***Note: I read from the New International Version (NIV). I typically study verse by verse, using historical context and defining each word based on the Hebrew/Greek and the modern interpretation of the word.
The book of Ephesians was written in Koine Greek because that was the language much of the Middle East and Mediterranean regions were speaking at the time. Some words may be defined in the Greek to give a clearer understanding of the context and meaning of the verse.***
Key:
- Highlighted and bolded words are vocabulary words
- Bolded only words are words to pay attention to
- Underlined phrases are phrases to pay special attention to
- Phrases in parentheses are additional thoughts.
(v. 14) “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist with the breastplate of righteousness in place…”
- ***Historical context: the belt of a Roman soldier (the Roman Empire ruled during this time) was a thick, heavy, leather and metal band with a protective piece hanging down from the front of it. The belt held the soldier’s sword and other weapons.***
- The belt of truth holds the sword of the Spirit, that is the word of God (Hebrews 4:12), linking truth to His words.
- Why is the belt of truth the first piece of armor mentioned?
- without truth, the rest of the armor would be of no use
- we have to believe in what is said about spiritual battles in order to believe that we truly need the armor of God and that the armor will help us to endure and withstand the day of evil
- truth are the words of God, what He says about the enemy, what He says about us, and what He promises
- a modern day belt helps us keep our pants around our waist which keeps us our intimate parts from being vulnerable
- the belt of truth connects to Jesus saying my words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33) because the belt of truth is still applicable even though the Bible was written thousands of years ago
- ***historical context: The breastplate in the armor of the Roman soldier protected some of the most important parts of the body such as the heart, the lungs, and other necessary organs.***
- righteousness: (noun) the quality of being morally right or justifiable
- flows from a renewed heart
- the Bible tells us to guard our hearts for everything we do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23)
- the heart is the command center of the soul, mind, will, and affections
- it is a high risk and vulnerable place for sin
- if a soldier didn’t wear his breastplate, he was vulnerable to an attack that could result in instant death
- similarly, if we don’t guard our hearts, we are vulnerable to fall into sin
- if a soldier didn’t wear his breastplate, he was vulnerable to an attack that could result in instant death
- it is a high risk and vulnerable place for sin
- the heart is the command center of the soul, mind, will, and affections
- the Bible tells us to guard our hearts for everything we do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23)
- to be righteous is to obey God’s commands and to live in a way that is honorable to Him, in thought and action
- learning how to be righteous begins with reading God’s word, basing our decisions off His word, and praying
- flows from a renewed heart
(v. 15) “And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
- first belt, then shoes
- shoes properly cover our feet to protect them from elements
- we use shoes to walk/run/jog and to move in a direction
- that direction should always be toward light, not darkness
- we use shoes to walk/run/jog and to move in a direction
- readiness implies constant vigilance
- ***historical context: Roman soldiers shoes we’re studded with nails or spikes to help him keep his balance during combat.***
- shoes serve as offense and defense against the enemy
- in order to defend ourselves against the enemy, we must be confident in our position in Christ
- must stand firm on the truth of God’s word, regardless of circumstances
- when satan attacks with a flaming missile of doubt, we dig our peace shoes into the battleground and reply (or combat) with God’s word
- Example
- satan: “remember what you did?”
- our response: “it is written: ‘as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).’”
- Example
- in order to defend ourselves against the enemy, we must be confident in our position in Christ
- shoes are also for moving meaning God expects us to take the gospel of peace or the good news to others
- shoes serve as offense and defense against the enemy
(v. 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.”
- In the English Standard Version (ESV), “in addition to all this” reads “in all circumstances”
- emphasizes importance of having faith rooted in Christ because attacks and trials will test and shake your faith in God
- take up meaning to pick up
- ***historical context: A Roman soldier’s shield was called a scutum. The shield was as large as a deer and covered their armor suit entirely.***
- faith: (per the dictionary) complete trust or confidence in someone or something
- Biblical definition of faith is: confidence in what we hope for, assurance of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1)
- Faith translated in Greek is “pistis” meaning to persuade or be persuaded
- faith is God’s divine persuasion and is a gift from Him (Romans 12:3) and cannot be produced by our own doing
- we can quench or extinguish those arrows of discouragement and doubt with what we know to be true about God/Christ
(v. 17) “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.”
- helmets protect our heads from hard objects
- in this case, the helmet is a spiritual helmet that assures to believe that Jesus died for our sins
- salvation: preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss; deliverance from sin and it’s consequences as a result of faith in Jesus
- the helmet protects our minds from the enemy planting seeds of doubt in our mind about who Jesus is and what He did for us
- The enemy will make us doubt our salvation
- helmet of salvation also connects with Romans 12:2
- in this case, the helmet is a spiritual helmet that assures to believe that Jesus died for our sins
- ***historical context: the back of a Roman soldier’s helmet had an elongated bill to protect the neck from sword strikes.***
- sword of the Spirit which is the word of God meaning we use the Bible or God’s words to slice through lies and worldly beliefs (discernment)
- when you slice through something, you can see inside or right through it
- a sword has the ability to penetrate through skin and kill
- we see that Jesus killed the enemy’s lies, with the word of God, when the enemy tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13)
- ***historical context: Roman soldiers required training to use a sword properly.***
- similarly, all Christians need to understand the purpose of the word of God (sword) so as to know how to use it properly (2 Timothy 3:16)
- the Bible isn’t just a book to read but is an essential part to our survival
- the more we know and understand the word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy of our souls
- similarly, all Christians need to understand the purpose of the word of God (sword) so as to know how to use it properly (2 Timothy 3:16)
Bible study notes assisted by GotQuestions.org
Chronicles of a Believer 
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