The most common way of approaching the topic of the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 has been to consider each part as individual elements that cannot be missing in the life of a Christian, so that if any of these elements is lacking, we will fall in the midst of the spiritual warfare mentioned in verses 11 and 12. However, here I want to offer a new reading, in which, in reality, they are not separate elements, but only one. The key to this is found in verse 10:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Ephesians 6:10
The topic of the armor of God begins with the concept of being strengthened in the Lord. And this is the important point: the strengthening is not due to our own action, but it is in Christ. In fact, the apostle Paul already shows this idea a little earlier, in chapter 3:
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man
Ephesians 3:14-16
Here we see that, first of all, Paul bends his knees (prays) to the Father, which follows the model of prayer given by Jesus in Matthew 6, where it is indicated that prayers are directed to the Father:
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:6
And the prayer is for the Father to provide strength through His Spirit. Note that in this text, Jesus is also mentioned as Lord. Whenever there is a reference to the Lord, it refers to Christ. Therefore, the two passages in Ephesians indicate that the entire Godhead works in the strengthening of the believer. The Father provides the strengthening, which is in Christ Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. The work of strengthening is a divine work, not centered on us, although it operates in us. However, it is God in His fullness who actually accomplishes it.
Now that we see that the strengthening is in Jesus, we can analyze each piece of the armor. The first piece is read as follows:
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Ephesians 6:14
We are instructed to be girded with the truth. Note that Christ Himself mentions that
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
The truth is nothing more and nothing less than Jesus Himself. He declares that He is the truth. For the Christian, the truth is not a doctrinal matter, but a person, Jesus Himself. Therefore, when Ephesians instructs us to be girded with the truth, it tells us that we must be girded with Jesus.
The second piece refers to the breastplate of righteousness. It is interesting that this image is already present in the Old Testament. We see it in Isaiah:
For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
Isaiah 59:17
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,
And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
The issue that Isaiah mentions in the chapter is about Israel as a people failing in righteousness, which provokes God’s indignation. In response, verse 17 indicates that He is dressed with the breastplate of righteousness. Let us also note that the image of the helmet of salvation is used, which is also present in Ephesians. It is interesting to see that in Isaiah, wearing the breastplate of righteousness is an allusion to the character of God, a righteous character. This same righteousness, as the character of God, is also revealed in Jesus, since the prophet Jeremiah mentions that
‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:
‘In those days and at that time
I will cause to grow up to David
A Branch of righteousness;
He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In those days Judah will be saved,
And Jerusalem will dwell safely.
And this is the name by which she will be called:THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Let us note that here there is a messianic reference, where Jesus is spoken of as the Branch of righteousness. It is also mentioned that He will be called Jehovah, our righteousness. It is notable that this title belongs to Christ, since He also bears the name Jehovah (and not only the Father, as is sometimes thought). As evidence, it is enough to see what John the Baptist says in the Gospel of John:
He said: “I am
‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’as the prophet Isaiah said.”
John 1:23
where it is clear that he is preparing the way for Jesus, who will come shortly after him. However, when we look at the quote from Isaiah directly, it says:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Isaiah 40:3
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
And we see that Isaiah uses Jehovah where John says Lord. Therefore, the Lord Jesus also takes the name Jehovah. Thus, the reference to the Branch of righteousness or Jehovah our righteousness is Christ. We see that He reveals the righteous character of the Father. Ellen White notes regarding this:
Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ.
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing 18.1
Therefore, the second piece of the armor once again points to Christ. The third part tells us
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:15
This section has usually been associated with the preaching of the gospel as part of the armor, since it mentions the feet, alluding to being messengers of this gospel of peace. However, Paul previously says in Ephesians:
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation
Ephesians 2:13-14
Therefore, Jesus is the peace, and also the text says
And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
Ephesians 2:17
Thus, Christ is our peace, and the one who brings the news (gospel) of peace. It is interesting that the word gospel, which is translated as good news, remains untranslated as such in Ephesians 6:15 and it appears in the original text in Ephesians 2:17 indicating that he preached the gospel of peace; Thus, the meaning is that we should be shod with this good news of peace, which is Christ Himself, whose work also consisted of coming and announcing Himself as the great good news, reconciling us with the Father and giving us peace, just as He said:
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
Up to this point, the truth, righteousness, and the gospel of peace all point to Christ. In the same way, the next part:
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Ephesians 6:16
Here we can also see Jesus, since as Hebrews says:
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
Jesus is the author of faith, and even more, the one who perfects it, that is, who completes it. Therefore, the shield of faith is given and completed in our lives by Jesus.
The last two pieces are found in verse 17:
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Ephesians 6:17
We have already seen that the helmet of salvation is part of the image presented in Isaiah 59, as part of God’s own character. And just as Christ is the personification of righteousness, salvation is also in Him, for in the book of Acts we find:
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
Furthermore, the very name Jesus, which means “God is Salvation,” shows us that He is the helmet of salvation for our lives.
Finally, the last piece, the sword, has often been considered the Bible, as part of the equipment, highlighting the importance of reading the Scriptures. While this is true, it is interesting to note that the written word is usually associated with the Greek term rhema, one of the two words in the New Testament translated as “word.” The other is logos, which is directly associated with Christ, as John makes clear in John 1. However, rhema can also refer to Jesus, as we will see in the following two texts:
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:15-16
Hebrews shows us that the universe was made by the word (rhemati) of God, while Colossians, referring to Jesus, tells us that in Him, through Him, and for Him all things were created. Therefore, the word of God is Christ Himself.
From all of the above, putting on the armor of God is simply putting on Christ, since all its parts point to Him. And this idea, although it may sound somewhat abstract, was already noted by Paul in Romans:
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Romans 13:14
The only way to face the spiritual battle is not through our own efforts, no matter how well-intentioned they may be; it is not about how much spiritual discipline we have, but about Christ, for He is the one who has already defeated the powers of darkness. It is not about our efforts, but about the merits of Christ. And we obtain this through faith in Him, as the apostle Paul tells us that
or you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:26-27
Thus, through baptism we put on Christ, and by faith we allow Him to live in us, and He wins the spiritual battles. But most importantly, putting on Jesus Christ has an even greater purpose. Let us go back to Ephesians 3, where we saw that the strengthening comes from God, but now we will also see what the ultimate goal is:
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19
Putting on Jesus has the purpose of knowing the love of Christ and being filled with the fullness of God. Therefore, let us put on Jesus Christ.