Earlier this year the British Museum in London held an exhibition named “Legion, life in the Roman Army” which displayed much of the equipment and armour that would have been used by the Roman Empire in the ancient world. Paul would have been very familiar with these various pieces of armour, having interacted with Roman soldiers on a number of occasions. At the time that Paul wrote his letter to his Ephesians it is believed that he was in captivity in Rome; being carefully guarded by Roman soldiers. As well as being familiar with their protective equipment, Paul is also likely to be familiar with Roman military culture and practices, particularly a type of speech called ‘peroration’ which would be used by Roman General’s to encourage troops prior to a significant military engagement or battle.

In this section of his letter Paul borrows the imagery of armour and the practice of ‘peroration’ in order to encourage his Christian readers. He also seeks inspiration from the Hebrew Scriptures and in particular the prophet Isaiah when he speaks of God’s own armour (Isaiah 59:17).

Paul recognises that those who chose to follow the way of Jesus as Christian disciples would be subject to spiritual assault. The ultimate source of these assaults would not be “enemies of blood and flesh” but rather “cosmic powers” and “spiritual sources of evil.” (Ephesians 6:12). In order to withstand these hostile forces, it is necessary for the believer to put on the “armour of God” and work co-operatively with other fellow Christians in prayer. It is only by depending on the spiritual protection offered by God that Christian’s can hope to resist the evil that is present and manifest within the world.

Paul refers to elements of military clothing and equipment as metaphors for the defences that God offers that need to be taken up by the Christian believer. Truth is the belt on which everything else depends and holds it all together. Righteousness, and not self-righteousness, enable us to live justly and in right relationship with one another and is a life-saving breastplate. Shoes enable the believer to be on the move, proclaiming the “Gospel of Peace.” (Ephesians 6:15) The shield of faith quenches the flaming arrows of adversaries. (Roman shields were covered in water-soaked leather for this purpose.) Salvation, obtained through Christ’s death and resurrection defends the head, the centre of all thought, as a helmet,

The only offensive weapon that Paul refers to is the “Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) a reminder that the Gospel is the best means by which the evil of the world can be defeated through the Spirit of life, truth, and reconciliation.

In the 21^st Century it is frequently the case that we feel buffeted by forces that are beyond our control and we see examples of cruelty and suffering in the world that we are powerless to effect. Paul’s message in this passage reminds us that not only do we have God’s protection from evil but that we have a responsibility to work for God’s Kingdom by proclaiming the Gospel of God’s love in Christ. Through prayer and action, we can have a positive effect on the world around us, as God encourages us to agents of change and transformation empowered by his Spirit and equipped with his message of love.