EPHESIANS 6:14-17 THE ARMOR OF OUR WARFARE

EPHESIANS 6:14-17 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

 Verses 14-17 present the six pieces of spiritual armor. Four are mentioned specifically and the belt and shoes are implied. Soldiers girded themselves with a belt, from which hung strips of leather to protect the lower body. Truth is considered crucial by Paul (4:15,25) because a dishonest Christian cannot hope to withstand the father of lies himself. The truth referred to here is integrity, a life of practical truthfulness and honesty. The breastplate of Roman times went completely around the body, so the back of the warrior was also protected. The breastplate was made of hard leather or metal. The righteousness that the breastplate represents is not the righteousness of Christ, which all believers possess, but the practical, righteous character and deeds of believers. NSB*

Cross Reference: Isaiah 59:17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head;

He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,

And was clad with zeal as a cloak.

Girded; "to gird around or about," is used figuratively, of the condition for service on the part of the followers of Christ. The Greek word is περιζώννυμι perizonnumi. Vine's (def 4b), Strong's G4024. Strong's denotes -  i.e. (middle voice or passive) to fasten on one's belt (literally or figuratively). 

Breastplate; primarily, the breast," denotes "a breastplate or corselet," consisting of two parts and protecting the body on both sides, from the neck to the middle. It is used metaphorically of righteousness. The Greek word here is θώραξ thorax. Vine's (def prime), Strong's G2382.

Righteousness; "This meaning of dikaiosune, right action, is frequent also in Paul's writings, as in all five of its occurrences in Rom. 6; Ephesians 6:14, etc. But for the most part he uses it of that gracious gift of God to men whereby all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God. This righteousness is unattainable by obedience to any law, or by any merit of man's own, or any other condition than that of faith in Christ ... The man who trusts in Christ becomes 'the righteousness of God in Him,' 2 Corinthians 5:21, i.e., becomes in Christ all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be in himself. Because Abraham accepted the Word of God, making it his own by that act of the mind and spirit which is called faith, and, as the sequel showed, submitting himself to its control, therefore God accepted him as one who fulfilled the whole of His requirements, Romans 4:3. ... The Greek word is δικαιοσύνη dikaiosune. Vine's (def 1d), Strong's G1343.

Moving to Verse 15

The Roman soldier's feet were shot with hard studded shoes. Paul used this image to represent the preparation of the gospel of peace. This may either mean that the gospel is the firm foundation on which Christians are to stand or that the Christian soldier should be ready to go out to defend and spread the gospel. NSB*

Cross Reference: Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains

Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace,

Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation,

Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Shod; hupo, "under," with No. 1, "to bind underneath," is used of binding of sandals, Acts 12:8; rendered "shod" in Mark 6:9; Ephesians 6:15. The Greek word used here for "bind" is ὑποδέω hupodeo. Vine's (def 3), Strong's G5265.

Preparation; "preparation;" it is found in Ephesians 6:15, of having the feet shod with the "preparation" of the Gospel of peace; it also has the meaning of firm footing (foundation), as in the Sept. of Psalms 89:14 (RV, "foundation"); if that is the meaning in Ephesians 6:15, the Gospel itself is to be the firm footing of the believer, his walk being worthy of it and therefore a testimony in regard to it. The Greek word here is ἑτοιμασία hetoimasia. Vine's (def A-1b), Strong's G2091.

Gospel Of Peace;  doctrinally, with reference to the interpretation of the facts, as is sometimes indicated by the context. The phrase "of peace" here describes the subject or nature or purport of the message; The Greek word for "gospel" is euangelion εὐαγγέλιον. Vine's (def A-1b), Strong's G2098.

Moving to Verse 16.

Above all may mean that the shield is to be used against everything. It may also mean that the shield is to cover the whole armor. A Roman soldier's shield typically measured two and a half feet by four feet. The Christian shield offers protection against the fiery darts of the wicked one. Flaming arrows could not penetrate the fireproof shield of the ancient Roman soldier, nor can the assaults of Satan penetrate to the believer who placed his or her faith in God. NSB*

Shield Of Faith; formerly meant a stone for closing the entrance of a cave;" then, "a shield," large and oblong, protecting every part of the soldier; the word is used metaphorically of faith. The Greek word for "shield" here is θυρεός thureos. Vine's (def prime), Strong's G2375. Strong's denotes - a large shield (as door-shaped).

Quench; metaphorically, of "quenching" the fire-tipped darts of the evil one. This has the idea of "hindering the operation of". In this case to extinguish (literally or figuratively). The Greek word for "quench" is σβέννυμιs bennumi. Vine's A-1b, Strong's G4570

Firey Darts; metaphorically of the darts of the evil one; "fire-tipped" would perhaps bring out the verbal force of the word. The most ancient mss. have the article repeated, lit., "the darts of the evil one, the fiery (darts)," marking them as particularly destructive. Some mss. omit the repeated article. In ancient times, darts were often covered with burning material. The Greek word for "fiery " is πυρόω puroo. Vine's (def 1), Strong's G4448.

Cross Reference:  1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

My Notes - it should be clarified that the "wicked one" is specifically satan. So the armor here has the power to withstand satan himself and his various attacks. This shouldn't be ignored or perceived to say less than what it says. 

Moving To Verse 17.

The Helmet of Salvation: The intricately designed Roman helmet protected the soldier's head and also made him look taller and more impressive. The sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the believer's armor. This weapon is not necessarily the Bible as a whole, but the specific word that needs to be spoken in a specific situation. To have the precise word ready, a person must know the Bible intimately. NSB*

Cross References: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Helmet Of Salvation; from peri, around," and kephale, "a head," is used figuratively in Ephesians 6:17, with reference to salvation. In Ephesians 6:17 salvation is a present experience of the Lord's deliverance of believers as those who are engaged in spiritual conflict; The Greek word for "helmet" is περικεφαλαία perikephalaia. Vine's (def prime), Strong's G4030.

Sword Of The Spirit;  a short sword or dagger" (distinct from No. 2), e.g., of the Word of God, "the sword of the Spirit," probing the conscience, subduing the impulses to sin. The Greek word for "sword" is μάχαιρα machaira. Vine's (def 1c), Strong's G3162. Strong's denotes the word means "knife". Something like the picture below. 

My Notes - Given its metaphorical nature and the fact that it is the "word of God" in this text, it is extremely formidable as an offensive weapon. The Bible is not something to be handled lightly. 

Takeaway : 

God isn't handing us something light here. This armor, salvation, the sword of the spirit, the shield of faith, the gospel, truth, and righteousness is so powerful it can fend off the devil. We ought to avoid believing the world has more power than it does. Nothing satan or the world has to come against us can overcome the power of God and the armor He has given us. We do want to put our armor on daily - stay in the word, stay close to God. Victory is in Christ Jesus. We are not weak, we need to stand like it. We need to act like it.