Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
What does Ephesians 6:11 mean?
Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Ephesians 6:10-13 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God - The whole description here is derived from the weapons of an ancient soldier. The various parts of those weapons - constituting the "whole panoply" - are specified in Ephesians 6:14-17 . The word rendered "whole armor" πανοπλιαν panoplian, "panoply"), means "complete armor," offensive and defensive; see Luke 11:22 ; Romans 13:12 note; 2 Corinthians 6:7 note. "The armor of God" is not that which God wears, but that which he has provided for the Christian soldier.
Key words
- whole armor
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whole armor.
- wiles
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wiles. It occurs in the New Testament only in Ephesians 4:14 , and in this place.
Context in Ephesians 6
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Ephesians 6 belongs to the closing movement of the book, especially the section often described as household life and spiritual warfare. Ephesians presents the church as Christ’s body and temple, chosen in grace, united across dividing walls, and called to mature holy life. Read this chapter with the wider themes of union with Christ, church, and grace in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Who quoted Ephesians 6:11?
Find out who used Ephesians 6:11 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted Ephesians 6:11?
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