What is The Armor of God?

The Armor of God is a metaphorical representation of the spiritual weapons that God has provided to protect and equip believers in their daily struggles against the powers of darkness. In the Bible, this terminology is used in relation to elements of what a believer is to do, but some have become confused about what it actually means. The concept of the Armor of God primarily consists in the New Testament in the book of Ephesians, where the apostle Paul urges Christians to put on the whole armor of God to withstand the attacks of enemies. As Paul writes, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places," (Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV).

Paul then goes on to mention each piece of armor/weapon specifically, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod(i.e. like shoes) with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints," (Ephesians 6:13-18 KJV).

The first piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness(Ephesians 6:14), which protects the heart and vital organs and represents the righteousness of Christ assigned to believers through faith. We also read about the chest plate briefly in Isaiah, "For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak," (Isaiah 59:17 KJV).

The second piece of armor is the shoes or shod of the gospel of peace(Ephesians 6:15), which provides stability and enables believers to stand firm in their commitment to sharing the message of salvation with others.

The third piece of armor is the shield of faith(Ephesians 6:16), which provides protection from the fiery darts of doubt and temptation, enabling believers to trust in God's promises and stand firm in their faith.

The fourth piece of armor is the helmet of salvation(Ephesians 6:16), which guards the mind and represents the assurance of salvation that comes through faith in Christ.

Finally, the fifth piece of armor is the sword of the Spirit(Ephesians 6:17), which is the Word of God(Ephesians 6:17). This powerful weapon enables believers to fight against the lies and deceptions of the enemy and to speak truth into their own lives and the lives of others. It is also mentioned in Hebrews, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart," (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).

A note to be had is that some also consider the belt of truth as one of the pieces of armor, but the Greek of Ephesians does not mention anything to indicate a belt. "στῆτε οὖν, περιζωσάμενοι τὴν ὀσφὺν ὑμῶν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν θώρακα τῆς δικαιοσύνης," (Ephesians 6:14). The passage more seems to be saying, "Stand therefore, having girded the loins of you with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteous," (Ephesians 6:14). It is indeed true the loins is where a belt would be, and perhaps this sounds more formal, but it just is not factually correct.

In addition to the five pieces of armor, the passage emphasizes the importance of prayer, urging believers to "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit..." (Ephesians 6:18 KJV). Through prayer, believers can stay connected to God and receive the strength and guidance they need to overcome the challenges they face.

In conclusion, by putting on the whole armor of God and relying on the power of prayer, believers can face each day with confidence and strength, knowing that they are fully equipped to overcome any challenge that comes their way. The Armor of God is a powerful symbol of the spiritual weapons that God has provided to equip believers to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy.

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Image by James S. Chandler