The Armour of God

Ephesians 6:11–17 (Pauline Epistles)

First attested

62 CEPreserved in Papyrus 46 and Codex Sinaiticus New Testament collections.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Above all, taking the shield of faith, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

King James Version (Ephesians 6:11–12, 14, 16–17)

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The spiritual armor of truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation against dark forces.

In the closing exhortation of the Epistle to the Ephesians, the author presents an iconic allegory of spiritual warfare, re-imagining the panoply of a Roman legionary into spiritual virtues. Believers are commanded to stand firm not against mortal flesh and blood, but against cosmic rulers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil. Each piece of armor represents an active moral defense: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, the shield of faith to quench fiery darts, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.