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13 For this reason, take up the complete armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day, and THEY having fully wrought every thing, to stand.

14 Stand, then, having your loins1 girded about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness. (See Isa. lix. 17.)

13 For this reason, that ye wrestle with evil spirits, as well as with wicked men, take up the complete armour of God's providing, that ye may be able to resist these malicious adversaries, in the evil day of temptation, chap. v. 16. and they having fully practised every stratagem to ruin you, that ye may be able to stand firm.

14 Stand then, having your loins girded about with truth, as soldiers are girded with the military belt, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness, as a defence against the calumnies with which the wicked attack your reputation.

who represents the heathen world, given up to idolatry and wickedness, as lying under the dominion of the devil, 1 John v. 19. And without doubt, it was by the suggestions and temptations of evil spirits, that mankind were so universally seduced to idolatry. Wherefore, since the professed design of the gospel was to destroy these evils, it is certain, that the devil and his angels would oppose its progress, by stirring up their adherents to persecute both the preachers and the believers of the new revelation.-The combat which the first Christians were maintaining, against the devil and his subjects, the abettors of idolatry, was with great propriety described to the Ephesians, as their city was the very throne of idolatry, by means of the worship of Diana, there performed with the greatest splendour and celebrity of rites, in the most magnificent temple in the world, and with a vast concourse of priests, votaries, and retainers of all sorts. Besides, magical works, the peculiar contrivance of the devil, seem at the time the apostle wrote this epistle, to have been practised at Ephesus, more than in any other city, or country in the world, Acts xix. 18, 19.

Ver. 14.-1. Loins girded about with truth. Since faith is mentioned afterwards, as a distinct part of the Christian armour, aλndua, truth, cannot mean in this place, those truths which are the objects of the Christian's faith; but a true or unfeigned profession of the Christian faith, in opposition to that which is hypocritical. For by sincerity in the profession of their faith, the whole faculties of their mind would be invigorated, and themselves put in a constant readiness for action; just as a soldier who is girded with the military belt, is fitted either for fighting or for retreating.

2. Having on the breast-plate of righteousness. In the parallel passage, 1.Thess. v. 8. this is called the breast-plate of faith and love. See the note there. Perhaps the apostle in this passage alluded to Is. lix. 17. where

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

15 Και υποδησαμενοι τους ποδας εν ετοιμασία του ευ αγγελίου της ειρηνης

16 Επι πασιν αναλαβοντες τον θυρεον της πίςεως, εν δυνήσεσθε παντα τα βέλη

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του πονηρου τα πεπυρωμένα σβεσαι

17 Και την περικεφαλαι αν του σωτηριον δέξασθε, και την μαχαιραν του πνευμα τος, εζι ρημα Θεου

Messiah is said to have put on righteousness as a breast-plate; that is, by the uprightness of his conduct, and his consciousness thereof, he defended himself from being moved by the calumnies and reproaches of the wicked.

Ver. 15.-1. The preparation of the gospel of peace, means, the virtues which in the first age were necessary to those who travelled through the world to preach the gospel; namely fortitude, perseverance, self government, and peaceableness: For these qualities were a great preservative against the evils to which they were exposed.-Chandler thinks Tatia should be translated, activity.

Ver. 16.—1. Extinguish all the fiery darts. Anciently, they used small firebrands in the form of darts and arrows, which they kindled and shot among their enemies. These were called ran @s@upaueva, tela ignita, fiery darts. And in battle they were received by the soldiers on their shields, which were covered with brass or iron, ia order to extinguish them, or prevent their effect.

2. Of the wicked one. The devil is called i worng☞, the wicked one, by way of eminence, because in him the most consummate malice and cunning are joined. See ver. 12. note 5.

Ver. 17.-1. And receive the helmet of salvation. In the parallel passage, 1 Thess. v. 8. it is, And for an helmet the hope of salvation. Chandler's note on this is, "The helmet was for the defence of the head to preserve it from "deadly blows. And in like manner the hope of salvation built on the "promises of God, and arising from the consciousness of integrity, will "ward off, or preserve from the fatal effects of all temptations, from worldly terrors, and evils: so that they shall not disorder the imagination, or pervert the judgment, or cause men to desert the path of duty to their "final destruction." See 1 Thess. v. 8. note 2.

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2. And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Here the apostle calls the word of God, the sword of the Spirit, because it was given by inspiration of the Spirit; and because the doctrines, promises, and precepts of the word of God, are the most effectual means of putting our spiritual

15 And having your feet shod (Tomaria) with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

16 Over all, take up the shield of faith, with which ye will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 2 (See 1 Pet. v. 9.)

17 And receive the helmet of salvation,' (see 1 Thess. v. 8. note 2.) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 2

15 And, like soldiers who defend their legs and feet with greaves, have your feet shod with the preparation necessary for preaching the gospel of peace.

16 As soldiers have their shields, which they turn every way, for the defence of their whole body, so, over your whole body, take up the shield of fuith: the firm belief of the doctrines and promises of the gospel: with which ye will be able to exstinguish all the fiery darts, that is, the most deadly temptations of the devil.

17 And, as soldiers have helmets to secure their heads against strokes, and swords to annoy their enemies, receive the helmet of the hope of salvation, which will defend you against the fear of death. And the spiritual sword, which is the word of God, that therewith ye may put your enemies to flight.

enemies to flight. Of this efficacy of the word of God, we have an illustrious example in our Lord's temptation in the wilderness, who put the devil to flight by quotations from the scriptures of the Old Testament.-Beza observes, that all the parts of the complete armour of the ancients, are elegantly introduced in the apostle's account of the Christian's complete armour. For there is first the military belt, called by the Greeks (asng, and by the Latins balteus. This covered the two parts of the breast-plate where they joined.—The breast-plate was the second article of the complete armour, and consisted of two pieces; the one reaching from the neck to the navel, and the other hanging from thence to the knees. The former was called Jaga, the latter (ua. Accordingly, in the parallel passage, 1 Thess. v. 8. the breast-plate is said to consist of two parts; faith and love.-Next to the breast-plate were the greaves, which made the third article of the complete armour. They were called by the Greeks xvnides, and by the Latins ocrea, and were made of gold, or silver, or brass, or iron, and were designed to defend the legs and feet against the strokes of stones and arrows. Thus Goliath had greaves of brass upon his legs, 1 Sam. xvii. 6.—The fourth article of the complete armour was the helmet, which likewise was made of metals of different sorts, and was used to defend the head against the

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18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that ut

terance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel :

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

18 Δια πασης προσευχης και δεήσεως προσευχομενοι εν παντι καιρῷ εν πνευματι, και εις αυτο τουτο αγρυπνούντες εν πάση προσκαρτερησει και δεήσει περι παντων των ἁγιών,

19 Και όπερ εμου, να μοι δοθείη λογος εν ανοίξει του ςόματος μου εν παρρησία, γνώρισαι το μυςήριον του ευ αγγελίου,

20 Ὑπερ ὁ πρεσβεύω εν ἁλύσει, ίνα εν αυτῷ παρρησι ασωμαι, ὡς δει με λαλήσαι.

strokes of swords and missile weapons.-Add in the fifth place, the shield, and the whole body is completely covered. The shield was sometimes round, and sometimes square, and was made of strong thick leather. Thus the shield of Ajax consisted of seven folds of bulls' hides. Sometimes the shield was made of wood, covered with plates of brass or steel.

But besides the defensive armour just now described, offensive weapons were likewise necessary to render the soldiers' armour complete ; particularly the sword, which was used with the right hand, while the shield was held on the left arm. They had darts likewise, or javelins, mentioned ver. 16.

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Ver. 18.1. With all supplication and deprecation. The words προσευχης and δεησεως, which I have translated supplication and deprecation, seem naturally, as Chandler remarks, “ to denote the asking of what is good, and the deprecating what is evil, from their two roots; the first of which signifies wishing, " and the latter fearing. And this they were to do in the Spirit, that is, « either with their heart and mind, sincerely and ferrently, (Ess. iv. 56.) « Or, according as the Spirit of God should excite and move them.”

2. Pray at all seasons in Spirit. In confirmation of the interpretation in the commentary, I observe that our Lord himself directed Ananias to distinguish Saul as his disciple, by the watch-word or token of his praying, Acts ix. 11. Inquire in the house of yudas, for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold he prayeth in my name.

3. For this very purpose watch, with all perseverance and prayer, for all the saints. The first Christians constantly prayed for each other. Thus when Peter was cast into prison, Prayer was made without ceasing, of the church unto God for him, Acts xii. 5. And their prayer was answered; for he was miraculously delivered by an angel. This, with other instances, led the

18 (A, 119.) With all supplication and deprecation, pray at all seasons 2 (ev πvevμati, 36.) in spirit ; and for this very purpose, watch (xar reoσxaptegno) (παση προσκαρτερησει) with all perseverance and prayer for all the saints, (See Col. iv. 2.)

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19 (Kui, 220.) Especially for me, that (λy☞) eloquence may be given me in the opening of my mouth, with boldness, to make

18 And as soldiers distinguish each other by watch-words, let your token of distinction, as fellow-soldiers of Christ, be prayer in the name of Christ. Therefore, with all supplication for what is good, and deprecation of evil, pray at all seasons

with earnestness: and for this very purpose, watch, like soldiers on guard, with the greatest perseverance in prayer, for all the faithful,

19 Especially for me, that when I open my mouth in my own defence before my judges, eloquence may be given me with boldness, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (chap. i. 8.

known the mystery of the note,) the doctrine of the gospel higospel;

20 For which I execute the office of an ambassador, (ey aλvo) in a chain,1 that I may speak boldly (ev, 168.) concerning it, as it becometh me to speak. (See Col. iii. 4.)

therto a secret; namely, that men are to be saved through faith, without obeying the law of Moses as necessary to salvation.

20 For publishing which mystery, I execute the office of an ambassador of Christ chained: I say that I may speak boldly, concerning the divine original of the gospel, and concerning the salvation of mankind. through faith; as it becometh me to speak, who am the ambassador of so great a Prince.

disciples to expect great benefit from the prayers of the faithful. Hence Paul himself often begged the brethren to pray for him, as in ver. 19. See Col. iv. 2. note.

Ver. 20-1. For which I execute the office of an ambassador in a chain The apostle being accused of no crime against society, but only of heresy in the Jewish religion, Acts xxiv. 5. xxvi. 31. he was allowed at Rome to live in his own hired house, with a soldier who kept him, Acts xxviii. 16. To this soldier he was tied with a chain, fixed on his right wrist, and fastened to the soldier's left arm; and the chain being of a convenient length, the two could walk together with ease, whithersoever the apostle's affairs called him. The soldiers who were thus employed, no doubt reaped great benefit from the apostle's conversation and preaching.

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