Ephesians 6:10-20·~1 min

The Full Armor of God

Paul tells the church to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might, putting on the full armor of God so they can stand against the devil's schemes. Their struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers, and so they must take up God's armor in order to stand in the evil day.

F¹⁰inally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

Paul then names the armor itself: truth like a belt, righteousness like a breastplate, readiness from the gospel of peace for the feet, faith as a shield against the evil one's flaming darts, salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the Spirit's sword.

¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This armored life is to be sustained by prayer in the Spirit at all times, with alert perseverance for all the saints. Paul asks prayer also for himself, that he may boldly and rightly make known the mystery of the gospel as Christ's ambassador in chains.

¹⁸Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. ¹⁹Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

Section summaryPaul calls believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God because their struggle is against spiritual powers rather than flesh and blood. He names truth, righteousness, readiness from the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God, and he binds them all together with persevering prayer for all the saints and for his own bold proclamation of the gospel.

Role in the chapterThis major closing section gathers the letter's themes of heavenly conflict, divine power, gospel witness, and steadfastness. It shows the church's life as sustained not by self-confidence, but by God's provision and prayer.