"10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. " - Ephesians 6:10-12 (NASB)
The phrase “Finally,” (literally, “for the rest”) when used by Paul, indicates a transition to a new and concluding point in his letter, emphasizing that he is about to wrap up. One could argue that this is what Paul has been building toward all along as the climax of his discourse. He concludes his letter with a final salvo aimed at making a lasting impression on the minds of the Ephesian believers and motivating them to take action. Christians are called to uphold their core values in the face of dark forces that try to thwart their Christian walk. They should stand firm on what they have prayed to God for and praise Him from the beginning of their spiritual journey.
In the previous section (4:1–6:9), Paul focused on behavior about other Christians and to a lesser degree, non-Christians. Now, the focus shifts to behavior about the devil and the cosmic powers. To convey this, Paul refers to several passages from the Old Testament (Isaiah 11:4, 5; 49:2; 52:7; 59:17 and Wisdom 5:17–20) to present the image of the armor of God. Paul portrays believers as troops in an army who need to be motivated and prepared before going into battle.
Paul passionately urges believers to stand at this point. He believes that the church has a vital role in the broader picture and must bear witness, showing that the powers are doomed (3:10), by simply existing. Its members can stand and withstand the challenges they face, but only if they actively put on the full armor of God and equip themselves with the traits and gifts of God outlined in his letter. These closing verses in chapter 6 effectively conclude Ephesians as they focus Christian attention and behavior on the crucial and emotional struggle against the forces that had previously led the recipients to sin and death (2:1–3). This message is particularly relevant for an audience made up mainly of Gentile converts, as this one was. It’s also relevant because it was written by the apostle to the Gentiles, who was concerned that his audience continue to hold onto the truths and virtues they had learned.
The phrase “be strong in the Lord” can be interpreted as a present passive imperative, meaning “be made strong,” or a present middle imperative, meaning “be strong.” Although the grammatical form is the same, the function differs. Essentially, this means that believers must continue to allow the Spirit to strengthen them for the ongoing spiritual struggle. This creates a paradox where God’s power flows through believers while believers are actively living for Christ. This tension reflects a covenant relationship, where God takes the initiative, but humans must also respond. Both God’s provision and mankind’s response are emphasized in the Bible. In Ephesians 1:19-20, four Greek terms (dunamis = power; energeia = energy; kratos = strength; ischus = might) are used to describe God’s power in Christ, and three of these words are also used here. The phrase “in the strength of His might” is an Old Testament picture of YHWH as a warrior wearing armor (cf. Isa. 42:13; 49:24-25; 52:10 and especially 59:16-17). It is His armor, not ours. Our victory is in Him (cf. Phil. 2:13), but we must cooperate (cf. Phil. 2:12). Paul emphasizes that our victory is in God, and we must cooperate with His strength. This underscores the theological paradox of God’s sovereignty and human free will.
In verse 11, the Christian is strongly commanded to “put on the full armor, ”panoplía” of God ” (Aorist Middle Imperative), which refers not only to the armor that God provides but also to the armor that God Himself wears. Believers need to make a decisive choice to avail themselves of the spiritual equipment that God has provided and apply it to their daily lives (see 1 Thessalonians 5:8). We must remember that being justified (Romans 4:6) does not mean that believers will be free from spiritual struggle and temptation (cf. Romans 7). Even though the “new man” is present, it doesn’t mean the “old man” is completely gone. In fact, the battle often intensifies. If Satan can’t prevent us from being saved, he will try to keep us spiritually defeated and silent.
The imagery here is that of a fully-equipped foot soldier. There appear to be two main sources for this imagery: the depiction of Yahweh as a warrior in Isaiah 59:17 and other passages, which refer to the armor that God not only creates but also wears when attacked by His enemies, and the armor worn by Roman soldiers. This is particularly relevant since Paul is under house arrest (cf. Phil1:13) and would likely have regular exposure to such armor.
In our journey as believers, effort must be made to stand firm against the challenges we may encounter. We must equip ourselves with protective attributes, qualities, and resources, as evil often presents itself in attractive and seemingly legitimate ways. Often depicted as employing schemes and strategies (methodia), the devil seeks to create discord and attack believers. We are not exempt from facing personal sin, false teachings, discouragement, apathy, and suffering. While these challenges may be orchestrated by angelic forces (cf. Eph. 2:2-3; James. 4:1,4,7), we must also acknowledge the presence of our fallen nature and the impact of a corrupted world system. These battles often commence in the mind, highlighting the significance of being equipped with God’s armor to combat the full range of evil. As we confront these trials, we must stand united and resolute against the temptations and attacks that seek to derail our faith.
Paul emphasizes that the armor God provides is for protection, not for launching an offensive against Satan. The focus is on standing firm, resisting, praying, being alert, and watching, rather than on attacking. He also clarifies that the true adversaries are not human, but rather spiritual forces led by Satan. He cautions against mistaking the human vessel for the true source of evil. The reference to the term “palē” in verse 12 hints at a close to hand-to-hand combat, highlighting the intensity of the spiritual struggle. Believers need to clearly understand the spiritual warfare and the need for protective armor against the forces of darkness.
In verse 12, Paul reminds believers about the ongoing struggle of the Christian life. This struggle is not against other human beings but against sin, evil, and Satan. Paul uses various terms to describe the spiritual forces of darkness, such as “rulers” and “powers,” which may refer to angelic levels of authority. These angelic levels could be evil, fallen angels under Satan’s control, as well as the demonic and angelic authorities called the stoichea, which are not necessarily evil. Additionally, Paul mentions the “world forces of this darkness,” referring to Satan and his followers who seek world control, and the “spiritual forces of wickedness,” which were believed by astrologers to affect human life. These terms collectively signify the dangerous nature of these spiritual beings, indicating the presence of evil in the spiritual realm (not the dwelling place of God) in which believers live here and now. By using these terms, Paul amplifies the existence of various groups of supernatural evil beings and underscores the spiritual warfare that believers face in their daily lives.
As the concluding chapter unfolds, Paul’s message resonates with timeless relevance, reminding us of the supernatural nature of the Christian life and the crucial need for reliance on God’s strength. Indeed, in this climactic passage, Paul’s words echo through the ages, challenging believers to steadfastly engage in the spiritual battle, clad in the full armor of God, as they navigate the complexities of life as followers of Christ.
REFERENCES:
- “The Letter to the Ephesians” by Peter T. O’Brien
- “The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Verse by Verse Exposition” by Oliver B. Greene
- “Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary” by Harold W. Hoehner
- “Ephesians: The IVP New Testament Commentary Series” by Darrell L. Bock
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