Verse 16
The Roman soldier’s shield was wood covered with leather to make it flame retardant. It was rectangular in shape and about two and one-half feet wide by four feet long. With it the soldier could protect his whole body.
"Before a battle in which flaming arrows might be shot at them, the soldiers wet the leather covering with water to extinguish the arrows. The Roman legionaries could close ranks with these shields, the first row holding theirs edge to edge in front, and the rows behind holding the shields above their heads. In this formation they were practically invulnerable to arrows, rocks, and even spears." [Note: The NET Bible note on 6:18.]
"These darts were sometimes ablaze in order to set fire to the enemies’ clothing or camp or homes just as the American Indians used to shoot poisoned arrows." [Note: Robertson, 4:551.]
The faith that provides such a defense for the Christian in his or her spiritual warfare is two-fold. It is trust in all that God has revealed and active application of that trust at the moment of spiritual attack.
The first three participles that explain how to stand fast are "having girded" or "buckled" (Ephesians 6:14), "having put on" or "in place" (Ephesians 6:14), and "having shod" or "fitted" (Ephesians 6:15). The fourth participle is "taking up" or "take up" (Ephesians 6:16).
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