Ephesians 6:15

καὶ ὑποδησάμενοι τοὺς πόδας ἐν ἑτοιμασίᾳ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς εἰρήνης. Cf. Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 40:3 f. Shoes are not a distinctive part of the soldier’s armour (exc. in Isaiah 9:5). Their main purpose is to protect the feet, though they may also serve under certain circumstances to give surer foothold, e.g. Thuc. III. 22. ἑτοιμασία may = preparedness, i.e. (as Robinson) ‘the readiness which belongs to a bearer of good tidings,’ or it may = preparation, i.e. ‘the act of preparing.’ If as Westcott Hort imply the use of the word is suggested by Isaiah 40:3, as well as Isaiah 52:7, the second meaning is to be preferred. The thought then would be closely parallel to Psalms 90:12. The work they were doing in preparing the way for the gospel of peace would be a protection for their own feet.

τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς εἰρήνης. A unique phrase, but cf. Ephesians 2:17.