The passage
      v10. "Be strengthened in the Lord". The source of this courage is found "in the Lord." He is the one who will strengthen us in the trials of life. This strengthening Paul calls God's "mighty power", the power that raised Christ to life, Eph.1:19-20. It is the power that comes from the operation of the Holy Spirit in our inner psyche, Eph.3:16.
      v11. The means of strengthening Paul describes as armor for attack and defence. This armor comes from God and enables the wearer to stand against the deceitful attack of the devil. Paul has already described these schemes earlier in his letter, 4:26-27, where the attack of the powers of darkness serves to undermine fellowship in the church by working on anger or hurts.
      v12. Paul now goes on to describe more fully these evil powers which seek to attack us. He reminds his readers that our real battle is not against the circumstances of life, or even against evil people. The real battle is spiritual, and to stand in this battle it is necessary to possess spiritual armor - "the full armor of God." Paul gives a number of titles to these evil powers and sums them up in the phrase, "spiritual forces of evil." It is fascinating to realize that not only do they inhabit the earth, but they also reside in the "heavenly realms." That is, their headquarters are in the spiritual domain, but of course, Christ is bringing them into subjection to himself.
      v13. These powers of darkness will confront us in the "day of evil" and it is then we must be found wearing God's armor. The evil day is the time of the great tribulation at the return of Christ, but it is also every shadow of this day that regularly inflicts the human race. The armor will enable us to stand as a good soldier, fully doing our duty - to stand and not retreat.
      v14-18. The armor is now described piece by piece. The imagery used may come from Isaiah 59:17, and is an image already used by Paul, 1Thess.5:8. There is some debate about the meaning of the armor analogy. For example, is the belt of truth theology/wisdom, or is it truthfulness? This type of question applies to each individual piece. It is likely that Paul is illustrating elements which derive from the character of Christ and can be ours by grace through faith.

      i] The belt. As Christian soldiers prepared for battle, we are to put on truthfulness like a belt. In simple terms, tell the truth.

      ii] The breastplate. We are to put on right behavior like a breastplate. Be Christ-like is the exhortation.

      iii] Shoes. We are to put on peacefulness like shoes. The most popular interpretation is in terms of witnessing, evangelism. Yet, Paul possibly means something like speaking peace - being peaceful rather than argumentative.

      iv] The shield. We are to take up trustworthiness like a shield. Again, this image is often interpreted in the terms of faith in Christ - saving faith. Yet, when treated as an ethical quality, the shield represents faithfulness rather than faith in God.

      v] The helmet. We are to put on salvation like a helmet. This image is not an easy one. The most accepted view is to see the image in the terms of assurance - "be sure of your salvation." Yet, this is not really an ethical exhortation, but then there is no need to expect Paul to make all the pieces of armor ethical. To support this view Isaiah 59:17 describes God as wearing victory like a helmet.

      vi] The sword. We are to take up prayer like a sword. The accepted interpretation is the taking up of the word of God, the Bible. So, the exhortation is that we read the Bible and believe in it. There is though a strong possibility that the exhortation is to prayer. The sword then represents praying in the Spirit. This view sees the prayer of faith through the Spirit as prayer according to the will of God (prayer that is based on His promises).

Fight the good fight
      John Bunyan used Paul's "armor" imagery in "The Holy War", and in particular, in "The Pilgrim's Progress". In Pilgrim's Progress Christian receives the armor in the armory of the House Beautiful. He is to use it against Apollyon in the next stage of his journey. Only by wearing the armor can he successfully make the journey.
      Bunyan made a point of noting that there is no armor for the back. Christian will not be able to run. He must "venture and stand his ground".
      In simple terms the armor image illustrates putting on Christ. This involves the impartation of Christ's righteousness, which is a renewing work of the indwelling Spirit, ours by grace through faith.

v11
      endusasqe (enduw) aor. imp. "put on" - be clothed. As noted above the aorist tense probably serves to express a single item in the strengthening process, rather than identifying a single action such as conversion or baptism. Probably paralleling "be strong."
      thn panoplian (a) "the full armor" - complete, or whole armor. "The full weaponry of a soldier about to go into battle" probably serves to parallel "God's mighty power."
      tou qeou (oV) gen. "of God" - A genitive of origin, God is the supplier of the armor, but even more so, we may describe it as God's own armor.
      dunasqai (dunamai) pres. pas. inf. "so that [you] can" - to be able. The infinitive serves to form either a purpose clause, as NIV, or a result clause, eg. "and then you will be able to resist the stratagems of the devil", Barclay.
      sthnai (iJsthmi) aor. inf. "your stand" - to stand. The sense is "stand your ground / hold the enemy at bay / repel."
      taV meqodeiaV (a) "[the devil's] schemes" - the wiles, trickery, deceit [of the devil]. "The cunning deceitfulness of the devil"

v12
      oJti "for" - because.
      hJ palh (h) "struggle" - The word is used of wrestling, the struggle is a close-quarter struggle.
      proV + acc. "against" - to, toward. Introducing a series of prepositional phrases which powerfully describe the enemy. The enemy we wrestle with is not a fleshly enemy such as our human nature, people or governmental authorities, but is a spiritual one.
      alla "but" - but. Adversative. "Our fight is not against any physical enemy (but rather) we are up against the unseen powers which control this world", Phillips.
      touV kosmokratoraV (wr oroV) "powers" - world rulers, powers. The word is used to describe cosmic spiritual powers, not governmental authorities. None-the-less, these spiritual powers exercise authority in the world, ie. this world is under alien occupation, Lk.4:5-7, Jn.12:31, 16:11.
      tou skotouV toutou "dark" - [world rulers] of this darkness. Describing the state of the world under satanic rule. "This era of darkness", Bruce.
      ta pneumatika adj. "the spiritual forces" - the spiritual. The adjective, here forming a substantive, probably describes satan's evil heavenly army; "the spiritual army of evil in the heavens", JB.
      en toiV epouranoiV "in the heavenly realms" - in the heavenlies. Used to describe the supernatural realm beyond our physical realm. This is the base of operations for these evil spiritual powers. The image of Satan cast from heaven implies that this realm is God's realm as well, but this is rather speculative. "The spiritual world", CEV; "the headquarters of evil", Phillips.

v13
      dia + acc. "therefore" - because of, on account of. Given the devilish superiority of the enemy, "that is why you must take up all God's armor", NJB.
      analabete (analambanw) aor. imp. "put on" - take up, raise up. Imaging a soldier taking up his armor and weapons ready for the fight.
      iJna + subj. "that ..... [you may be able]" - that [you may be able]. Introducing a purpose clause, "in order that."
      antisthnai (anqisthmi) aor. inf. "to stand your ground" - to withstand, resist. "You will be able to see things through to the end", Barclay.
      en th/ hJmera/ th/ ponhria/ "in the day of evil" - in the day the evil. The presence of two definite articles serves to underline that this is a particular day. This "evil day" is the day of tribulation rather than just a general time of difficulty; "when things are at their worst", NEB. The language is apocalyptic, although "the coming" of these days are many in that shadows of the coming day intrude into the present. All such days, for example, the destruction of Jerusalem, image the final day of tribulation, Dan.12:1. The believer must be ready and prepared to meet such days.
      katergasamenoi (katergazomai) aor. part. "after you have done [everything]" - [all] having done. Possibly forming a temporal clause, as NIV, although resisting is the image, not winning; "that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground", Phillips.
      sthnai (iJsthmi) aor. inf. "to stand" - The infinitive may form a result clause with the emphasis on victory, although continual struggle is more likely and so it is best translated as forming a purpose clause, "having done everything possible in order to resist (stand) the enemy."

v14
      oun "then" - therefore. The believer is to put on the whole armor of God in order to resist the onslaught of the evil one, "therefore resist his onslaught with the belt of truth", etc.
      perizwsamenoi (perizwnnumi) aor. part. "with the belt [of truth] buckled around [your waist]" - having girded, fastened [the waist of you with truth]. The participle, along with the three following, is either a participle of means, describing how we are to stand firm, as NIV, or an imperatival participle giving a command; "tighten the belt of truth around your loins", Moffatt.
      en alhqeia/ adj. "of truth" - in truthfulness, faithfulness. The genitive is epexegetic, defining/explaining the belt, "the belt which is truthfulness." Although a matter of much debate, it is possible that most of the pieces of armor represent an aspect of ethical behavior. So, although "truth" is often aligned with the Bible / gospel, as an essential piece of armor in the struggle against evil powers, which indeed it is, the belt (a solid leather strap protecting the loins as well as serving to support a sward) is possibly "truthfulness / sincerity / integrity / telling the truth / being honest". "Put on truthfulness as a soldier puts on his belt ready for battle."
      endusamenoi (enduw) aor. part. "with ..... in place" - having put on. On this participle see above.
      thV dikaiosunhV (h) "of righteousness" - righteousness, justice. As with "truth", "righteousness" has numerous possibilities, eg. "justification", but again an ethical sense is possibly intended - "righteousness" in the sense of doing what is right, even obedience to the will of God. "Put on right/just behavior / obedience, as a soldier puts on his breastplate ready for battle."

v15
      uJpodhsamenoi (uJpodew) aor. part. "with your feet fitted" - having put on, fitted [footwear]. The "fitting" of military footwear is probably in mind - the studded sandals of a Roman soldier. "Have your feet shod", Moffatt.
      en eJtoimasia/ "with the readiness" - in/by/with firm footing, sure footing, firmness, solid foundation / preparation, readiness. A hapax legomenon, once only use in the NT. The sense of the word is unclear, either "steadfastness", "with the stability of the gospel", Moffatt, cf. NEB, or "readiness", as NIV, TEV, JB, "put preparedness to preach the gospel on your feet", Barclay. Although not widely accepted, the first sense, "solid foundation", may well mean the actual footwear, so "be fitted with the shoes of the gospel of peace"; "having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace", RSV.
      tou euaggeliou (on) "that comes from the gospel" - of the gospel. Usually regarded as either a subjective or objective genitive, or a genitive or origin, cf. O'Brien 476-478. If we follow the RSV translation, the genitive is possibly descriptive, describing the noun "equipment", or more likely is epexegetic, defining/explaining the "equipment", "the footwear which is the gospel." It is likely that this pattern repeats through all the pieces of armor. As a Christian soldier, ready to resist the enemy, we must put on protective footwear which is the gospel. "The gospel" is usually understood as "the good news", God's important message to humanity, and we must put it on and stand ready to proclaim it. If Paul still has in mind an ethical imperative then "the act of speaking / proclaiming peacefully" may be intended here, rather than the gospel message itself.
      thV eirhnhV "of peace" - of peace, tranquility. Most likely a descriptive genitive, describing "the act of speaking." It is tranquil speaking, rather than argumentative speaking. "Put on peacefulness as a soldier puts on his footwear ready for battle."

v16
      en pasin "in addition to all this" - in all things. "Above all", AV, RSV, Moffatt, is probably not intended. Possibly "in all circumstances"; "through thick and thin", Barclay. "And besides all these", Weymouth, is close, but better, "with all these", REB.
      analabonteV (analambanw) aor. part. "take up" - having taken up. As above, probably an imperatival participle. Having attached the pieces of armor the soldier is now to take up his shield.
      thV pistewV (iV ewV) "of faith" - of faith. Again, probably an epexegetic genitive, "the shield which is faith." Usually taken to mean faith in the sense of "reliance on the revealed will of God", "trusting Christ." Again, if the quality being called for is ethical then the Christian soldier is being commanded to take up his shield like taking up "trustworthiness / reliability / faithfulness", a "flint-like resolution", Selwyn. "Take up trustworthiness as a soldier takes up his shield ready for battle."
      dunhsesqe (dunamai) fut. "you can" - you will be able.
      sbesai (sbennumi) aor. inf. "extinguish" - to quench, extinguish, put out. A complementary infinitive completing the sense of the verb "will be able." Probably imaging "every kind of temptation to ungodly behavior", O'Brien. "It can quench every burning missile the enemy hurls at you", Phillips.
      tou ponhrou "of the evil one" - of the evil one. Either a genitive of source, the arrows come from the evil one, or a possessive genitive, the arrows belong to the evil one.

v17
      dexasqe (decomai) aor. imp. "take" - take, receive. Here a simple imperative does the work of the previous participles.
      thn perikefalaian "helmet" - The Roman bronze helmet is possibly in mind.
      tou swthriou adj. "of salvation" - Adjective functioning as a substantive. Again, an epexegetic genitive, "the helmet which is salvation." Here, not "the hope of salvation", a future gift, but rather a present reality. Most commentators see this imperative in the terms of assurance rather than conversion; "it is a glad awareness of having been put right with God, and the inward sense of wholeness, peace and vitality which this brings", Mitton. Obviously it is not possible to draw an ethical imperative from this piece of armor, but then there is no need to argue that all the pieces of a believers armor need be ethical. "Take up assurance as a soldier takes up his helmet ready for battle."
      tou pneumatoV (a atoV) "of the spirit" - Probably a genitive of source, indicating that the Spirit supplies the sword which is the word of God. "The sword ....... that comes from the Spirit", CEV.
      oJ estin "which is" - which is.
      rJhma qeou "the word of God" - word of God. Usually understood to mean the Bible; we "take" it by reading and studying it and so we are prepared for battle. The trouble is it seems likely that the sentence continues into v18, "which is the word of God through/by means of prayer." So, it well may be that the sword is prayer, a praying in the Spirit type prayer, a prayer that is according to the will of God, a prayer sourced from the word of God. "Take up praying in the Spirit as a soldier takes up his sword ready for battle."