Bible Studies In The Word of God

EPHESIANS 6 

 

travel as a spreader of the Gospel (Isaiah 52:7) by means of the story of peace--peace in the great warfare for all the forces in the enemy’s ranks if they will surrender to Christ.

Verse 16. The shield was a protective instrument supplementary to the breastplate, but smaller, and was carried by one hand and could be turned toward various danger spots independent of the general movements of the body. Firebrands in the form of darts were hurled by the hand in the closeup conflict. The shield was made of metal and could receive the fiery darts without any harm. The shield of the Christian is his faith in the great Commander, who has given assurance of  victory. When a disciple of Christ gives up to the attacks of the enemy, it is because his faith is weak, and he acts as if the experience had come upon him as an unforeseen incident.  Such is not the case, for 1 Peter 4:12 warns Christians not to look upon the circumstance as some strange thing that has happened to them.

Verse 17. The helmet was a cap for the head, made -of metal as a protection from the darts of the enemy. The term is more definite in 1 Thessalonians 1:8, where it is called “the hope of salvation.” A Christian can face any foe and even rejoice in the presence of death, because of his hope for salvation after death. Mohammed inspired his soldiers to “fight to the finish” by his assurance that faithful servants who died on the field of battle, would be taken to a land filled with the things that gratify the lusts of the flesh. Christ promises that faithful soldiers of the cross will live after earthly death in a country that will give unending enjoyment of spiritual pleasure. This completes the armor, all of which is for the forepart of the body, indicating that Christ expects his servants to be always facing the foe.

The only weapon that is furnished the Christian soldier is a sword, which denotes that the struggle is to be one of close contact-no long distance fighting. The sword consists of the word of God, which Paul declares is “sharper than any twoedged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). It is the sword that Jesus used against Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Paul calls it the sword. of the Spirit because the word of God is inspired by that source. Since the days of the apostles the Holy Spirit operates and speaks to man only by means of the Bible, hence the Christian soldier can “fight the good nght of faith” only if he knows what that Volume teaches.

 
Verse 18. Praying always is a general phrase, denoting that the soldier of the cross must never cease to be a Praying man. With all prayer is rendered “with all manner of prayer” by Moffatt, and the lexicons agree with it.  That is because the addresses offered to God are of various kinds and degrees of intensity, and Paul mentions some of them here. The simple word prayer is general and means any request or plea. Supplication is a more intense pleading for the thing desired.  In the Spirit denotes the prayer must be spiritual, which means it is in harmony with the teaching of the Spirit in the word of God. Watching. Jesus taught his disciples to “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41). The soldier of the cross must always be on the alert against the tricks of the enemy.  Perseverance means patient continuance in the service of Christ, even when conditions might seem to be unfavorable. For all saints. We should pray for ourselves and likewise for our brethren everywhere.  

Verse 19. And for me. If an inspired apostle needed the prayers of his brethren, it is certain that other disciples need them also. However, Paul was not so much concerned about his personal welfare in the present instance. He was in Rome and was a prisoner, having been taken there upon his appeal when in the court of Festus (Acts 25:9-12). He was anxious that utterance (opportunity to speak) might be given him to preach the Gospel boldly. Mystery is explained at chapter 1:9.

Verse 20. Ambassadors is from rnsssavo, which is used only twice in the New Testament (here and in 2 Corinthians 5:20). Both Thayer and Robinson give us the simple word that is used in our verse as their definition, which shows they understand the Greek term to mean the same as the English, namely, “the official representative of his own government or sovereign.” The term is never used in reference to any person but the apostles in the New Testament. Hence there are no ambassadors for Christ living on earth today, for the apostles are still in authority (Matthew 28:20).   Bonds is from ALUSIS which Thayer defines “a chain, bond,” then
adds the explanation which the body, or any part of it (the hands, feet), is bound.” It is an apparent contradiction that an ambassador would be shackled with a prisoner’s chain. But we need to observe that the chain attached to Paul was not placed there by the government of which he was an ambassador. Hence, while bound in a literal chain by an enemy government, he might be able still t-ofitepreseint the sovereign in a foreignland. “The” word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). Paul’s mouth was still free, and he wished the brethren to pray for divine help that he might speak the Gospel of Christ with boldness.

Verse 21. Thayer says TYCHICUS was “an Asiatic Christian, friend and companion of the apostle Paul.” Funk and Wagnalls New Standard Bible Dictionary gives the same information, with additional notes that he carried the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians.

Verse 22. Tychicus was near Paul much of the time and was acquainted with the state of affairs concerning the apostle. He could comfort the hearts of the brethren by the information that Paul was standing firm in his faith.

Verse 23. Paul’s manner of salutation was not always the same as it pertained to the persons addressed. Sometimes he singled out certain individuals, at others he made it general as he does in this verse. Hence there is nothing significant in the form used.  

Verse 24. Paul wishes the grace (favor of the Lord) to be with the brethren; that is, with those who professed to love Him and who were sincere.