Ephesians 6:13–18 (ESV)13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints

We are examining each individual piece of armor, so that we can fight the battles that lie ahead and win. We have already looked at…1. “having fastened on the belt of truth”2. “having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (verse 14)3. “and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” (verse 15)

The next piece of armor is the shield of faith.4. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. (verse 16)

It appears to me that the ESV has stretched the meaning in the wrong direction by using the word, “circumstances.”   The Greek literally says simply, “In all.”  Other translations better capture the thought here by saying phrases like, “In addition to all this” (NIV, Holman), or “Above all” (KJV). In other words, the shield is the next added piece of armor and very important.

Further, the word “take” is a participle like the word, “having” used regarding the first three pieces of armor. So, it is better interpreted as “taking the shield of faith.”

Now, maybe this is important to only a few Bible geeks, so let me explain what I’m getting at. In a previous devotional thought, I said, “Paul begins in a logical order and links the first three pieces of armor together and, in the same way, links the next three together.” BUT I WAS WRONG!

Paul actually links the first four together by means of participles which form the complete picture of the primary protective barrier for the soldier. They are defensive in purpose. The next three (helmet and sword combined with prayer) are primarily offensive in purpose, and are linked together by means of an imperative, which is a command, as we will see later.

Now, let’s get a hold of the imagery of the shield of faith.

The shield in a Roman soldier’s attire was designed to protect the soldier from the arrows that were hurled at him. The enemy would soak the tip of the arrow in tar and set it on fire. But how could that protect since the shield was made of wood? It was overlaid with linen and leather and presoaked in water, to absorb fiery arrows. The shield was about 2’ wide and 4’ long and shaped like a door. In fact its Greek name, thyreos, came from the word for door, thyra. Marching side by side holding up these large shields, soldiers could advance on an enemy well protected. Used that way, the shield could be an important part of an offensive thrust, even though it was a defensive piece.

But, our shield is made of something besides wood and leather. Our shield is made of faith. This faith is both the truths to which we believe in and the act of believing in those truths. 

So when Paul says, “the shield of faith,” he is equally saying, “taking up THE faith.’ “The faith” is something that is actually believed by believers; if it were not embraced by believers, it could not be called “the faith.”

The idea, then, is that a Christian’s resolute faith in the Lord can stop and extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one aimed at him. 

Faith here is a firm confidence in the Lord and in His Word. When temptations burn, when circumstances are adverse, when doubts assail, when shipwreck threatens, faith looks up and says, “I believe God.”

Notice who it is that is hurling the flaming arrows at us.  Paul jumps from referring to Satan as the devil in verse 10 to now labeling him as the Evil One. This reminds us of where the battle lies when he said in verse 12, we “wrestle against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Jesus prayed, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)

So, here we see four collected pieces of armor for defense against the evil one: truth—the righteousness—the gospel of the peace—the faith.

Next week, we will look at three weapons that are primarily offensive in purpose.

These three, Paul links together with a command. “…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (verses 17,18)

We are always to live ready with the weapons of truth, righteousness, peace and faith. With these weapons in place, we are prepared to go on the offense with secured salvation and the Word of God in prayerful attentiveness.