What is the armor of God?

Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians with a vivid call: "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:11-12). He then describes six pieces, likely drawn from the equipment of the Roman soldiers he knew well, since he wrote as "an ambassador in bonds" (Ephesians 6:20). Believers are to have their "loins girt about with truth," the belt that held everything together; the "breastplate of righteousness," guarding the heart; feet "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," giving sure footing; "the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked"; "the helmet of salvation"; and "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:14-17). The sword is the only clearly offensive weapon, a reminder that Jesus himself answered Satan's temptations by quoting Scripture. Paul then adds, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18), which many see as the way the whole armor is put on and used. The imagery has Old Testament roots, since Isaiah pictures God himself putting on "righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head" (Isaiah 59:17). The emphasis throughout is not on fear but on standing firm, and the strength comes from being "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10).

Key Passages