GEMS FROM THE ENDINGS OF THE EPISTLES

Part VIII: Gems From The Ending Of Ephesians, A. D. 60

(Ephesians 6:10-24)

I. Introduction

A. The epistle to the Ephesians was written by Paul from Rome in his first Roman imprisonment around A. D. 60 (Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, p. 434, 614).

B. Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is composed of Christian doctrine (chapters 1-3) followed by the practical application of that doctrine (chapters 4-6), but it also provides great insight into the importance of gaining spiritual victory in the angelic conflict to apply God’s Word in our lives.

C. We thus view the Ephesians 6:10-24 ending of Ephesians for our insight, application and edification:

II. Gems From The Ending Of Ephesians, A. D. 60; Ephesians 6:10-24.

A. Though Paul’s closing salutation in Ephesians 6:21-24 is the epistle’s formal ending (Ibid., p. 644), Ephesians 6:10-20 climaxes the letter in an important way, so we treat it in this lesson as part of the ending. We explain:

1. Ephesians 1:1-3:21 is doctrine where Ephesians 4:1-6:20 is application, but “every division of 4:1-6:9 was introduced by the Greek inferential particle oun (4:1, 17; 5:1, 7, 15) and the verb ‘walk’ (peripateo; 4:1, 17; 5:1, 8, 15)” where “this final division is signaled by ‘finally’ (tou loipou, ‘the rest’)” (Ibid., p. 642).

2. Significantly, tou loipou in this verse can carry the metaphorical sense of “And so . . .” or “It follows that . . .” (C. F. D. Moule, An Idiom-Book of N. T. Greek (Cambridge University Press), 1975, p. 161), a sense that fits the context: the Ephesians 4:1-6:9 part of the epistle that applied doctrine to one’s walk is full of admonitions relative to issues of struggle, and Paul in Ephesians 6:10-12 with 6:13-20 indicates that this struggle is not with other people, but a struggle in the spiritual realm against Satan and his demons!

3. Paul’s readers were familiar with Satan: many of them had come to Christ out of spiritism, Acts 19:13-19!

4. Thus, Ephesians 6:10-20 in its broad context of Ephesians 4:1-6:20 shows how each issue of the Christian walk in Ephesians 4:1-6:9 must be subject to the Ephesians 6:10-20 insight on the angelic conflict.

B. Accordingly, we view Ephesians 6:10-20 on the believer’s victory in the angelic conflict (as follows):

1. We believers need to be spiritually strong in the Lord and by use of His spiritual resources in putting on the whole spiritual armor of God to be able to stand against the spiritual wiles of Satan, Ephesians 6:10.

2. Paul then described the spiritual armor and its use in the angelic conflict in Ephesians 6:13-20 (as follows):

a. We must put on the entire armor of God to “withstand” (antistenai, Ibid.) Satan’s efforts, Ephesians 6:13.

b. Paul repeated the call to “stand” in Ephesians 6:14a, and the pieces of armor and their functions are described in Ephesians 6:14b-20 NIV (as follows):

i. We must put on the belt of truth about our waist, Ephesians 6:14b. This refers not to the truth of the Gospel itself but to “subjective truth, a believer’s integrity and faithfulness” in living, Ibid.

ii. We must put on the breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:14c. This refers not to positional righteousness gained at salvation, but “the sanctifying righteousness of Christ” in “living,” Ibid.

iii. We must put on the shoes of the preparation of the Gospel of peace, Ephesians 6:15 (cf. Isaiah 52:7). Satanic attacks are often meant to disqualify a believer from effectively evangelizing when the opportunity to witness arises, so he must face Satanic attacks with a readiness to evangelize!

iv. We must take up the shield of faith in God to quench all of Satan’s fiery darts, Ephesians 6:16.

v. We must “receive” (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Eph. 6:17) the helmet of salvation, Ephesians 6:17a. Deliverance from a Satanic attack is entirely God’s work (cf. Romans 16:20), so we must not rely on our own efforts but on the Lord at each step of the conflict we face.

vi. We must take up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, Ephesians 6:17b. Scripture is our only offensive weapon against Satan, and Jesus used it against Satan’s temptation in Matthew 4:4, 7, 10.

vii. We must pray in the Spirit’s power, watching for Satan’s moves to counter them, Eph. 6:18-20.

C. Ephesians 6:21-24 then gives Paul’s closing salutation, and it is the only one in Paul’s epistles in Scripture that calls for God’s grace to be administered to those who love Christ “in sincerity” (KJV; B. K. C., N. T., op. cit., p. 500), what literally means, “in incorruption, incorruptibility, immortality” (en aphtharsia, Ibid., p. 645).

Lesson: Paul taught that we believers need to rely on God and His spiritual resources to overcome Satan in the angelic conflict that we face in every realm of our lives. In doing so, we will also retain a fervent love for the Lord.

Application: May we rely on God to overcome Satan in every realm of life and retain a fervent love for the Lord.