Armor(arms, weapons)
Summary
Military equipment for protection and warfare, used literally of ancient weapons and figuratively by Paul to describe the spiritual resources provided for the believer's conflict against evil.
☩Offensive Weapons
Ancient offensive weapons included the sword (chereb), typically short and double-edged, worn in a belt and slung on the thigh. Spears varied from the heavy chanith, like Goliath's 'weaver's beam,' to lighter javelins for throwing. The bow and arrows were common missile weapons, with arrows sometimes poisoned or fitted with burning materials. Slings were simple but effective—with one, David killed the giant Philistine.
☩Defensive Armor
Defensive equipment included the breastplate or coat of mail, which Goliath's 'coat of scales' exemplifies. The helmet protected the head, made of brass or iron. Greaves covered the legs. Two kinds of shields were used: the large tsinnah encompassing the whole person, often carried by an armor-bearer before the warrior, and the smaller magen or buckler for hand-to-hand combat. Armor-bearers attended kings and commanders, carrying the large shield and other weapons.
☩The Armor of God
Paul uses military imagery to describe the Christian's spiritual resources. Believers are to put on the 'whole armor of God' to stand against the devil's schemes, for the conflict is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. Each piece corresponds to a spiritual reality: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
☩Christ as Our Armor
Ultimately the armor of God is Christ Himself. Believers are exhorted to 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ' as their protection against the flesh and its lusts. The righteousness that guards the heart, the salvation that protects the mind, and the truth that girds the believer are all found in Him. The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God, not through human strength, for pulling down strongholds and bringing every thought captive to Christ.
Related Verses20 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Armor," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Armor-Bearer," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Edwin W. Rice, "Arms, Armor," in The People's Dictionary of the Bible (American Sunday-School Union, 1893).