Ephesians
Chapter 6.
Macgregor.:-
Paul has in view demonic intelligences of a much higher
order than the "devil" who possessed the poor disordered souls that
meet us in the Gospel pages. These are
cosmic spirit forces which possess and control not only the individual human
lives, but the very course of the universe.
"The world." - "Potentates of this present
darkness." `Kaosmokratores' is the
word used in the Hellenistic mystical writings of the seven supreme astral
deities. Paul admits the existence of
these principalities and powers, but he denies their divinity, 1.Cor.8:4-6.
The principalities and powers were ultimately responsible
for the Crucifixion, 1.Cor.2:7-8. Behind
Caiaphas, Pilate, etc., stand invisible powers.
By "rulers of this world," Paul appears to mean both cosmic
"principalities and powers" and also their actual human executives. The very kernel of his doctrine of redemption is that by their tragic
miscalculations, the "rulers" become the instrument of their own
destruction.
How then did the death of Christ accomplish this primary
redemption from servitude to the spirit-forces of evil? The key verse is Col.2:15, "He stripped
off from himself the principalities and powers and made them a contemptible exhibition,
when by His Cross He triumphed over them."
Christ subjected himself to that from which He saved others. The demonic
powers are cosmic powers, so is the redemption which Christ wins a cosmic
redemption event.
Romans 8, shows that the consummation of this cosmic
redemption is still in the future.
"The rulers of this world" have not yet been utterly
destroyed, but they are being put out of action (1.Cor.2:6), or progressively "mopped
up." `Katargoumenoi',
1.Cor.2:6. - Macgregor.
Macphail.:-
Our faith must be a fighting faith. He says three words sum up Ephesians:-
1/ The Mystery.
2/ The Unity.
3/ The Praise.
Let us be strong in prayer, not because unity is attractive
or effective, but because it is the will of God to make all one in Christ.
(Macphail, Sc.J.Th.).
H.J.Miller - Commentary.:-
6:2. `Prote',
"chief," first in importance,
not first in order.
6:4.
`Oipateres'. Note that in 6:1, it
is `tois goneusin'. There is equal
recognition of the mother's authority in the home. - The gentle, tender
influence of the mother. - Not only does he set upon women's brow "the
crown of domestic queenship," but he softens the rigour of the father's
rule and forbids the arbitrary exercise of paternal power. It is a pathetic picture to see children
cowered and rendered spiritless by harsh discipline.
6:5.
"Slaves." The
juxtaposition of children and slaves are full of significance, it is a tacit
prophecy of emancipation. It brings the
slave within the household and gives a new dignity to domestic service. "With fear and trembling." This expresses scrupulous conscientiousness
in the discharge of their duties, a nervous neglect of any portion of them, not
a cowering dread of masters.
"In singleness of your heart." - The broken heart
is made whole, one, single. A man can
bear anything if he be but "heart-whole."
6:6. "But as
slaves of Christ." The sting of
slavery is extracted by this ignoring, but add `tou christou' to it, and self-respect
is restored, and with it the reality of freedom.
"Doing the will of God." For others, as well as for himself, Paul's
faith is firm in God, "who worketh all things after the counsel of His own
will." Beneath even the crowning
injustice of slavery, "the mystery of His will," is to be recognized. "From the soul,"
"soulfully."
6:7. "Slaving
with good will."
6:8. "Whether
he be bond or free." The law of
compensation applies to all equally.
6:9. The death-knell
of slavery began to be sounded when recognition was thus authoritatively
claimed for the rights of the slave. A
wholesale emancipation of these countless hordes would have resulted in anarchy
and involved them in misery. It was
wisely done to awaken first their spiritual nature and clothe them with the
dignity of moral responsibility. The
inward change would carry with it consequences and the masters would help
forward the movement, which could have but one end. The uncontrolled power of the slave-owner is
checked by the thought of a higher, more resistless power held over
themselves. The master is addressed in a
tone of greater sternness than slaves.
6:10-20. Missionary
enterprise. The aggressive work of the
Christian Church. "The schemes of
the devil." The word does not
denote craft, but system. The devil is a
systematic worker. He does not act
haphazardly, but by elaborate rule and method.
He has his schedules and age-long plan.
6:12. Underlying all
the wickedness is the "wicked one."
Evil is most to be dreaded when it wears a spiritual aspect. The sensual form is the least insidious.
6:13. "Take
up." "Once for all." The
armour is wholly
provided, it only has to be assumed. "The whole armour of God," - no
other will be found adequate.
"They may be able to stand." - attacks are to be
looked for. "The evil day" - what is generally true of all days (5:16), is
particularly true of certain days. The
Christian warfare is lifelong; but there are special days of battle, in which
all depends on previous training and discipline.
`Stenai'. - The repetition of this word from verse 11,
precludes the idea of triumph, though, as following `antistenai', it implies a
particular victory, the repulse of an attempt to dislodge them from their
position. Life's long campaign is ended
by no single pitched engagement, and each passing victory must leave them still
in the attitude of vigilance.
6:14. `Stete
oun'. "Before the fight"
(here), "after the fight" (v.13), and "in the fight"
(v.11). There is the same attitude of
alertness and vigilance. "Having
girded your loins." - Calm, manly,
uncomplaining, unconscious heroism.
The objective truth of revelation envelopes and conditions
that subjective apprehension of it which braces a man for action by the
conviction which it begets in him, 1.Pet.1:13. The first condition of
steadfastness in the Christian conflict is to live in the atmosphere of truth.
6:15. Not the least
important part of the soldier's outfit is his footwear, and to put off the
shoes would be the act of one who regarded his warfare accomplished and
pilgrimage ended. Isa.5:27; Ex.12:11.
Shod feet signify refusal to submit to defeat. Isa.20:4. The loosed shoes is a sign of duty refused,
(Deut.25:9-10), and of violent grief and humiliation, (2.Sam. 15:39; Isa.20:2,4;
Ezek.24:17.
"The preparedness of the Gospel of Peace." Miller does not understand this of footwear,
but as descriptive of the Spirit which prompts to this attitude of sustained
alacrity and watchfulness. The strange
intrusion of this note of peace amid the sound of war has a parallel in
Phil.4:7.
6:16. The `Thureos'
was a large oblong shield, behind which the whole person sheltered as behind a
door. `Tabele' - the fiery - `tyst',
darts of the evil one., Our faith will always be invigorated by reflection on
the triumph of faith.
6:17. `Dexasthe',
note the change from `analabete', to emphasize that salvation is a gift. The helmet is for the head, - in times of
intellectual perplexity we can fall back with entire relief on the absolute
fact of `salvation'. The `sword' which
the Spirit uses, is in contrast, the only offensive weapon apart from the `Word
of God'.
6:18. "By means of every kind of prayer and
supplication." The Christian
soldier, his equipment completed, is set in his place in the ranks. Independent of action is not his; he is to hold himself subject to Divine
commands, and to co-operate intelligently with his fellows. By "all manner of prayer and
supplication," is expressed the completeness of his submission to the
Divine Commander, whose will he seeks to know, that he may execute it.
"Praying on." - Prayer is an ever - present
duty. "For all saints." -
Personal piety is not the end of Christianity, but concerted action. The true Christian is a soldier in the ranks,
not a solitary policeman, thrown upon his own resources, to act for the most
part independently, and at the dictates of his own judgment. - Miller.
F.C.Synge - Commentary. :-
6:1-4.
"Provoke." It may here
mean "be angry," rather
than "provoke".
Parents must not allow bad temper to control their admonition of their children. Any wrath which they display must be wrath of
the Lord, which, though stern and just, is constructive and remedial in
purpose.
6:5. "With fear
and trembling," - this phrase indicates the emotions proper in the
presence of God. Obedience is a
religious duty.
6:6-8. Paul's
instructions to Christian slaves are relevant to all servants. the quality of a Christian's work is to be
higher than that of a non-Christian's.
6:9.
"Threatening." - Bullying.
"There is no respect of persons with Him." There is no snobbery with Him.
6:10. "Be
empowered." - Rather then, "be strong," for it is not our
strength which avails. It is, on the
contrary, knowledge of our weakness that sends us to the Lord for aid. Sin is established within us, a fifth column.
6:13. So fierce is
the conflict that we are promised no easy victory, so sharp is the onslaught
that we are bidden to withstand it rather than to advance to triumph. In elaborating the figure of God's armour, Paul
draws a upon number of passages from scripture, Isa.11:5; 59:16,17;
Wisdom.5:17.
6:14. "Having
girded your loins with truth."
God's truth. False `religions',
false `philosophies', `ideologies', capture mens' minds. First resistance, God's armour of truth alone
is sufficient. Truthfulness, sincerity, and unerring discernment. Nothing that is a lie or insincere or dubious
or plausible or specious or relative can approach Him. In such an armour are we to be girt.
"Breastplate of Righteousness." It is compounded of uprightness, integrity,
hatred of injustice, salvation of the oppressed, the condemnation of the
guilty; a righteousness which is not
taken in by fair words, which rejects bribes, which is at once implacably and
inflexibly just and merciful and loving.
6:15. "Having
shod your feet with the Gospel of Peace." - So that you can go with all
the readiness of one who bears good news of peace. Isa.52:7.
6:16. "With
all" or "in all circumstances."
Faith is a fortress against which the devil makes his strongest of
assaults.
6:17. "Wear
salvation." Live as a sinner
saved. It is a helmet worn by those who
already have been given salvation. In
this helmet we fight as sinners saved.
6:18-20. "The
sword of the Spirit, which is the Word
of God." Chiefly this sword is to
be found in prayer,
6:18-20. "Prayer," holds the saints fast
within the New Israel, binds upon each man and woman the armour of God.
(Synge).
Lock. - Commentary.:-
6:2. The first
commandment - probably, a command of first importance, as none of the other Ten
commandments has a promise, it seems better to separate these words from
"with promise, which is the first commandment and contains a
promise."
6:5-9. The main
stress is laid on the duty of slaves, because of the danger of their
exaggeration of the Christian doctrine of freedom.
6:10-20. Final
appeal. "Remember the Christian
life is a warfare against spiritual foes.
You must rely upon the Lord's own strength and wear God's own
armour."
6:10. "Be strong."
- "Be made strong." Phil.4:13.
"In the strength of His might."
6:11. The language is
combined with Isa.11:15, and perhaps Wisdom, 5:17-20. "The wiles," - the deliberate
planning of the methods of attack.
6:12. "The
spiritual host's." The Greek word
implies warfare, the spiritual contingents of wickedness, active wicked, bent
on doing harm.
6:13. The evil day
may come at any time. Actively evil,
dangerous. The wicked day.
6:14-17. Note the
stress on the whole equipment.
6:14. "Truth."
- It is the revelation of the true nature of God and man, (1:13, which produces
truthfulness and sincerity.
"Righteousness." - A moral life, doing its duty
both to God and man.
6:15. "The
preparation." - The word is used for preparation for battle, in
Nahum.2:4. But it may mean, "the
firm support, which the Gospel gives you." (Psa.88:15.LXX). This recalls Isa.52:17. It is the good tidings as brought by Christ,
the Gospel of the peace, peace with God which gives the Christian warrior quite
confidence, the peace of courage, but also peace between man and man.
6:16. "The
Shield." - Faith in God as revealed in Jesus Christ. "The evil one," - actively
maliciously evil.
6:17.
"Take." - Rather "receive." A stronger word than "take up," the
salvation, the true saving power, God's Saving Power. Confidence of our own salvation, "go
forward confidently to the salvation of others."
The "Sword." - The Christian warrior may at least
at last take the offensive, Matt.26:52.
"Which is the Word of God." - "Some utterance of
God." How important that Christian
warriors should know by heart some passages of Holy Scriptures, which may help
in their fight.
6:18-20. Such
preparation is inadequate without prayer.
- Lock.
F.R.Barry. :-
The Christian life is a crusade. Each little Christian individual is helping
to hold a spiritual frontier at the point where his life is placed. The Christian is girded with heavenly defences. The true defence is the point of the sword.
Mackay.:- The
frontiers of the supernatural order.
Paul began this letter by a flight into the heavenly
sphere. He ends his letter with a sober,
realistic description of the terrestrial sphere where Christians must stand and
fight. Christians are not up against any
merely physical enemy. Paul has an
intense awareness of the personal character of the powers of evil in the
universe. The Christian must fight as an
individual. A victory over temptation
won by the most insignificant Christian soul has a cosmic dimension.
The pieces of armour are seven in number. It suggests spiritual completeness. The Breastplate protects the heart. The Christian cannot engage in successive
spiritual struggle unless he possesses personal integrity. His record must be clear. He must be above reproach. There must be in him no secret sin which has
been unconfessed. He must be no
hypocrite. He must possess that inward
purity which comes from willing one thing.
Next in importance among the pieces is the Shield of
Faith. A Christian's trust must be in
God. He must be a man of intense
conviction who has about him the air of calm decision which marks who he is and
to whom he belongs.
Upon the head of the Spiritual Crusader is the Helmet of
Salvation. Wearing the helmet he can
hold his head erect as a soldier fighting for the Kingdom of God,
one who knows that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that the decisive battle of the
great campaign has already been won. He
can look his enemies in the face. He
knows that all Christ's foes and his, are doomed, and that the eternal purpose
of God in Christ shall be fulfilled in victory and beyond history.
Now the four major pieces:-
Basic and indispensable for the Christian warrior, whom Paul
describes in terms of a Roman legionary, is the Girdle or belt. By the belt he is girded for action. "Tighten the belt of truth about your
loins." Truth here means absolute
sincerity, downright wholehearted, unreserved devotion to the cause in which,
and for which, one becomes a soldier.
Truth, in the most basic sense, must be the possession of the Christian
life. It is something which has him,
which possess and engirdles him.
Footwear. Without proper footwear, real campaigning is
impossible. With the right shoes the
soldier has complete mobility of movement.
Campaign shoes are for all soils and seasons. Rightly shod, the campaigner can adapt
himself to all circumstances. The
warrior's shoes are the stability of the Gospel of Peace. There are no shoes like these. They make a man run or walk with greater
swiftness, and have more staying power than did the shoes of any of the fabled
figures of legend.
The Sword, the Word of God, as Bunyan's pilgrim found,
"is a `right' Jerusalem
blad," in the hands of each Christian.
"Greatheart," it has a cutting edge. It probes the core of human issues. It cuts cordian knots and rips away the masks
of falsehood.
Most potent weapon of all, that in which the seven pieces of
the Christian armour culminates, is a weapon called "All
Prayer." To wield this weapon is to
pray at all times in the Spirit. Let him
use every kind of prayer. Let him
persevere in prayer. And let him pray
for all Christ's men and women. Evil powers. (Notes from D.E.H.Whiteley in
Expos.Times). The kernel of the New Testament teaching concerning evil powers
is that Christ is their Conqueror, and that those who belong to Christ are
enabled to share His victory.
The Greek conception of sin was that it was due to man's
sense-nature, and the body is the source of evil, but our struggle against
demonic forces reveals sin to be pride and rebellion. - (Brunner)
Grant. - Numerical Bible.
6:14.
"Truth." Notice here,
comes first - the action of the word; and what it does for us? It girds the loins. It prevents our garments, our habit,
hindering us.
"Shod." - the shoes of the children of Israel never
wore out during 40 years journey. Deut.29:5.
"Our preparation." - Is that which is wrought by
the effect of "the Gospel of Peace."
It is not a question of carrying the Gospel to others. It is our feet that are shod with this
preparation, it is a peace that God has proclaimed to us. "If God be for us, who can be against
us?" It is this peace that arms the
feet, then, for all the difficulties of the way. What circumstances are there which are not in
His hand? What difficulties can be too
much for Him. (Grant).
Salmond. - Commentary.:-
6:14.
"Truth." The personal
grace of candour, sincerity, truthfulness.
The grace of openness, truthfulness, reality, the mind that will practice
no deceits and attempts no disguises in our intercourse with God, this is vital
to Christian safety, and essential to the operation of all the other qualities
of character.
"The Breastplate which is righteousness." The genitive of identity. The quality of moral rectitude.
Military sandals - which protect the feet and made it
possible for the soldier to move with quick and certain step.
"With preparedness." The ethical equipment of the Christian
includes readiness, preparedness of mind.
The preparedness which comes from the Gospel whose message is peace with
God. That peace which alone impart the
sense of freedom, relieves us of what burdens us, and gives us the spirit of
courageous readiness for the battle with evil.
Here the readiness is not zeal in proclaiming the Gospel, but promptitude
with reference to the conflict. The
preparedness, the mental alacrity of which we are inspired by the Gospel with
its message of peace with God, is to be to us the protection and equipment,
which the sandals that cover the feet are to the soldier. With this we shall be helped to face the foe
with courage and promptitude. (Salmond).