 

[RipponRedeaux]

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (NASB)

Full Armor is a translation of a single Greek word. Perhaps a better translation would be the full or complete battle implements.

At first I thought you were going to argue that since the Greek uses one word, so should the English translation. But instead of using two English words, as most translations do, you opt for three.

 

[Van]

At first I thought you were going to argue that since the Greek uses one word, so should the English translation. But instead of using two English words, as most translations do, you opt for three.

Yes, sometimes to convey the entirety of the meaning of a source word or phrase, a word or phrase in the target language is necessary. Since the passage presented both armor and a weapon, I thought my choice best conveyed the idea. Remember we are not fighting a holding action, but rather the gates of Hades will not prevail against us. (Matthew 16:18)

 

[AustinC]

And the ONLY offensive weapon is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God!

Do you see prayer as a defensive rather than offensive weapon? I see it as a weapon used for offensive battle.

 

[Salty]

Do you see prayer as a defensive rather than offensive weapon? I see it as a weapon used for offensive battle.

Prayer is not a physical item.

If we are going to list non-physical items:
Prayer, faith, love, hope, fearing God obeying God, serving, worship........

 

[AustinC]

Prayer is not a physical item.

If we are going to list non-physical items:
Prayer, faith, love, hope, fearing God obeying God, serving, worship........

The passage specifically mentions prayer. The entire passage is about fighting spiritual principalities and powers so none of the armor is actually physical.

 

[Salty]

The passage specifically mentions prayer. The entire passage is about fighting spiritual principalities and powers so none of the armor is actually physical.

Fine - so prayer is mentioned - but still it is not......

Much ado about nothing

 

[Van]

2Corinthians 10:1-6
Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I intend to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

 

[Van]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but our Sword of the Spirit, as we weld the word of God, is for the purpose of cutting through the gates of Hades, behind which the lost are consigned. But we must battle the arrogance of the false teachers, and destroy their myths by highlighting how the bogus views differ from God's actual word.

 

[Van]

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

Part of the task of keeping the faith, the words of God, the commands of God is to preserve them and not rationalize them.

Rev 3:3 ‘So remember what you have received and heard, and keep it, and repent.

Every day we are to "fight the good fight."