10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Commentary
Vs. 10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
In bringing to a close this epistle (and as a precursor of all that is to follow), the Apostle Paul now tells us all to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. For every Christian will face innumerable challenges and difficulties and temptations as we sojourn through this life (Matt. 7:13-14). And so if there is one thing that will carry each and every believer in good times and bad it is our strength (or confidence) in the Lord, in the power of His might to accomplish in us, and do through us all that we cannot. Thus from our redemption and regeneration, to our ongoing sanctification, as we walk through the perils of this world and life, to our finial salvation when we take our forever places with Christ in His Kingdom in heaven, our confidence must never be in our talents, gifts, or abilities, (and thus ourselves) but in the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His might (consider Phil. 1:6).
Vs. 11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Now being strong in the Lord and the power of His might requires that we ourselves not only submit ourselves to the will of God (James 4:7), but that we put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of devil. Hence no Christian is ever called to be passive, rather we are to be proactive by preparing ourselves for all the temptations and trials and tribulations that are surely to come by him, and then resisting him steadfast in the faith through the same when they do (consider 1 Peter 5:8-9).
Vs. 12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
The Apostle Paul now directs us away from seeing "flesh and blood" (i.e. people) as our adversary, to who really is our adversary, that is the devil and all of Satan's army of angelic beings through whom he not only seeks to induce as much havoc and carnage and misery as he can in this world, by deceiving and manipulating and enraging people into doing his will (consider 2 Tim 2:25-26), but through the same spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, he also makes war with each and every believer. For we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who seek to obey God and keep His commandments, are the focus of his greatest fury and wrath (Rev. 12:17). For nothing undermines his agenda (to destroy men and woman's and children persons and lives, and ultimately keep them from eternal redemption) more than when we believe God and keep His commandments. Therefore we who believe in and belong to the Lord Jesus Christ are not at "war" with "flesh and blood"; that is with unbelievers, or the world, or anyone of a different ideological, political, or cultural stripe etc. We have but one adversary, and that is the devil and all his spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places who is leading this world astray to its own eternal ruin (Rev. 13, 17, 19:19-21). It's unnerving to think that the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19), which is not a total control of this world and it's affairs, but rather Satan and his forces have a continuing and ongoing influence over this world and the people of it, which if people are not released from by their repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will end in their own eternal ruin (consider Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13; Rev 20:11-15).
Vs. 13 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Having identified our enemy, the Apostle Paul now commands that we take up the whole armor of God so that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand. The evil day then is not something brought about by God, for God tempts no one, and He Himself is not tempted by evil, (James 1:13); rather the evil day is something that is orchestrated and brought about by the devil who may use ones own reasoning as he did with Eve in the garden (Gen. 3). Or it may be like with Jesus in the wilderness where the devil thought to induce Christ to cast of His confidence in God and use His own Person, Stature, and Power to defeat him, and when that failed he thought to induce Jesus into sinning against God by promising Him all the riches and power and such of this world if He would worship him (see Matt. 4:1-11). And so the the evil day is not just a single day or assault, but more than likely will entail the devil coming at you from various angles and positions and at different times in our lives, and through different mediums, attacking our perceived weaknesses, or points of vulnerability, again using our own powers of reason (or if that fails using confusion and doubts as he did with John the Baptist, see Matt. 11:2-6) to induce us away from obeying God and into obeying him. Therefore we are all commanded to take up the whole armor of God which is God's provisions for us all against his doing so, so that we will be able to take our stand against him in the evil day. For as with Jesus in the wilderness, where God did not intercede until Christ had passed through the most difficult and taxing of trials that any human has ever faced, so with us. For the responsibility to submit to God and resist the devil rests with us, not with God (James 4:7; also consider 1 John 5:18).
Vs. 14 "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness"
Notice that every believer is called to stand against his assaults, not capitulate, not negotiate, not even contemplate what to do, rather stand. Now in order to do that we must first have girded our waists with truth, to which God's Word truth is more than sufficient to rebuke and defeat the father of lies and expose whatever angles he is coming at as from. Again Jesus when faced with the devils assaults did not lean on His "understanding", nor did He enter into a debate or try to reason with him, rather He quoted God's Word's truth. For again it is God's Word's truth that exposes all that is not true, for it searches the hearts and minds, and is the discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart (see Heb 4:12-13), and it alone has both the Authority and the Power to expose and rebuke all that is not true (2 Cor 10:3-5). And so your first line of defense is always God's Word truth. Now employing the truth it is not going to do you much good if you are living and practicing a lie, that is living in sin or rebellion against it (consider Jer. 9:6; Rev 22:15). For in order for it's Authority and Power to be enacted in one's life requires two things, the first is faith, that is believing it (consider Heb 4:2; 11:1), and the second is submission or obedience to it (Rom 16:19-20; 1 John 5:18, antithesis Heb 3:18). These two things are the essential ingredients to enact the Word of God's Authority and Power in ones own life and keep the devil and his schemes at bay. Girding ones waist with truth then is where ones victory over sin and Satan always begins.
Next the Apostle Paul says we need to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Now having a righteous standing with God begins and ends with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1); that said, living righteously, and thus in accord with God's commandments given us in the N.T. which reflect and or are based upon all the moral and ethical precepts found throughout God's Word is critical to living victoriously and fruitfully. For though we are not under the Law as a means for justification in the sight of God, we are still commanded to keep the commandments of God (Rev 14:12), that again are reiterated in both Word and deed in the Gospel (Matt. 13:52) as well as the N.T. Scripture (consider 1 Tim 1:5-11; 1 Peter 1:14-15). Therefore putting on the breastplate of righteousness will do much in keeping you well grounded in the faith, and again keep the devil at bay (1 John 5:18).
Vs. 15 "and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace"
To shod ones feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace is to be ready to share the Gospel of peace wherever you are and wherever you go (consider Rom 10:15). That is what we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are all called to do, take the Gospel to people and places where it has not been heard. For the Gospel is not just to be spoken and heard in the church and amongst it's own members, (consider Matt 9:37-38), rather the whole world is to be (and will be) filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 26:9; Hab. 2:14; Matt. 24:14; Luke 24:46-47). For it is the knowledge of the Lord through His Gospel, and thus what He has done for us all, that brings remission of sins and everlasting salvation and life to everyone who repents and believes in Him. Therefore just as Jesus bore the reproach of the Cross outside the gate, so let us all who believe in Him likewise bear the reproach of the Gospel outside of the safe confines of church, (Heb 13:12-13), because no one is called to be static about it's presentation or it's declaration (Matt 12:30; Mark 8:38; Rom 1:16-17).
Vs. 16 "above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."
Now the shield of faith is our first line of defense and so it is listed as above all, because it is by faith and faith alone that we have remission of all our sins and everlasting life, and thus have been united with Christ, sealed and sanctified by His Holy Spirit for all eternity. And so though we strive for righteousness and holiness and goodness and all truth, no one in this life will ever attain to that holy perfection (1 John 1:8-10). Therefore we must always direct our faith towards God (and not ourselves and what we have done or not done) because it is God alone who is the Just and the Justifier of everyone who has their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 3:19-28, vs. 26). Therefore when the enemy accuses us, whether falsely or justly, for that is what he does accuses the brethren night and day (Rev 12:10), we direct our focus not on ourselves and trying to defend ourselves from his accusations, but rather on Christ and His Word and His promises to us all who believe in Him, which are not dependent upon our us and our abilities (or better inabilities) to maintain a perfect and blameless standing with God, but on Him and what He has done for us, and that is giving us by faith in His Person a Perfect and Blameless standing with God Himself (Rom 8:34; Heb 4:14-16; 7:25; 1 John 2:1 etc.). Therefore the shield of faith is the most important armor that we can bear, because as the Scripture says without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6). Therefore when you stumble and fall, because we all do, and the devil lets loose his fiery darts of accusations at you, seeking to beat you up and beat you down, look to our God and Father and His Son who loves you and is waiting for you to come home so that He might forgive you and heal you (Luke 15:11-32).
Vs. 17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"
Until now all of our armament has been mostly focused on our protection, on a defensive stance as it were. Here though we are called to be reactive to the devils assaults. But before we can do that we must be completely assured of our own salvation, and thus our eternal security with and through Christ Himself (Eph 1:13-14). For that is our putting on the helmet of salvation which will prevent any lethal blows to our faith as we dawn it in the battle. Having done so then the Apostle Paul says we are to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Notice that it is the Holy Spirit Himself who takes up the fight when we rightly divide and use the Word of God, for Satan and all of his forces are powerless against it, as Jesus proved in the wilderness. For again we are never called to be passive when the devil assaults us, or seeks to propagate his lies and deceptions in our lives or anyone else's. Rather we are called to take up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which is mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, and thus we are to cast down arguments and every high thing which exalts itself against all true knowledge of God (see 2 Cor 10:3-6). For if believers do not stand for the truth in their homes and in their churches and workplaces and wherever else we are, then we only give ground to him to strengthen his foothold in peoples hearts and minds and lives. Now what should not be lost in all of this is the manner in which we are to do so; (in regards to this consider 2 Tim. 2:25-26 and 1 Peter 3:15 and the emphasis there on gentleness and humility); because even the Lord Jesus Christ did not break a "bruised reed", or damage a "smoldering flax", which are themselves symbolic of people who have been bruised or damaged in their faith, or in their lives, nor was He seen or heard arguing with people in the streets (see Isaiah 42:3; Matt. 12:18-21, vs. 19-20). For there is a time for boldness and firmness as when we take our stand against the devil and his assaults on us, or against the faith (Jude 4), just as there is a time for meekness and gentleness and fear when we give a reason for the hope that is in us to anyone who inquires about God through us.
And so in taking up the Sword of the Spirit be considerate in how you wield it, because we are never called to do more damage as Jobs friends did to him when Satan assailed him (Job 42:7-8), rather through it we are to minister God's Word truths to one and to all.
Vs. 18 "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—"
The Apostle Paul in revealing to us our Spiritual armor now declares that it must all be backed by prayer. Pray is what Jesus did often, and prayer is what we are to do often as well (Luke 22:20), not formulated prayers that are recited like there is some sort of magical power when one uses them, (or long winded public prayers meant to impress others, which do not bring the one praying them, or anyone else into communion with God), and certainly not prayer that is only rooted in gratifying oneself (James 4:3; antithesis 1 Kings 3:4-15), but prayer that is done in the Spirit, and thus is a seeking, searching, diligent prayer that has at it's heart a trust and dependency on God, with all submission to Him (Phil. 4:6-7). For prayer that expresses the heart of the believer is prayer that God always hears (consider Psalm 3:4; 18:6; 22:24; 34:4; 106:44; 120:1; 141:1-2). And so praying in the Spirit is in accord with Him, and thus God's Will for us all, and is how we are all to pray with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, meaning our prayers must be ongoing (Luke 18:1-8) and are to be made for all of God's people, because praying for one another not only brings God into all our circumstances, but it also helps strengthen our ties and Christian fellowship.
Vs. 19-20 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Having directed us all to always be praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, not only for ourselves in all our circumstances, but also for each other; the Apostle Paul now makes request of the Ephesians for their prayers for himself. Now notice that Apostle Paul's focus is not upon God first changing his circumstances (he was at that time imprisoned for his faith) but rather that they would pray that God would enable him to preach the mystery of the Gospel, boldly. Twice in fact he mentions this. For timidity (which is not humility or meekness) is the enemy of every true Gospel preacher. For the Gospel is a Message of Power and bearing witness to Christ anywhere or in any circumstance should never be done in any manner other than with boldness (consider Acts 4:13, 29, 31; 2 Cor 3:12; Philippians 1:20; 1 Tim 3:13; Heb. 10:19-25; 1 John 4:17 etc.). For just as Jesus was throughout His ministry when questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducee's, or when they sent men to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, He did not capitulate or surrender to whatever fears He may have been feeling at that moment and deny His own Person before the angry mob sent to "arrest" Him. Rather He boldly asserted that whom they were seeking to crucify He was the Man (see John 18:1-11). Similarly then no believer should ever falter when declaring the testimony of Christ, lest the godless, unbelieving, and profane become emboldened (consider Prov 25:26); because inevitably they will be mixed in amongst those who will believe and receive the truth, and so give no ground to Satan or his own, for nothing gives greater witness to the truth then when a Man of God declares the Word of God boldly, which is proof of salvation to the one, and perdition to the other (Phil. 1:28).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Vs. 13 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Having identified our enemy, the Apostle Paul now commands that we take up the whole armor of God so that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand. The evil day then is not something brought about by God, for God tempts no one, and He Himself is not tempted by evil, (James 1:13); rather the evil day is something that is orchestrated and brought about by the devil who may use ones own reasoning as he did with Eve in the garden (Gen. 3). Or it may be like with Jesus in the wilderness where the devil thought to induce Christ to cast of His confidence in God and use His own Person, Stature, and Power to defeat him, and when that failed he thought to induce Jesus into sinning against God by promising Him all the riches and power and such of this world if He would worship him (see Matt. 4:1-11). And so the the evil day is not just a single day or assault, but more than likely will entail the devil coming at you from various angles and positions and at different times in our lives, and through different mediums, attacking our perceived weaknesses, or points of vulnerability, again using our own powers of reason (or if that fails using confusion and doubts as he did with John the Baptist, see Matt. 11:2-6) to induce us away from obeying God and into obeying him. Therefore we are all commanded to take up the whole armor of God which is God's provisions for us all against his doing so, so that we will be able to take our stand against him in the evil day. For as with Jesus in the wilderness, where God did not intercede until Christ had passed through the most difficult and taxing of trials that any human has ever faced, so with us. For the responsibility to submit to God and resist the devil rests with us, not with God (James 4:7; also consider 1 John 5:18).
Vs. 14 "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness"
Notice that every believer is called to stand against his assaults, not capitulate, not negotiate, not even contemplate what to do, rather stand. Now in order to do that we must first have girded our waists with truth, to which God's Word truth is more than sufficient to rebuke and defeat the father of lies and expose whatever angles he is coming at as from. Again Jesus when faced with the devils assaults did not lean on His "understanding", nor did He enter into a debate or try to reason with him, rather He quoted God's Word's truth. For again it is God's Word's truth that exposes all that is not true, for it searches the hearts and minds, and is the discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart (see Heb 4:12-13), and it alone has both the Authority and the Power to expose and rebuke all that is not true (2 Cor 10:3-5). And so your first line of defense is always God's Word truth. Now employing the truth it is not going to do you much good if you are living and practicing a lie, that is living in sin or rebellion against it (consider Jer. 9:6; Rev 22:15). For in order for it's Authority and Power to be enacted in one's life requires two things, the first is faith, that is believing it (consider Heb 4:2; 11:1), and the second is submission or obedience to it (Rom 16:19-20; 1 John 5:18, antithesis Heb 3:18). These two things are the essential ingredients to enact the Word of God's Authority and Power in ones own life and keep the devil and his schemes at bay. Girding ones waist with truth then is where ones victory over sin and Satan always begins.
Next the Apostle Paul says we need to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Now having a righteous standing with God begins and ends with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1); that said, living righteously, and thus in accord with God's commandments given us in the N.T. which reflect and or are based upon all the moral and ethical precepts found throughout God's Word is critical to living victoriously and fruitfully. For though we are not under the Law as a means for justification in the sight of God, we are still commanded to keep the commandments of God (Rev 14:12), that again are reiterated in both Word and deed in the Gospel (Matt. 13:52) as well as the N.T. Scripture (consider 1 Tim 1:5-11; 1 Peter 1:14-15). Therefore putting on the breastplate of righteousness will do much in keeping you well grounded in the faith, and again keep the devil at bay (1 John 5:18).
Vs. 15 "and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace"
To shod ones feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace is to be ready to share the Gospel of peace wherever you are and wherever you go (consider Rom 10:15). That is what we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are all called to do, take the Gospel to people and places where it has not been heard. For the Gospel is not just to be spoken and heard in the church and amongst it's own members, (consider Matt 9:37-38), rather the whole world is to be (and will be) filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 26:9; Hab. 2:14; Matt. 24:14; Luke 24:46-47). For it is the knowledge of the Lord through His Gospel, and thus what He has done for us all, that brings remission of sins and everlasting salvation and life to everyone who repents and believes in Him. Therefore just as Jesus bore the reproach of the Cross outside the gate, so let us all who believe in Him likewise bear the reproach of the Gospel outside of the safe confines of church, (Heb 13:12-13), because no one is called to be static about it's presentation or it's declaration (Matt 12:30; Mark 8:38; Rom 1:16-17).
Vs. 16 "above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."
Now the shield of faith is our first line of defense and so it is listed as above all, because it is by faith and faith alone that we have remission of all our sins and everlasting life, and thus have been united with Christ, sealed and sanctified by His Holy Spirit for all eternity. And so though we strive for righteousness and holiness and goodness and all truth, no one in this life will ever attain to that holy perfection (1 John 1:8-10). Therefore we must always direct our faith towards God (and not ourselves and what we have done or not done) because it is God alone who is the Just and the Justifier of everyone who has their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 3:19-28, vs. 26). Therefore when the enemy accuses us, whether falsely or justly, for that is what he does accuses the brethren night and day (Rev 12:10), we direct our focus not on ourselves and trying to defend ourselves from his accusations, but rather on Christ and His Word and His promises to us all who believe in Him, which are not dependent upon our us and our abilities (or better inabilities) to maintain a perfect and blameless standing with God, but on Him and what He has done for us, and that is giving us by faith in His Person a Perfect and Blameless standing with God Himself (Rom 8:34; Heb 4:14-16; 7:25; 1 John 2:1 etc.). Therefore the shield of faith is the most important armor that we can bear, because as the Scripture says without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6). Therefore when you stumble and fall, because we all do, and the devil lets loose his fiery darts of accusations at you, seeking to beat you up and beat you down, look to our God and Father and His Son who loves you and is waiting for you to come home so that He might forgive you and heal you (Luke 15:11-32).
Vs. 17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"
Until now all of our armament has been mostly focused on our protection, on a defensive stance as it were. Here though we are called to be reactive to the devils assaults. But before we can do that we must be completely assured of our own salvation, and thus our eternal security with and through Christ Himself (Eph 1:13-14). For that is our putting on the helmet of salvation which will prevent any lethal blows to our faith as we dawn it in the battle. Having done so then the Apostle Paul says we are to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Notice that it is the Holy Spirit Himself who takes up the fight when we rightly divide and use the Word of God, for Satan and all of his forces are powerless against it, as Jesus proved in the wilderness. For again we are never called to be passive when the devil assaults us, or seeks to propagate his lies and deceptions in our lives or anyone else's. Rather we are called to take up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which is mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, and thus we are to cast down arguments and every high thing which exalts itself against all true knowledge of God (see 2 Cor 10:3-6). For if believers do not stand for the truth in their homes and in their churches and workplaces and wherever else we are, then we only give ground to him to strengthen his foothold in peoples hearts and minds and lives. Now what should not be lost in all of this is the manner in which we are to do so; (in regards to this consider 2 Tim. 2:25-26 and 1 Peter 3:15 and the emphasis there on gentleness and humility); because even the Lord Jesus Christ did not break a "bruised reed", or damage a "smoldering flax", which are themselves symbolic of people who have been bruised or damaged in their faith, or in their lives, nor was He seen or heard arguing with people in the streets (see Isaiah 42:3; Matt. 12:18-21, vs. 19-20). For there is a time for boldness and firmness as when we take our stand against the devil and his assaults on us, or against the faith (Jude 4), just as there is a time for meekness and gentleness and fear when we give a reason for the hope that is in us to anyone who inquires about God through us.
And so in taking up the Sword of the Spirit be considerate in how you wield it, because we are never called to do more damage as Jobs friends did to him when Satan assailed him (Job 42:7-8), rather through it we are to minister God's Word truths to one and to all.
Vs. 18 "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—"
The Apostle Paul in revealing to us our Spiritual armor now declares that it must all be backed by prayer. Pray is what Jesus did often, and prayer is what we are to do often as well (Luke 22:20), not formulated prayers that are recited like there is some sort of magical power when one uses them, (or long winded public prayers meant to impress others, which do not bring the one praying them, or anyone else into communion with God), and certainly not prayer that is only rooted in gratifying oneself (James 4:3; antithesis 1 Kings 3:4-15), but prayer that is done in the Spirit, and thus is a seeking, searching, diligent prayer that has at it's heart a trust and dependency on God, with all submission to Him (Phil. 4:6-7). For prayer that expresses the heart of the believer is prayer that God always hears (consider Psalm 3:4; 18:6; 22:24; 34:4; 106:44; 120:1; 141:1-2). And so praying in the Spirit is in accord with Him, and thus God's Will for us all, and is how we are all to pray with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, meaning our prayers must be ongoing (Luke 18:1-8) and are to be made for all of God's people, because praying for one another not only brings God into all our circumstances, but it also helps strengthen our ties and Christian fellowship.
Vs. 19-20 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Having directed us all to always be praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, not only for ourselves in all our circumstances, but also for each other; the Apostle Paul now makes request of the Ephesians for their prayers for himself. Now notice that Apostle Paul's focus is not upon God first changing his circumstances (he was at that time imprisoned for his faith) but rather that they would pray that God would enable him to preach the mystery of the Gospel, boldly. Twice in fact he mentions this. For timidity (which is not humility or meekness) is the enemy of every true Gospel preacher. For the Gospel is a Message of Power and bearing witness to Christ anywhere or in any circumstance should never be done in any manner other than with boldness (consider Acts 4:13, 29, 31; 2 Cor 3:12; Philippians 1:20; 1 Tim 3:13; Heb. 10:19-25; 1 John 4:17 etc.). For just as Jesus was throughout His ministry when questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducee's, or when they sent men to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, He did not capitulate or surrender to whatever fears He may have been feeling at that moment and deny His own Person before the angry mob sent to "arrest" Him. Rather He boldly asserted that whom they were seeking to crucify He was the Man (see John 18:1-11). Similarly then no believer should ever falter when declaring the testimony of Christ, lest the godless, unbelieving, and profane become emboldened (consider Prov 25:26); because inevitably they will be mixed in amongst those who will believe and receive the truth, and so give no ground to Satan or his own, for nothing gives greater witness to the truth then when a Man of God declares the Word of God boldly, which is proof of salvation to the one, and perdition to the other (Phil. 1:28).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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