Ephesians 6:14

Stand See last note. Here, as throughout the passage, the tense of this verb is aorist. A decisive act of taking a conscious stand, or a succession of such acts, is implied.

having your loins girt Lit., and far better, having girded your loins (R. V.). The girding is the own act, by grace, of the regenerate will.

" Your loins" :cp. Exodus 12:11; Job 38:3; Job 40:7; Psalms 18:39; Isaiah 11:5; Luke 12:35; 1 Peter 1:13. The well-fastened girdle kept together the soldier's dress and accoutrements, and added conscious vigour to his frame.

with truth Lit., " in truth"; and the "in" may very possibly keep its direct meaning; for the girded body is within the girdle. But this meaning would be conveyed in English by "with."

" Truth" :not "thetruth"; a phrase which would decisively mean "the true message of the Gospel." The absence of the article leaves us free to explain the word of the sincerity, reality, and simplicity of the regenerate man. For this use of the word in St Paul see e.g.1 Corinthians 5:8; 2Co 7:14; 2 Corinthians 11:10; above, ch. Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:18. The grasp on revealed Truth is indeed all-important, but it must be made "in truth," in personal sincerity, if it is to avail in the spiritual struggle. And this meaning of the word well corresponds to the imagery. Unreality, whether in trust or self-surrender, is fatal to the coherenceof the Christian life. Meanwhile it must be remembered that the "panoply" is "of God," and that "truth" is here, accordingly, a supernatural grace, that simplicity of attitude and action towards God, His word and His will, which is a gift of regeneration alone. In Isaiah 11:5 "righteousness" and "faithfulness" are Messiah's girdle.

having on Lit., and far better, having put on; the same verb as Ephesians 6:11. The tense is aorist. The believer is summoned to a decisive renewalof his exercise of grace.

the breastplate Cp. Isaiah 59:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8. And see note above on Ephesians 6:11 for the apocryphal parallel. The breastplate covers the heart. Here the heart in its figurative and spiritual sense (see on Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 3:17) is in question; how to protect it and its action, in the great conflict.

righteousness Cp. 2 Corinthians 6:7. One leading explanation of this word here is Christ's Righteousness as our Justification. According to this, the warrior is to oppose the Divine fact of Jehovah Tsidkenu (Jeremiah 23:6; cp. Romans 3:4; Philippians, 2) to the strategy of the Accuser (Romans 8:33-34). But this class of truth falls rather under the figures of the shoes and the shield (see below). Here (in view esp. of Isaiah 59:17, where "righteousness" is Jehovah's breastplate), it is better to explain it of the believer's personal righteousness, i.e. his loyalty in principle and action to the holy Law of God. For clear cases of this meaning of the word (the root-meaning with reference to all others) in St Paul, cp. Romans 6:13; Romans 14:17; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 9:9-10; above, Ephesians 4:24; Ephesians 5:9; Php 1:11; 1 Timothy 6:11; and see Titus 2:12.

The idea is closely kindred to that of "truth," just considered. But it is strictly defined by the correlative idea of Law. The believer is armed at the heart against the Tempter by definite and supreme reverence for the Law, the revealed preceptive Will of God. So Daniel was armed (Daniel 1:6), and the Three (Daniel 3).

Here, as under the word "truth," remember that the armour is "of God." See note on "truth," above.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 the breastplate is "faith and love." There is no discrepancy in the difference. Loyalty to the Divine Law is inseparably connected with trust in the word of God and love of His will.