Ephesians 6:16 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:13-17

The whole armor of God. I. CHRISTIANS NEED TO BE ARMED . Aldershot cannot dispense with Woolwich. The army must be equipped before it can take the field. The knight must don his coat of mail and draw his sword if he is to make any use of his martial skill and prowess. So the Church must be prepared for the great conflict with unbelief, worldliness, and immorality. The individual Christian must be armed to meet temptation and to win a triumph. Many a sanguine young Christian... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:14-17

The Divine panoply in its separate parts. The spiritual equipment of the Christian is here described in detail—the belt, the breastplate, the sandals, the shield, the helmet, and the sword. I. TRUTH IS THE BELT , AS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE BREASTPLATE . "Having your loins girt about with truth ." As the belt or girdle kept the armor in its proper place, giving strength and buoyancy of action, so truth acts in relation to righteousness, faith, and peace. If truth were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:16

Withal taking up the shield of faith. The θυξεός was a large oblong shield covering a great part of the body, not the ἀσπίς , smaller and more round. Faith, in its widest sense, constitutes this shield—faith in God as our Father, in Christ as our Redeemer, in the Spirit as our Sanctifier and Strengthener—faith in all the promises, and especially such promises as we find in Revelations 2. and 3. "to him that overcometh" (comp. promise to Ephesus, Revelation 2:7 ) Wherewith ye... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 6:16

Above all - Ἐν πᾶσιν En pasin. Not “above all” in point of importance or value, but “over” all, as a soldier holds his shield to defend himself. It constitutes a protection over every part of his body, as it can be turned in every direction. The idea is, that as the shield covered or protected the other parts of the armor, so faith had a similar importance in the Christian virtues.The shield - note, Isaiah 21:9. The shield was usually made of light wood. or a rim of brass, and covered with... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 6:16

Ephesians 6:16. Above all Επι πασιν , upon, or over all, these and the other parts of your armour, as a sort of universal covering; taking the shield of faith Continually exercise a strong and lively faith in the truths and promises of the gospel, and in the person and offices, the merits and grace of the Lord Jesus, in whom all these truths and promises are, yea and amen, 2 Corinthians 1:20. Wherewith If you keep it in lively exercise; ye shall be able to quench To repel and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:10-24

The Christian’s warfare (6:10-24)For Christians, life involves warfare, though the battle is not with earthy forces but with spiritual. They are involved in a struggle against hostile demonic powers who have rebelled against God and oppose his people. As ancient soldiers wore armour when they fought their battles, so Christians must prepare themselves for conflict. They receive their armour, as well as their strength, from God, but they themselves must fight the battle. Above all they must make... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 6:16

Above . Greek. e n . App-104 . shield . Greek. thureos. The shield is Christ Himself. Compare Genesis 15:1 . faith = the faith. App-150 . wherewith . Greek. en ( App-104 .) ho . quench . Compare 1 Thessalonians 5:19 . darts . Greek. belos, anything thrown. Occurs only here. Satanic temptations. wicked = wicked one. See Ephesians 6:12 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ephesians 6:16

Ephesians 6:16. Above all,— Over and above all. Blackwall. This last translation best answers to the particle επι here used, and best expresses the allusion to the situation of the shield, as covering the other pieces of the armour;—which has here a beautiful propriety, as truth, righteousness, and peace, are sheltered, as it were, by faith, fromtheassaultswhichmightotherwiseoverbearthem.Manycommentatorssuppose that the Apostle, in the last clause of this verse, be able to quench, &c.... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 6:16

16. Above all—rather, "Over all"; so as to cover all that has been put on before. Three integuments are specified, the breastplate, girdle, and shoes; two defenses, the helmet and shield; and two offensive weapons, the sword and the spear (prayer). ALFORD translates, "Besides all," as the Greek is translated, Luke 3:20. But if it meant this, it would have come last in the list (compare Luke 3:20- :). shield—the large oblong oval door-like shield of the Romans, four feet long by two and a half... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 6:1-20

III. THE CHRISTIAN’S CONDUCT 4:1-6:20Practical application (chs. 4-6) now follows doctrinal instruction (chs. 1-3)."Now the apostle moves on from the new society to the new standards which are expected of it. So he turns from exposition to exhortation, from what God has done (in the indicative), to what we must be and do (in the imperative), from doctrine to duty, . . . from mind-stretching theology to its down-to-earth, concrete implications in everyday living." [Note: Stott, p. 146.] read more