Ephesians 6:12-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 6:10-18

Here is a general exhortation to constancy in our Christian course, and to encourage in our Christian warfare. Isa. not our life a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the common calamities of human life. Isa. not our religion much more a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the opposition of the powers of darkness, and with many enemies who would keep us from God and heaven. We have enemies to fight against, a captain to fight for, a banner to fight under, and certain rules of war by... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 6:10-20

6:10-20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his strength. Put on the armour of God. so that you may be able to stand against the devices of the devil. It is not with blood and flesh you have to wrestle, but against powers and against authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against malicious spiritual forces in the heavenly places. Because of this you must take the armour of God that you may be able to stand against them in the evil day, and that you may be able... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood ,.... The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and some copies, read "you", instead of "we". This is a reason why saints should be strong in the Lord, and why they should put on the whole armour of God, and prepare for battle, since their enemies are such as here described: not "flesh and blood"; frail mortal men, such as were wrestled against in the Olympic games, to which the apostle alludes. For this wrestling, as Philo the Jew says F5 Leg.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:13

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God ,.... This is a repetition of the exhortation in Ephesians 6:11 ; which repetition seems necessary by reason of the many powerful enemies mentioned in the preceding verse, and serves to explain what is meant by putting it on: and leads on the apostle to give an account of the several parts of this armour: the end of taking it is much the same as before, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day ; that is, that ye may be able to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore ,.... Keep your ground, do not desert the army, the church of Christ, nor his cause; continue in the station in which you are placed, keep your post, be upon your watch, stand upon your guard: having your loins girt about with truth ; by which is meant the Gospel, and the several doctrines of it; see Ephesians 1:13 ; and to have the loins girt with it, shows, that it should be near and close to the saints, and never departed from; and that it is a means of keeping them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:15

And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. The Gospel is so called, because it makes men to be of peaceable tempers and behaviour, and gives peace to distressed minds: it directs the way to eternal peace, and publishes peace made by the blood of Christ; and has a much better claim to this name, and epithet, than the law has, which is often called "peace" by the Jews F12 Zohar in Numb. fol. 73. 3. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 9. 3. : the "preparation" of it does not design a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:16

Above all, taking the shield of faith ,.... Which may be understood either of the grace of faith, which is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial; and like a shield of mighty men, by which mighty things are done, and by which the believer not only repels, but conquers the enemy. The Jews say F14 Pirke Abot, c. 4. sect. 11. , that repentance and good works are as a shield against divine vengeance: or rather of the object of faith, that which faith makes use of as a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation ,.... Meaning either Christ himself, the Saviour; and so the Arabic version renders it, "the helmet of the Saviour": or the salvation itself, which he is the author of, and a well grounded hope of it; see 1 Thessalonians 5:8 ; the allusion is to Isaiah 59:17 ; and such an hope of salvation by Christ is a defence of the head against false doctrines; for the helmet is a piece of armour for the head; and it is an erecter of the head in times of difficulty,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit ,.... The last weapon is prayer, and takes in all sorts of prayer, mental and vocal, public and private; and every branch of it, as deprecation of evils, petitions for good things, and thanksgiving for mercies: and which should be used always: this stands opposed to such who pray not at all, or who have prayed, but have left it off; or who pray only in distress, and it suggests, that a man should pray as often as he has an... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood - Ουκ εστιν ἡμιν ἡ παλη προς αἱμα και σαρκα· Our wrestling or contention is not with men like ourselves: flesh and blood is a Hebraism for men, or human beings. See the note on Galatians 1:16 . The word παλη implies the athletic exercises in the Olympic and other national games; and παλαιστρα was the place in which the contenders exercised. Here it signifies warfare in general. Against principalities - Αρχας· Chief rulers; beings... read more

Group of Brands