An Exegetical Analysis of Ephesians 6:10-20 - Literature review Example

An Exegetical Analysis of Ephesians 6: 10-20 Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Extract 4 Introduction 4 A. Ephesians 6:10-20 Teaches Us to Be Prepared For Battle 5 1.Our struggles will be against the authorities – use commentaries to define who comprises these authorities and power of the dark world 5 2.Scholars have written extensively about the various components of the armor described by Paul – Use the sources listed in the Bibliography to make reference to each part. 6 3.What does is take to “stand your ground” as mentioned in verse 13? Cohick (2011) provides an excellent commentary on this. 8 B. Ephesians 6:10-20 Is A Call For Action, Even In Our Modern Day And Age. 9 1.Christians must walk boldly out into the world today; they mustn’t remain sheltered and out of the public view. 9 2.Christians must be prepared to speak the truth. To do this, they must have Biblical knowledge that is second to none. Consider Ahn (2009) and his commentary here. 10 3.Christians must a strong faith, one that does not buckle under pressure. Consider the use of metaphors as they relate to Paul’s ministry here by referring to Howard (2008). 11 C. Ephesians 6:10-20 Is a Call to Pray For Our Spiritual Leaders Today, As They Are At The Front Of The Battle 12 1.Consider verses 19-20 and what it means to be a Christian leader today. Use Tucker (2012) as a basis for this commentary. 12 2.Fervent prayer must be our consistent call to action when giving our leaders the power they need to continue the fight. 13 3.Leaders must be willing to declare the Gospel fearlessly, as Paul espouses in Verse 20. Again, refer to Tucker’s commentary about being modern day leader, using the churches in Corinth and Ephesus as a reference point. 13 Conclusion 14 Bibliography 14 An Exegetical Analysis of Ephesians 6: 10-20 Extract 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Introduction After spending considerable time addressing doctrinal issues dealing with the issues of unity among believers in the previous chapters in Ephesians, Paul commences the passage (Ephesians 6: 10-20) with the word “Finally…” This is an indication that the message of the section is dependent on the preceding chapters that discussed the importance of unity in the church. Paul provides the enchiridion of the spiritual arena that can assist believers in maintaining the unity proposed in the previous chapters. Paul uses the military imagery to summarize the epistle of Ephesians. Readers are advised to use the armor of divine warrior (6: 10-11) as a way of becoming victorious in the struggle against the kingdom of darkness (6:12). This is followed up by a description of the different pieces of armor necessary for ensuring victory in a spiritual warfare (6:13-17). The military imagery is summarized by a request for the prayer for all saints as well as Paul (6:18-20). The paper below discusses the teachings of the Ephesians 6:10-20 in relation to the battle preparedness, its application in the modern evangelism and its significance in calling for prayers for the Spiritual leaders. A. Ephesians 6:10-20 Teaches Us to Be Prepared For Battle 1. Our struggles will be against the authorities – use commentaries to define who comprises these authorities and power of the dark world Paul uses the term “authorities” to refer to the various spiritual enemies. The authorities or these enemies can occur in many different ranks or levels although their goal is one; frustrating the work of Christianity. According to verse 11, these authorities are prominent schemes of the devil. The authorities mentioned in this passage refer to the earthly rulers in the regions of ignorance, sin and misery i.e. the rulers of the dark world. The wretched and sinful is the dominion that these authorities choose while the evil spirits delight in it due to its foul and malignant nature. The dark world is powerful and expansive because it has been consolidated over ages. The kingdom is sustained by perverted religious principles, reverence to antiquity and maintenance by the power of the corrupt, selfish and base passions. The dark kingdom extends its influence on personal sinful propensities of the human beings, the evil passions of other people, evil laws and opinions, pleasures of the world, superstitions, false doctrines and against spiritual wickedness.1 2. Scholars have written extensively about the various components of the armor described by Paul – Use the sources listed in the Bibliography to make reference to each part. Paul derived the imagery of armor from various sources. MacDonald (2008) asserts that the idea of the armor could have originated from the guards that were charged to monitor and watch over him.2 The guards were always armed and monitored his movements as well as his stay in prison. The soldiers provide the readers with a good vision that helps them to connect the physical armor to the spiritual armor. This can be applied by the spiritual soldiers in destroying the kingdom of darkness. The section describes Paul’s spiritual armor as the strongest compared to physical armors possessed by the guards. According to the passage, the strength of the spiritual armor can be related to its divine status and the strengthening power of prayer. God has trained His people to wear and use the armor, with Cohick (2011), asserting that God’s armor not only protects the physical aspect of the body, but also the spiritual aspect.3 The first piece of armor listed by Paul is the belt of truth (6: 14). Use of the belt is an indication that this piece can be used to hold the rest of the armor in place. Truth is crucial for holding the spiritual life of a person in place. Chapell (2009) suggests that the use of the belt of truth is symbolic of sincerity of the heart and the truth of the doctrine.4 Holding the truth of the heart and doctrine in place enables believers to “Stand firm…” and avoid falling into the temptations of the dark world (6: 14). The belt is strengthened by the breastplate of righteousness (6: 14). The breastplate of righteousness protects most the physical body as well as the spiritual portion of the body. Cohick (2011) suggests that both protect the physical as well as the spiritual aspect of the heart.5 Possession of an untruthful heart renders the spiritual life vulnerable to invasion by the devil as well as the probability of portraying a weakness in fighting the spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:15 provides what is required in protecting the agents of propulsion in conquering the kingdom of darkness i.e. “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace”. Shoes are worn to protect the wearer from the dangers posed by the many rough terrains and dangerous grounds. This can be compared with the gospel of peace that protects us irrespective of the magnitude of the trials and tribulations that comes our way. According to Callan, (2007), the gospel of peace protects believers from the tribulations and trials that may come their way.6 Spreading the gospel of peace involves sharing of the gospel with the non-believers with an intention of transforming them into Christians. Just like the way soldiers don’t take their protective shoes off, the passage advises Christians never to be unprepared to share and spread the gospel. The three armors described in verse fourteen and fifteen are attached to the body and soul i.e. one cannot ignore the truth that has been communicated, the righteousness that they are seeking and the gospel doctrine that is constantly adjudicated to them. The remaining three pieces of armor described in the passage are movable and appropriate for preparing believers for any form of attacks irrespective of the manner in which the enemy attacks. The first instructs Christians to, “…take up the shield of faith.” (Ephesians 6: 16) The shield is an efficient protective device that is of paramount importance to the users that know how to apply it well. According to Psalms 33: 20, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” This shield can only be related to the lord in a Christian perspective. Therefore, faith can only point to God but not to itself. The flaming arrows mentioned in the verse are likened to the modern distractions that act to divert one’s faith from God. Verse 17 presents another piece of armor i.e. helmet of salvation. Paul proclaims that this piece of helmet is the scriptures i.e. sword of the Spirit that is suitable for fighting any enemy. Therefore, it is prudent for Christians to use the word of God in the manner that He proposes. The different armories are strengthened and guided by the prayer. Paul suggests that believers should never exclude prayers while interacting with God. Directions are provided on how, when and what to pray about every time one is communicating with God. 3. What does is take to “stand your ground” as mentioned in verse 13? Cohick (2011) provides an excellent commentary on this. Being firm in the spiritual realm is not an option for those willing to conquer the kingdom of the evil one. This is because the challenges posed by the kingdom of the darkness are surmountable. Possession of the full armor enables believers to stand their ground and defend their faith. According to Cohick (2011), Paul warns that Christians do not face a friendly encounter; it is a threatening encounter which can only be won by the predetermined believers.7 The battles are described as challenging because Satan chooses when, how and the tools that he uses to attack. Therefore, believers are advised to be armed constantly to counter any evil attacks that may be directed to them by Satan. Many people possess a misconception that once the saving of the Lord is received by a person, their life will run smoothly without any challenges. However, Paul disputes this notion and provides the most spiritual and efficient way of standing firm and offering the required challenge. B. Ephesians 6:10-20 Is A Call For Action, Even In Our Modern Day And Age. 1. Christians must walk boldly out into the world today; they mustn’t remain sheltered and out of the public view. Attainment of spiritual strength and courage is required to ensure victory in the spiritual warfare. Believers that possess sufficient grace should purpose to attend to all the requirements of grace through application of the armor of God. This helps in overcoming the evil challenges that inhibits spreading of the gospel. The Christian armor is designed to be worn by the believers that are ready to conquer the devil through spiritual warfare. They should understand that the combat does not challenge the human enemies or against the human weaknesses. The enemy possesses different tactics of overcoming the challenging aspects of the believers. The impact is even more immense among non-believers who are weak and vulnerable to any temptations. This is because the devil assaults people through the use of things that belong to the human soul and labor. According to Chapell (2009) if Christians distrust their cause, leader or their armor, the enemy takes advantage and attacks them.8 Christians have a responsibility of reaching out to the non-believers and educating them on the tactics that the devil uses in conquering their souls. A bold minister of the word challenges the devil boldly through applying the faith in God and Jesus Christ in conquering the devil. Christians should be prepared to maintain a good hope of salvation, expectation of the victory according to the scriptures, mechanism of purifying the soul and avoiding any channels that may provide Satan with a leeway to defile their souls. The scriptures recommend the application of spiritual connotations in overcoming temptations the evil one. Bock and Buist (2006) asserts that Christians should understand that a vain heart is vain in prayers.9 A believer should be able to pray all types of prayers publicly i.e. private, public and secret; solitary or social; confession of sin; sudden or solemn and petition of mercy. Christians should move out to the field with the guidance of the Holy Spirit as well as adhering to the spiritual teachings. 2. Christians must be prepared to speak the truth. To do this, they must have Biblical knowledge that is second to none. Consider Ahn (2009) and his commentary here. The teachings of any Christian are guided by God’s word contained in the Holy Bible. Therefore, any gospel can only be truthful if the message communicated emanates from the bible. John 14:16 proclaims that Jesus is the truth and the foundation of this truth is God’s word. Therefore, ensuring that one speaks the truth does not only require understanding of the bible alone but also consciously recalling and focusing on what the bible teaches about Jesus. Ahn (2009) posits that it is prudent for Christians to be prepared to handle any issues that may be a stumbling block to clear understanding of the bible.10 This is only achievable if one fully understands the bible. Some of the evil realms use various verses from the bible to confuse people. This can only be countered through comprehensive understanding of the scriptures. Understanding the bible enables evangelists to realize that consistent praying is the only sure way of ensuring that the mouth of an evangelist always speaks the truth. Paul uses the passage to build a framework for the unity of all characteristics of an individual in the spiritual realm. An individual can only find strength in the Lord, understand His creation and maintain communication with God through prayer. Paul emphasizes that one is supposed to apply the armor of God because it is the only thing that can defeat Satan. A connection with God can only be established through prayers.11 The nature of armor that is supposed to be put and the strength is provided by the power of prayer especially for those people that are physically incapable of making a positive impact in a battle front. 3. Christians must a strong faith, one that does not buckle under pressure. Consider the use of metaphors as they relate to Paul’s ministry here by referring to Howard (2008). The use of the military metaphor is a rhetorical success judging by the frequency of the metaphors in the passage. The armor of God is a metaphor applied by Paul in this text to represent a well trained warrior. He compares a typical roman soldier with the average believer. According to Gudorf (1998), the passage describes the art of exhibiting more than resistance to the enemy.12 He avers that Paul describes, “Heavily armored soldier who also happens to be an accomplished wrestler...that fits well with the extended metaphor in Ephesians 6:10-18 where the consistently prominent theme is to persevere in the event of an attack.” The description indicates that the battle is not for the spiritually weak. Paul urges all believers to practice the entire aspect of spiritual control that guarantee victory when engaging in the battles with the dark world. The real use of the armor is to enable the soldiers persevere any attacks or threats. This is indicated by Paul’s insistence of the necessity of the believer remaining spiritually firm is not for the spiritually weak. The enemy is strong and his attacks should be taken seriously. Therefore, Christians are advised to apply spiritual discipline for maintaining constancy in the war with the enemy. According to Howard (2008), the passage is better understood in a corporate rather than individualistic manner if read both as the content and rhetoric of the Epistle to Ephesians.13 The passage is a proposition to Christians to arm themselves and ensure victory in the spiritual battle. Christians are supposed to cooperate in defeating a common enemy i.e. church foe. C. Ephesians 6:10-20 Is a Call to Pray For Our Spiritual Leaders Today, As They Are At The Front Of The Battle 1. Consider verses 19-20 and what it means to be a Christian leader today. Use Tucker (2012) as a basis for this commentary. In verse 19-20, Paul urges all leaders to be alert and rely on prayers in strengthening their faith as well as that of fellow believers. The passage terms prayers crucial especially in overcoming situations that limits the efforts applied in the spreading the gospel. Believers are advised to be wary of the enemy, not only praying at all times, but also applying all forms of prayers to counter any form of traps or loopholes that the devil may place along their paths. Tucker (2012) avers that reliable leadership in church cannot be attained unless the leaders are prayerful.14 The type of prayer that Paul is referring to in the passage is the believing and expectant prayer. This motivates a believer in emerging victorious in the spiritual warfare. Paul advises Christians to pray for the servants that God has appointed as the spiritual leaders to give them the necessary strength and attune them to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in proclaiming the gospel. 2. Fervent prayer must be our consistent call to action when giving our leaders the power they need to continue the fight. Tucker (2012) affirms that leaders may be tormented by the challenges met during wars making them arguably stressful and restless.15 The most important aspect that can provide them with the required strength is the prayer. Prayer is viewed as crucial aspect of the armor of God that cannot be ignored by the leaders targeting to conquer the kingdom of darkness successfully. Power can be source of all evils if misused by leaders. It is therefore prudent for Christians to consistently pray for their leaders when giving them power for spiritual guidance. Even the leadership of Jesus Christ regarded prayer as the main guiding factor in leading the church followers along the path of righteousness. 3. Leaders must be willing to declare the Gospel fearlessly, as Paul espouses in Verse 20. Again, refer to Tucker’s commentary about being modern day leader, using the churches in Corinth and Ephesus as a reference point. The willingness to spread the gospel comes with a price because leaders should be prepared to overcome the difficulties of the dark kingdom associated with spreading of the gospel. Tucker (2012) recounts the problems that Paul underwent and notes that it requires willingness for one to become a successful televangelist. God helps those who are willing through equipping them with the necessary information to communicate to His followers. This is why Paul requests for the intercessory prayers for the evangelists involved in preaching the gospel in Ephesus and Corinth. Conclusion The spiritual battle explained by Paul in the section (Ephesians 6: 10-20) be fought closely. Christians are encouraged to always be ready to put an armor of God that enables them to always win the battle. The passage is exhorting believers to stay watchful of the day when the evil strikes. Paul warns that the day can come at any time and believers are warned that this will be the time when the magnitude of evil will be at its peak. Christians can only stand if they possess the armor pieces that include the belt of truth, the boots of readiness, the breast plate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6: 13-17). All the pieces are required for creation of a full armor necessary for enabling a believer become victorious in all spiritual wars. Bibliography Ahn, John. “The Church’s Guide for Reading Paul: The Canonical Shaping of the Pauline Corpus,” Horizons in Biblical Theology (2009): 209. Bock, Darrell L., and Buist M. Fanning. Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2006. Callan, Terrance. “Jews, Gentiles, and Ethnic Reconciliation: Paul’s Jewish Identity and Ephesians,” Journal of the American Academy of Religion (June 2007): 427-429. Chapell, Bryan. Ephesians. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub, 2009. Cohick, Lynn. “The Drama of Ephesians: Participating in the Triumph of God,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (Sep 2011): 638. Gudorf, Michael, "The Use of πάλη in Ephesians 6:12," Journal of Biblical Literature, 117 (Summer 1998): 332. Howard, James. “Adopted into God’s Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor,” Journal of the Evangelical Society (Jun 2008): 415. Luck, Cecil. “A Reflection on Experience from the Parish of Formosa,” The Expository Times (Feb 2007): 230-233. MacDonald, Margaret. “Ephesians: Empowerment to Walk in Love for the Unity of All in Christ,” Biblical Interpretation: A Journal of Contemporary Approaches (2008): 305 Tucker, Brian. “Emerging Leadership in the Pauline Mission: A Social Identity Perspective on Local Leadership Development in Corinth and Ephesus,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (Sep 2012): 624. Read More