Ephesians 6

and having on the breastplate of righteousness;] A just and holy conversation; such as is at once a consequence and an evidence of the sincerity spoken of before. This is very fitly called “the breastplate,” the proper use of which is to defend the heart. Dean Stanhope. In the parallel passage, I Thess. v. 8, this is called “the breastplate of faith and love.” Perhaps the Apostle here alluded to Isai. lix. 17, where the Messiah is said to have “put on righteousness as a breastplate;” that is, by the uprightness of His conduct, and His consciousness thereof, He defended Himself from being moved by the calumnies and reproaches of the wicked. Dr. Macknight.

An holy life is of the same use to a Christian, that a breastplate is to a soldier, to keep off blows in the day of battle. For though “all our righteousness,” as the Prophet speaks, Isai. lxiv. 6, “are as filthy rags,” yet having the testimony of a sincere desire to please God, God for His Son’s sake accepts of our work and our persons, and then the enemy is at a loss what to say against us. A Christian will not say, I am righteous, and therefore I am secure; but he will say, I have lived in all good conscience, I have been sincere, though I have not been perfect; and Satan himself knows, that God for Christ’s sake will accept of this instead of a perfect obedience. Bp. Wilson.

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:] The understanding whereof will enable you not only to resist, but to assault your adversaries. Pyle. We have an example of the wonderful efficacy of this part of our spiritual armour, and a pattern set us for the use of it, in the victorious “Captain of our salvation,” who did with it hew the snares of the ungodly in pieces, when tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Dean Stanhope.

To the Christian, armed for defence in the day of battle, the Apostle recommends only one offensive weapon: but it is abundantly sufficient; “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” sharper than any two-edged sword fabricated by the art of man, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; reaching the very thoughts and intentions; subduing and mortifying evil desires and blasphemous imaginations, as they arise within; confuting and silencing infidelity and erreur, as they assault us from without. A single text, well understood, and rightly applied, pierces the heart of a temptation, or an objection, and lays the most formidable adversary dead at our feet. With this weapon the blessed Jesus conquered in the wilderness; by the same weapon, and no other, must every disciple of His expect to conquer in the world. Bp. Horne.

Ephesians 6:7

7. With good will doing service,] Not murmuring, not behaving gloomily and sullenly, but doing their duty respectfully and readily. Abp. Secker.

Ephesians 6:9

9. — forbearing threatening: ] Forbearing all passionate and violent expressions towards them, and forgiving their pardonable faults. Pyle.

Ephesians 6:10

10. — be strong in the Lord, &c.] Take courage in the Christian combat, to which ye are called, and sustain yourselves by the consideration of His power, whose grace is able to sustain you against all your enemies. Dean Stanhope. If the Apostle had concluded with admonishing us to “be strong,” the exhortation would have been to little purpose. He who exhorts a weak man to become strong, only mocks and insults him, unless the means are pointed out by which this change may be effected; unless the source be discovered, from whence strength is derived. By adding “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might,” that, which was wanting, is fully supplied. Our Redeemer is Almighty; He is with us by his Spirit, and His strength is ours. Bp. Horne.

Ephesians 6:11

11. Put on the whole armour of God,] Consisting of such things as either are in us, as truth, faith, righteousness, peace, the hopes of salvation; or are to be used by us, as prayer and attendance upon the word of God. These are here styled “the whole armour of God,” nothing more being requisite to enable us to come off victors in this combat. Dr. Whitby. They are styled the armour of God, not only on account of the service they do in promoting godliness, but because they are entirely formed and furnished by Him. The truth and the righteousness, the peace and the faith, the salvation and the word, are His gifts. It deserves also our very diligent attention, that in order to our safety the whole armour of God is absolutely necessary. Profession of the truth will not suffice without practice: nor works of righteousness without peace: and so on. But all together will enable us to “withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Dean Stanhope.

Ephesians 6:12

12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,] That is, not only or chiefly against flesh and blood, against human enemies, but we must grapple and contend with angelical powers. Burkitt.

— but against principalities, against powers,] Such as Christ triumphed over, Col. ii. 15; “against the rulers of the darkness of this world,” that is, those evil spirits, which still rule in those heathen nations which are yet in darkness, chap. v. 8; 1 Thess. v. 5; and “against spiritual wickedness in high places,” that is, against those evil spirits, which have their stations in the regions of the air: see the note on chap. ii. 2. Dr. Whitby. The account of the spiritual enemies of mankind, given by the Apostle in this passage, is agreeable to the doctrine of the other inspired writers; particularly St. John, who represents the heathen world, given up to idolatry and wickedness, as lying under the dominion of the devil, 1 John v. 19. It was by the suggestions and temptations of evil spirits, that mankind were so universally seduced to idolatry. And since the professed design of the Gospel was to destroy these evils, the devil and his angels would undoubtedly oppose its progress, by stirring up their adherents to persecute both the preachers and the believers of the new religion. The combat, which the first Christians were maintaining against the devil and his subjects, the abetors of idolatry, was with great propriety ascribed to the Ephesians, as their city was the very throne of idolatry, by means of the worship of Diana then performed with the greatest splendour and celebrity of rites, in the most magnificent temple in the world, and with a vast concourse of priests, votaries, and retainers of all sorts, Acts xix. 28, 29. Dr. Macknight.

Ephesians 6:13

13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,] We must not so rely on the Divine assistance, as to neglect our own exertions. Besides the strength communicated, as occasion requires, from above, there must be a certain fixed and lasting disposition wrought in the mind, which may render it at all times prepared and qualified to resist the enemy. These are represented as so many different pieces of armour, which altogether composed what is styled “the whole armour of God.” From Him we receive it, and by Him we are enabled to use it. It is to be put on and worn constantly; no more to be laid aside than our limbs or our faculties. Nor must any part be omitted; “put on the whole armour of God.” Bp. Horne.

— in the evil day,] In the day of trial, persecution, and temptation. See the note on chap. v. 16. Dr. Whitby.

Ephesians 6:14

14. — having your loins girt about with truth,] See The complete armour of a Christian, and how it ought to be used. Amos DOMINI 64. having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Ephesians 6:15

15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;] That is, maintaining the practice of Christian charity and peaceableness, that ye may go on readily in the Christian course, and not fall or miscarry by the way, secure from those obstructions which might otherwise wound and gall you, and hinder your progress. Dr. Hammond. Shoes were anciently a part of military armour. Dr. Whitby.

Ephesians 6:16

16. Above all, taking the shield of faith,] A firm and steady faith in the promises of the Gospel. Pyle. That faith, which is the confident expectation of things hoped for, “the evidence of things not seen,” Heb. xi. 1; “for this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith,” 1 John v. 4. Dr. Whitby. By comparing faith to a shield, its universal efficacy is intended. As the shield defends the whole body, so faith defends the whole man. Dean Stanhope, Burkitt.

the fiery darts] Used figuratively for the temptations of Satan. The expression seems an allusion to those javelins or arrows, which were sometimes used by the ancients in sieges and battles. Livy describes a weapon of this kind, as being surrounded at the upper part with combustible matter, which being set on fire, the weapon was darted against the enemy. Parkhurst.

Ephesians 6:17

17. And take the helmet of salvation,] Or, as the

Ephesians 6:18

18. Praying always &c.] Praying heartily and fervently, upon every opportunity and time of need. Dr. Hammond. “In the Spirit” denotes here the same thing that is denoted in chap. v. 19, by the phrase “in the heart;” that is, with the sincere affection of the heart. Dr. Wells.

To all the foregoing particulars, we must add “prayer and supplication,” and perseverance in these; by which we shall be able either to prevent or remove

Tychicus is commended. The conclusion. Anno DOMINI 64.

may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Or, in a chain. Or, thereof.

Ephesians 6:21

21. — Tychicus, a beloved brother &c.] The same character is given of him to the Colossians, chap. iv. 7. The particulars, which the Scriptures mention concerning him, are few in number, but they afford proofs of the great confidence which the Apostle placed in him, on account of his ability, faithfulness, and zeal in the cause of Christ. Dr. Macknight.

The following Chapters from The Epistle to the Ephesians are appointed as Proper Lessons, or as Epistles, on Sundays and Holydays: