Eph 6:10-20 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Eph 6:10-20: 6:10-20 Paul’s final word is to remind the believers of the devil’s opposition and urge them to protect themselves with all of God’s armor .

Summary for Eph 6:10-20: 6:10-20 ^a Paul’s final word is to remind the believers of the devil’s opposition and urge them to protect themselves with all of God’s armor.
6:11 ^b Put on all of God’s armor: See Rom 13:12 ^c; 2 Cor 10:4-5 ^d. It is only by the Lord’s protection that a believer can stand firm against all strategies of the devil (cp. 1 Pet 5:8-9 ^e).
6:12 ^f Believers should not consider human beings to be their enemies. Instead, the opposition they face comes from the unseen world of spiritual evil, and Christ has authority over that realm (see 1:21-22 ^g).
6:13 ^h God’s armor gives believers the ability to resist the attacks of the devil in the time of evil—when evil seems to prevail—and to keep standing firm.
Summary for Eph 6:14-17: 6:14-17 ⁱ Paul uses the physical armor worn by Roman soldiers as imagery for spiritual armor used by believers. Most of this equipment is to defend, not to attack. Paul’s focus is not on the precise functions of each piece but on God’s gifts. Grounding in Christ and Scripture provides protection and ability to stand your ground (cp. Jas 4:7 ^j; 1 Pet 5:8-9 ^k). 6:14 ^l God’s righteousness: Either the righteousness God credits to those who believe in Christ, or the righteous way of life brought about by the transforming work of the Spirit of God in believers’ lives. The one implies the other.
6:15 ^m For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News: In this context, the focus is on letting one’s life be governed by the peace that the Good News gives (see Rom 5:1 ⁿ).
6:16 ^o Faith is trust in Christ as Savior or trust in God to meet one’s needs in evil times.

• fiery arrows: Paul graphically pictures the nature of temptation to sin (cp. Matt 6:13 ^p; 26:41 ^q; 1 Cor 10:13 ^r; Jas 1:12-15 ^s). Arrows were sometimes dipped in pitch and ignited before being shot.
6:17 ^t Put on salvation as your helmet: Protect the mind with the assurance that God has indeed saved and given eternal life to those who believe in Christ.

• The sword of the Spirit pictures using the word of God to respond to an attack, either with the Good News or with the spoken or written word of God more generally (cp. Jer 23:29 ^u; Heb 4:12 ^v).
6:18 ^w Paul contrasts purely mental prayer with prayer in the Spirit, prayer that arises from the Spirit of God within (see 1 Cor 14:15 ^x; Jude 1:20 ^y; cp. Rom 8:26-27 ^z).

• at all times and on every occasion: Believers are to make prayer a way of life and turn the whole of life into prayer (see Phil 4:6-7 ^aa; 1 Thes 5:17 ^ab)—not simply for themselves, but for all believers everywhere.

• Stay alert and be persistent: Because the danger of the devil is constant.
Summary for Eph 6:19-20: 6:19-20 ^ac Paul’s missionary calling was primarily to help Gentiles realize that they are now accepted by God and welcomed into his church.

• mysterious plan: See study notes on 1:8-10; 3:3.

• I am in chains now: Though writing as a prisoner (see 3:1 ^ad; 4:1 ^ae), Paul knew that his calling as God’s ambassador (cp. 2 Cor 5:20 ^af) was to keep on speaking boldly for him.