Ephesians 81-82_29a Ephesians 6:10-12
Ephesians 1981-82 Corps Teachings. Lesson 26 Part 1: Ephesians 6:10-12.
Format: AUDIO
Publication Date: 1981-82
Victor Paul Wierwille was a Bible scholar and teacher for over four decades.
By means of Dr. Wierwille's dynamic teaching of the accuracy and integrity of God's Word, foundational class and advanced class graduates of Power for Abundant Living have learned that the one great requirement for every student of the Bible is to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thus, his presentation of the Word of God was designed for students who desire the in-depth-accuracy of God’s Word.
In his many years of research, Dr. Wierwille studied with such men as Karl Barth, E. Stanley Jones, Glenn Clark, Bishop K.C. Pillai, and George M. Lamsa. His formal training included Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology. Later he completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree.
Dr. Wierwille taught the first class on Power for Abundant Living in 1953.
Books by Dr. Wierwille include: Are the Dead Alive Now? published in 1971; Receiving the Holy Spirit Today published in 1972; five volumes of Studies in Abundant Living— The Bible Tells Me So (1971), The New, Dynamic Church (1971), The Word's Way (1971), God's Magnified Word (1977), Order My Steps in Thy Word (1985); Jesus Christ Is Not God (1975); Jesus Christ Our Passover (1980); and Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed (1982).
Dr. Wierwille researched God's Word, taught, wrote, and traveled worldwide, holding forth the accuracy of God's "wonderful, matchless" Word.
EPHESIANS 6:10-12
May 26, 1982
We’re back to Ephesians chapter 6, and I prepared a paper that I want to share with the
Corps tonight before I get into giving you the literals as well as the expanded of this great
section of Ephesians 6:10-17. I entitled it “The Spiritual Athlete’s Contest.”
The various comments by the expositors on this section in Ephesians depict the
overwhelming influence of the military image which tradition has placed on Christianity.
However, interpretation and application must be in the light of to whom it is addressed. In
the Old Testament God’s people were soldiers of the Lord; in the Church Epistles we are
athletes of the spirit.
Several scriptures in the Old Testament refer to God as a shield and buckler, which are
military weapons. Joshua was called to lead an army against unbelievers and to eliminate
them. Psalm 91:7 states:
Psalm 91:7
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand. . .
The foe was a military enemy. The weapons were military. The battlefield was a
physical land with geographical locations, and the purpose of their calling was to eliminate
the enemy physically.
In the Gospels the image was changed from killing the enemy to loving him and
turning the other cheek. The ministry of Jesus Christ made a further change, for he
defeated the enemy, he led captivity captive. He triumphed over them making a show of
them openly and made the war to cease for the believer in this present Pentecost
administration. I think it’s tremendous that on this week, a Memorial Day weekend, which
is also Pentecost, this coming Sunday, that right now tonight with the Corps we’re dealing
with this fantastic section in closing out these verses from 10-17 here in Ephesians 6.
The name for believers used by God in the Old Testament differ from those used of the
Christian believers in the New Testament after the Day of Pentecost. In the Old Testament
they were servants of the Lord; in the New Testament after the Day of Pentecost we are
sons of God. In the Old Testament the…the…and Gospels, they were disciples; today we
are bond slaves, doulos, of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament they were sheep
and soldiers; in the New we are sons and athletes.
There are four things we must understand to see this great truth. Number one: What or
where is the battlefield today? Number two: What are the weapons and armor? Number
three: What is the nature of the foe? And number four: What is the purpose of the contest?
In the Old Testament, as I told you, the battlefield was physical, a definite geographical
area. Their weaponry was military—spears, swords, shields—everything they used
physically to kill the enemy. Their foes were the military armies of the aliens. And their
purpose of the contast…contest was to win the promised land.
The answer to the above questions are very different today. We are not employed of
God to kill the enemy. Romans 13:12 states:
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works
of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Our armor is an armor of light. The Bible says “God is light.” And we are light in the
Lord. The spirit in us makes us light. This is our armor. In Ephesians 6:11 we are told to
“Put on the whole armour of [wha…?] God. . . .” Right? Put on the whole armour of what?
{God} God. And the word “put on” is in the Greek the word enduō, e-n-d-u-o, long ō. It
means to clothe with. Until you put some clothes on, you’re naked. This is telling us to put
on, to get clothed with. This word is a putting on something is used of putting it on in the
mind nine times in the Epistles.
Number one: You put on the armor of light.—Romans 13:12.
Number two: You put on the Lord Jesus Christ.—Romans 13:14.
Number three: You put on Christ.—Galatians 3:27.
Number four: You put on the new man.—Ephesians 4:24.
Number five: You put on the armor of God.—Ephesians 6:11.
Number six: You put on the breastplate of righteousness.—Ephesians 6:14.
Number seven: You put on the new man according to—Colossians 3:10.
Number eight: You put on bowels of mercies.—Colossians 3:12.
And number nine: You put on a breastplate, according to—1 Thessalonians 5:8.
That’s why, Corps, the battlefield and fight today is no other place than in the mind of
the believer. That’s the battlefield.
In Ephesians 4:22-24 it says,
Ephesians 4:22-24
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is
corrupt according to…deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit [or in the life] of your [what?] {mind;}
24 And that ye put on the new man,…
The new man is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God is light. God who is light is in
Christ, and Christ is that new man in you. God in Christ in you. That’s the new man. We’re
to put on the whole armor of God, which means you have to put on all nine manifestations.
You have to put on and manifest all nine fruit, and you put on all the sonship rights, Corps.
Ephesians 5:11…no, it’s 6:11 states,
Ephesians 6:11b
. . .that ye may be able to stand against the wiles…
See that? And the word “wiles” is “methods.”
Ephesians 6:11c
…able to stand against the [methods] of the devil.
It does not say that we may be able to stand against the methods of a man or a military
army, but against the methods of what, Corps? The Devil. We are to stand against our
spiritual enemy, the Adversary, the Devil. And we do it by putting on the armor of light by
exerting a diligent effort in our minds, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against spiritual powers according to Ephesians 6:12.
So the purpose of our present day contest is not to kill an enemy but to stand against
our spiritual enemy, the Adversary, and having done all, to do what? {stand}. That’s why
this is a compet…this is as competitive as any athletic contest. It is not by any means
militaristic as it was in the Old Testament. The destruction of the Devil’s kingdom takes
place in the future. It says so in Revelation chapter 20. I want you to look it up. Revelation,
chapter 20 and in verse 10.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of [what?] {fire}
and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented
day and night for ever and [what?] {ever}.
And in verse fur…for…14, “And death and hell…” Death. The last enemy to be
destroyed according to Corinthians is what? {death 20}. And according to Hebrews, who is
the author of death? {The Devil.} The Devil.
Revelation 20:14
…death and hell [hades] were cast into the lake of [what?] fire…
Today, our purpose, Corps, is to stand against him as in an athletic contest. This is the
reason the athletic term, palē, p-a-l-e is the Greek word (long ē) translated “wrestling” in
Ephesians is used here in 6:12. Our wrestling—our wrestling is against spiritual
wickedness.
The motivation of a soldier is conquest and survival. The motivation of an athlete is
competition and reward. So we as athletes today work and compete because of our
rewards, knowing we shall live eternally. Our battlefield is in the mind. Our foe is the
Devil and his hosts. Our weapons are the instruments of light. Our purpose is to stand
against in the competition and having done all to stand before the judgment seat to receive
the rewards of the contest.
Now this evening preceding the opening of the Corps here at International, I placed in
your hands a handout. And I’d like for you to take this handout and look at it and all the
rest of you at the college…different campuses…college campuses of the Corps, I’m sure
that Craig Martindale will make these available to you too, because we’ve worked this all
down here where the dominating analogy used in the Church and Pastoral Epistles is
athletic. And now we’re going to show [taps] you all of these. And I’d like for Walter
Cummins to come up here and please be seated with me, because I want you to note the
following references which employ athletic terminology and illustrations. And the
Research Department put this all together and Walter, I’d like for you to handle it. I have
here a page that I believe where I put down all the different words, not the different forms,
but as you go through, I’m sure this will show up also. Right? {Walter: Right.} So, this is
fantastic. So the reason I have this in here and I want Walter to handle it is because before
we finish tonight we will show you from the integrity and accuracy of God’s Word that it’s
absolutely impossible to work Ephesians Chapter 6:10-17 without seeing it as a spiritual
athletes’ opportunity and contest. So Walter, it’s all yours.
[Walter Cummings] Okay, I don’t think I need to spell these since everybody will be
20 1 Corintians 15:26: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
getting a copy. I was thinking before, we ought to spell these out, but everybody will be
getting a copy of this, so I don’t believe there’s a need for me giv…and you have it here
tonight, so I’ll go through this and give you all the references.
First of all, Romans 9:16 is…employs the word trechō. This word comes up a number
of times. It means to run in a race. I think it’s translated “run” here in Romans 9:16.
Umm…Then in Romans 15:30 we have the word sunagonizomai, which is a
combination of sun, which means together with and agonizomai, which I’m sure many of
you have heard before as Rev. Martindale has explained it on a number of occasions, and it
means to strive in the contest. So you put the two words together and it means to strive
together in a contest. This word’s also used a couple of times.
1 Corinthians 9:24 employs three athletic terms. First the word trechō again, which
means to run in a race, secondly, the word stadios. Umm…Stadium comes from that word.
And it means a race, course or furlong. Ummm…It was a measurement a certain length, a
furlong, and that’s where we originally got this term stadium from because it had a certain
length, the length of a race track..uh… had that particular length. As a matter of fact, some
races went just from one end of the stadios to the other. Then other races they went from
one end to the other and back, and in some I suppose they went three or four times around.
But this was a uhh…term of measurement also implied…applied of the race track itself.
Then third word in that verse is prize, and that’s the Greek word brabi…brabeion, and that
is the prize that’s received in the contest.
Then 1 Corinthians 9:25, by the way, in 24, 25, 26, 27 of Chapter 9 you have quite a
few athletic terms that are used here in this section. In verse 25 you have three.
Agonizomai, which again means to strive in the contest. You have egkrateuomai, which is
translated “is temperate,” and it means to exercise self-control in disciplined training. The
athlete had to exercise self control in his diet, his exercising, his habits, so that he would be
a good athlete. The third word is stephanos, which is crown, and that was the crown
received for winning the race.
Then in 1 Corinthians 9:26 we again have the word trechō, which is to run in a race
followed by the word for “fight,” or…which is translated “fight,” but it’s the word
pukteuō, uhh…and it means “to box.” Sort of sounds like boxing when you “pukteuō” the
person {Audience laughter}. Umm…And then another phrase {Walter chuckles}, this
phrase is aera deron, two different words, and it means to beat the air, and that was a way
that the Greeks had of saying they were shadow boxing when they were beating the air,
aera deron.
Then in verse 27 of Chapter 9, the phrase, “I keep under my body,” hupopiazō mou to
sōma, is another phrase which means to subject your body to intense physical exertion, and
that’s one thing the athlete had to do in order to be properly trained so he could enter the
competition. And the word “preached” is kērussō. Now kērussō is used of preaching or
proclaiming, announcing in many places in the New Testament, but specifically in an
athletic sense it was used of the trumpeters, when they blew the trumpet to start the day or
start the event,…ummm, that was the kērussō. When it talks about the last trumpet
sounding on the last day of the athletic contest, they had the last trumpet blow, which was
something everybody looked forward to and then the prizes were handed out. Well this is
that word kērussō, which is to herald, as the trumpet heralded the competitors.
Then we go to 2 Corinthians 10, verses 13, 15, and 16; all three of these verses use the
word kanōn. We get “canon” from it, and it’s the rule or standard or the measure of a leap
in the…in the athletics. It was used of other measurements but it was also used specifically
in athletic events to measure the leap when you were in the jumping contest.
Ummm…The reason the Bible is…or the books of the Bible put in their proper order is
referred to as “the canon” is because that is our rule for life and we have all the necessary
writings in the Bible. That’s our canon, our rule. It measures our leap through life, [Dr.
Wierwille replies: our leap for God] our leap for God, right. [Dr. Wierwille replies: that’s a
great one.]
[Walter continues.] Then in Galatians 2:2 we have the word trechō again, to run in a
race, and the word edramon, which was derived from trechō originally in older Greek, but
it became a separate word, and again it just means to run in a race. It means the same thing
as trechō.
In Galatians 5:7 you have the phrase, “run well,” and that again is the Greek word
trechō.
In Galatians 6:16 again you have the word “rule,” which is kanōn, the word we get
canon from, which is our rule or measure of a leap. [Dr. Wierwille says: maybe we ought
to broad jump for God.] That would be a good [Both chuckle].
Then Ephesians 6:12 we have the word palē, p-a-l-long ē, that you had before,
uh…which is used of wrestling, of the Olympic wrestling. And that’s not to be confused
with the pankratian wrestling which was a more intense…And sometimes people were
even killed in that contest. But this was an athletic event where they had to throw their
opponent.
Philippians 1:27 you have sunathleō, and of course, it’s a combination of sun, together,
and athleō, from which we get athletics, which means to contend, contend in the games. So
it’s contending together. This…this word is used one other time in the New Testament.
That will be coming up in a little bit. But this is to contend together athletically in the
contest.
Philippians 1:30 we have the word agōn. Agōn is the noun form of agonizomai and it is
simply a fight in the contest, or the particular event that…of the contest. It’s translated
“conflict” in Philippians 1:30.
Then in Philippians 2:16 again you have the word edramon, which comes from the
word trechō, to run in a race. I think it’s interesting so many times this word trechō, run,
comes up, because you know, even though it uses other athletic events, there’s a lot of
comparison to the running event, the race.
Philippians 3:13 we have the words “reaching forth,” which is the Greek word,
epekteinō, which means to stretch out as a chariot driver does in a race. He would lean over
the front of his chariot and whip his horses on. He’d always keep his eye on the goal not
looking back, because if he looked back he’d pull on the reins and slow up the horse. He’d
forget about his opponents that were behind him. He’d just keep pressing toward the mark.
That’s the context in which this is used. That’s an athletic term.
Philippians 3:14 the word “mark” is skopos, which means the goal. We press toward
the mark, the goal. And then you also have the word “prize” in that verse, which again is
brabeion, and that’s the prize that’s received in the athletic context.
Then in verse 16 of same chapter, Philippians 3:16, again you have kanōn from which
we get canon. That’s our rule or measure of a leap as in the athletic events.
On the back of this paper you have Philippians 4:1, and that employs the word
stephanos, which is a crown received for winning the contest.
In Philippians 4:3 you again have sunathleō. That’s the other place this word is used
where you have a combination of athleō and sun, to contend together athletically.
Colossians 1:29 uses the word agonizomai, which is to strive in the contest.
Colossians 2:1 the word “conflict” is the Greek word agōn, which is again the noun
form of agonizomai, and that is a fight in the contest.
Colossians 2:18, the phrase “beguile of your reward,” is the Greek word, katabrabeuō,
which is to umpire in the game, an official who made the decisions in the game. And this is
the word that’s employed here of beguiling of your reward. Don’t want to let anyone cheat
you out of that reward calling a wrong thing in the event.
Colossians 4:12, laboring fervently again is agonizomai, to strive in a contest.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:2 the word “contention” is the word agōn, which is a fight in the
contest.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 the word “crown” again is stephanos, which means a crown.
That’s the crown received for winning the contest.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:1 the phrase “may have free course,” is the word trechō again,
which is to run in a race.
In I Timothy 4:7 and 8 the word gumnazō, we get gymnasium from that. Gumnazō
means to exercise as an athlete would exercise. And it also uses the word gumnazia, which
is the noun form, exercise. We get, like I said, gymnasium from it, umm…the German
gymnasia I believe it’s pronounced, umm…comes from this.
[Dr. Wierwille interjects:] It’s one of their educational systems, [Walter: Right, their…]
isn’t it? in Germany, where you are in the gymnasium. [Walter: Right] Academic.
[Walter Cummins continues:] Then the a…this word…We’re only giving the words
that are used in the church Epistles and the Pastoral Epistles, but this word is used some
other places in the New Testament too. A matter of fact, a number of these might be, but
uhh…we’re just concerned about what’s used in the Church Epistles. What is the
dominating metaphors and hypocatastasis, the illustrations that are used.
Okay, 1 Timothy 6:12 the word “fight”…the first word for “fight” is agonizomai again,
to strive in a contest, and the second word “fight” is the noun form agōn, which is a fight
in the contest.
2 Timothy 2:5 uses the word “strive” two times, is athleō, which is to contend in the
games. We get athletics from that. This is athleō by itself. Before we had sunathleō. And
then it also uses the verb form for “crown” stephanoō, which means to crown, and that was
the crown again or the crowning at the end of the contest for winning it.
And then 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought” is again agonizomai, which is to strive in the
contest. And the word “fight” in that verse is agōn, which is a fight in the contest. It also
uses the word “course” which is from the Gree…or the Greek word is dramon, which also
means “a race.” And then the cro…the crown comes up again, stephanos, which means the
crown received for winning the race. So there you have four terms in that verse. And this
shows you how many times the athletic idea comes up in the Church and Pastoral Epistles
whereas there’s a tremendous deficiency of military terms.
[Dr. Wierwille resumes teaching:] Thank you, Walter. [Walter Cummins: Okay].
That’s wonderful. Give him a hand {Audience applause}.
Alright. Now there are some places in the English versions of the Bible as well as in
the Greek versions which employ military terms. But those same verses in the Aramaic use
a word spelled p-l-a-k, plak, and that word in the Aramaic means “to labor or to work.” For
example, 2 Timothy 2:3, a good worker of Jesus Christ is the text. In 2:4, no man that
works, the last phrase “to be a soldier” is not in the Aramaic. And you should be changing
your text in your King James Version. And 1 Timothy 1:18 work a good work.
2 Corinthians 10:3 work after the flesh. 2 Timothy 10:4 21 for the instruments or the gear,
g-e-a-r, of our work.
There are a few military terms in the Epistles as Walter indicated. For example, in
2 Corinthians 2:14 there is the Greek word, t-h-r-i-a-m-b-e-u- long ō, which means to lead
in triumph. It’s a term used of a military procession after the battle or the war is won. Thus
Christ leads us in triumph for he has already triumphed over the enemy. That’s the military
term that’s used in Colossians 2:15.
Now in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 3-5 military terms are used to illustrate how
we must capture our thoughts. Christ has already led those who capture captive according
to Ephesians 4:8. He has won the spiritual war for us. We must simply capture those
thoughts in our minds which are yet alien to God’s Word. So our contest, Corps, today is
nothing less and le…nothing more than an athletic contest. It is interesting that the Greek
word polēmos, p-o-l-e-m-o-s, translated “war” is used 16 times in the New Testament but
only once in the Church Epistles, 1 Corinthians 14:8 comparing the misuse of speaking in
tongues to the uncertain trumpet sound for war. It’s our responsibility to contend for
rewards, not to kill the enemy or capture the land. As spiritual athletes we must maintain
and represent our heavenly calling in the spiritual contest. And Ephesians 6 is no exception
to this dominant athletic analogy. The gear we are to be clothed with must be athletic gear
rather than military. Thus, a close examination of the terms and ideas presented in
Ephesians 6:10-17 show it as athletic in scope as well as nature.
Historically, Corps, there has always been a relationship between athletic competition
and military skills which are readily seen in various athletic events. The javelin competition
in athletics was spear throwing in a military activity. The javelin for athletic
competition had a leather thong or loop hanging from near the center of the shaft to aid in
throwing.
The origin of the discus competition is obscure. The discus was made out of stone or
metal. It was circular, relatively flat being slightly raised in the middle. In military
confrontations, stones of all shapes and sizes were utilized.
Competition in boxing and wrestling was beneficial for training and maintaining preparedness
in hand-to-hand combat. Chariot racing, archery and fencing and the gladiatorial
games also developed out of military activities.
21 Dr. Wierwille misspoke. Verse should be 2 Corinthians10:4.
The running competition was of primary importance, without modern communication
systems, fast-footed couriers were essential for sending messages, especially in life and
death circumstances. And once you see, Corps, the relationship between an athlete and a
military man, you will see why they have some actions and terminology in common. The
participants in athletic competition were generally soldiers as well, displaying their skills
and physical prowess before the spectators of the arena.
Now long before the times of the Olympic Games, the ancients had competed with one
another. The ancient Egyptians had competition in wrestling, singlestick fighting, boxing,
archery and rowing. Hebrews of the Old Testament, as far as we’ve been able to ascertain,
did not engage in highly organized athletic competition, but it is interesting that when the
children of Israel were to take the city of Ai, God instructed Joshua, according to Joshua
8:18, to stretch a kidon, k-i-d-o-n, a javelin, toward the city.
New Testament references to athletics are basically in reference to the highly organized
games of Greek culture. These games were dominated by the festival known as the
Olympics.
The Olympics officially began in Greece in 776 B.C., although competitive games
were held many years before this. And the first Olympics had one event. It was the stadium
race of about 200 yards. In 724 B.C. a 400 yard race was added. In 720 a race of about 3
miles was added. And in 708 B.C. a wrestling competition was added as well as the
pentathlon. The pentathlon was a five event compet…competition, consisting of a footrace,
discus and javelin throwing, long jump and wrestling. In 688 B.C. boxing was added as a
separate event, as was chariot racing in 680 B.C. And in 648 B.C. the pankra…pankration
(p-a-n-k-r-a-t-i-o-n) competition was added, which was a sort of combination of boxing
and wrestling. In 520 B.C. the hoplite race was added, a race in which the runners ran
wearing full military armor. The distance of the race and the amount of armor va…worn
varied throughout this hist…this race’s history. Later on, horse-racing and similar events
were added to the Olympics.
Walter referred to two types of wrestling tonight, the palē, p-a-l-long ē, of the
pentathlon and the pankration. The pankration was a combination of boxing and wrestling
which many times involved physical cruelty to the opponent. We could perhaps compare it
to Jui Jitsu today. The palē of Ephesians 6:10-18 type of wrestling was the most difficult
and exacting of the pentathlon events. It called for the greatest skill in applying one’s
versatility of strength, rather than relying on brute force. Only upright wrestling was
allowed and the opponent had to be thrown three times for victory.
In the Olympics the prizes were wreaths of laurel, wild cherry or other plants. Non-
Olympic games gave rewards also, but they were such as vases, bowls, military armor or
weaponry, shields or cloaks.
In the Olympic awards ceremony, the winning athlete’s name was proclaimed by a
herald, then a palm branch was placed in his right hand as a symbol of victory. Then he
received a crown wreath of laurel. These and the accompanying honors were the only
rewards, not money. These presentations were made by judges at the bēma.
In answer to the question of athletic activities among the Ephesians, they had a stadium
for athletic games. In Conybeare and Howson in The Life and Epistles of St. Paul give this
statement:
The games of Asia and Ephesus were pre-eminently famous; and those who
held there the office of ‘Presidents of the Games’ were men of high
distinction and extensive influence. Receiving no emolument [that means
no pay, for their…] from their office, but being required rather to expend
large sums for the amusement of the people and their own credit, they were
necessarily persons of wealth. Men of consular rank were often willing to
receive the appointment, and it was held to enhance the honour of any other
magistracies with which they might be invested. They held for the time a
kind of sacerdotal position; and, when robed in mantles of purple and
crowned with garlands, they assumed the duty of regulating the great
gymnastic contests, and controlling the tumultuary crowds in the theatre,
they might literally be called the ‘Chiefs of Asia,’—Acts 19:31.
Also, 1 Corinthians 15:32 has a further reference to the games at Ephesus.
Aphrahat, early fourth century, was one of the early Syrian Church Fathers. And he
made this statement sometime between 337 and 344 A.D.:
For fearful is the day in which He will come, and who is able to endure it?
Furious and hot is His wrath, and it will destroy all the wicked. Let us set
…our head the helmet of redemption, that we may not be wounded and die
in battle. Let us gird our loins with truth, that we may not be found impotent
in the contest [The Aramaic word is agona; the Greek word is agōn, athletic
contest]. Let us arise and awaken Christ, that He may still the stormy blasts
from us. Let us take as a shield against the Evil One, the preparation of the
Gospel, of our Redeemer. . . .Let us rejoice in our hope at every time, that
He Who is our hope and our Redeemer may rejoice in us. Let us judge
ourselves righteously and condemn ourselves, that we may not hang down
our faces before the judges who shall sit upon thrones and judge the tribes.
Let us take to ourselves, as armour for the contest [And again, the Aramaic
word is agona; the Greek word is agōn, athletic contest], the preparation of
the Gospel. Let us knock at the door of heaven, that it may be opened before
us, and we may enter in through it.
This is from the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers:
This man, he is the only Church father who alluded to a “contest,” an
athletic contest, in connection with Ephesians 6:10-17. All others treat it
strictly as military, probably due to the persecutions, and the influence of
military life in all the Roman colonies.
As you study in depth the terms used in these verses, you will see the analogy here is
athletic, as it is throughout the Church Epistles. One cause of confusion in Ephesians 6:10-
17 is the parall…are the parallel terms that exist between the military and athletic events.
This section starts with the primary concern, “Be strong, empowered in the Lord and in the
power of his might.” We are empowered in two way, Corps: 1. by putting on, enduō, to
be clothed with, all the armor, the panoplia, the complete equipment of God; And 2. by
taking up, analambanō, to take up all the armor, the panoplia, the complete equipment of
God. These two commands are found in verses 11 and 13. We are to be clothed with all the
equipment and to take up all the equipment. The former is what we put on for the wrestling
match against spiritual wickedness, verse 12. The latter is the equipment we pick up to
meet the foe in the contest, verse 13.
Now, there’s an interesting parallel between these two commands and that which
follows in verses 14-17. The first three items, loins, breast and feet, are all things with
which we are to be clothed. We are to be clothed with strength in these areas as the
wrestler is who has strong loins, good heart and prepared feet. The last three items given in
verses 16 and 17, shield, helmet and sword, are all things which the athlete must take up,
analambanō. As a matter of fact, these three items are preceded by this word ana…
analambanō also used in verse 13, and furthermore, they’re preceded by the phrase, “with
all,” “above all,” or “after all.”
There are two possible explanations as to the original thought behind the analogy used
in verses 16 and 17. First of all, these terms, though military in current Biblical versions,
were originally athletic. The word “shield” is thureos, t-h-u-r-e-o-s, which occurs only here
in the New Testament. In other Greek literature it is used of a shield, a stone, an oval or a
disc. It comes from thura, t-h-u-r-a, which means doo…“door.” The door was the
protection from enemies, closing the enemies out, keeping them away from you as the
shield was. The stone or discus thrown by the athletes represented their gods who were
their protection. Many old Greek discusses have been found in pagan temple remains with
various inscriptions on them to their gods. An old Latin oath and one of the most sacred
was per Jovem Lapidem, by Jove the stone—by Jove, the stone. Some think Jove was
taken from the Hebrew, Jehovah, who was called the stone, or rock, in the Old Testament,
Psalms 18:2, 31, 46. Similarly, Christ was the stone, or rock, in 1 Corinthians 10:4 and
Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:7 and 8.
As we trust or believe in our rock, Christ Jesus, we have deliverance. But the pagan
rocks could not deliver. It says so in Deuteronomy 32:30 and 31. As the athlete hurled his
rock or discus in whom he trusted, so we hurl the rock of our believing around the world,
Romans 1:8.
The word “helmet” is the Greek word spelled p-e-r…p-e-r-i-k-e-p-h-a-l-a-i-a-n, which
means any kind of covering for the head, whether a military helmet or an athletic crown or
any other head piece. Its only other occurrence in the New Testament is in a similar
context in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, for a helmet, a crown, the hope, the crown of salvation or
the crowning wholeness is our hope. And I love that in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, and I believe
that’s what it is.
The word “salvation” is wholeness. The…the other word is “crown” and the word
“hope” is used there. So our crowning wholeness, our crowning wholeness is in the hope
of the Return when we shall be like he is [taps several times], so forth.
In both of these occurrences it is…could well represent the crown given as a reward of
wholeness or salvation for winning the contest.
Now the word “sword” is the word spelled m-a-c-h-a-i-r-a-n, machairan. Originally
this word machairan, sword, may have been the word spelled g-a-i-s-o-n, javelin, which is
used in the Septuagint in Joshua chapter 8:18, 19, 26, and 27.
Hebrews 4:12 says the Word is sharper than any two-edged sword. And Romans 13:4
says a minister bears a sword, the javelin, in judgment. Never does it say that the Word is a
sword. We throw forth the javelin as Joshua held it forth to defeat the city of Ai. We defeat
the Adversary in the spiritual contest.
If this were a list of military armor here in Ephesians, there would be an obs…obvious
absent…absence of certain parts: spear, grieves, which Polybus lists as the soldier’s
equipment. If it were an adaptation, or I mean an adoption, from Isaiah 59:17, it omits the
words “garments” and “cloak,” but it does list the necessary equipment for the Pentathalon
in the Olympics. In addition to the javelin and discus, the athlete needs strong loins, heart
and feet in order to run, jump and wrestle.
So above all, finally, in the last athletic event of the spiritual contest, the hoplite race,
we are to take up the discus of believing, the crown of wholeness and the javelin of the
spirit and run this final race. Then the rewards are presented and the feast of celebration is
enjoyed. Today we are in a spiritual contest, we must strive to win in order to reap the
rewards. Ephesians 6:10-17 must be and is a spiritual athletic contest, even if military
parallels have drifted into the picture.
And now we go to Ephesians 6, verse 10, King James.
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
“Finally” means from henceforth, from now on. And all of this is really a
crystallization of everything that has gone before. Verse 10 here begins the whole closing
section, and this section again is just like the one that I shared with you from Romans 8
when we closed out Romans 8:35-37. “Finally” does not mean that we’re finally getting to
something. It means that we have to take note of the total superb revelation that has been
previously given.
The words “my brethren” are omitted by the critical Greek texts, but the Aramaic has it
in it. As far as I’m concerned, I can take it or leave it.
It says to “be strong”; be strong. This strength, Corps, has to be in the rest of that
phrase, “in the lord,” because what good is it to put on armor if you’re not strong in the
lord. The first thing you have to have, Corps, is a potential strength that’s in the lord. You
have the strength that’s in the lord, not in the armor. You don’t trust your knowledge that
you have of the Word or your ability to speak that Word or your wonderful charisma when
you do speak it. Your strength has to be in the lord. Strength without armor however is
folly, but armor without strength is stupidity and suicide, death. We have Christ in us,
Colossians 1:27. He is our inherent power. And the words “in the lord” are sold out
commitment. We’re strong in the lord, sold out commitment.
The word “power” is the Greek word kratei, [Dr. Wierwille pronounces it two different
ways] kratei, k-r-a-t-e-i which means exerted power. The German word for it comes off of
this Greek word and the word for power in German is kraft, kraft, k-r-a-f-t, kraft comes
from this. It means power with an impact, a “sock it to ‘em” power. It is exerted power in
which one willfully and with vigor exerts a force. It’s used in Ephesians 1:19, be strong in
the lord and in the power, the kraft, the exerted power of his might. Not in the armor you
put on, but in the power of his might that energizes.
All the commentaries spend way too much time on military armor and they do not
spend the time on the strength that’s in the lord of verse 10. They just seem to pass over
verse 10, but verse 10 is the key to this whole section, Corps. To be strong in the lord and
strong in the power of the lord’s might that is in you, the hope of glory [taps twice].
The words “of his might” means of his ability for you to do. His ability is in you, so
you can do. That’s why Philippians 4:13 says “I can [what?] do all things through Christ
who has infused inner strength into me.” Our abilities are limited to the Word and what we
can do through Christ.
And the “power of his might” is the figure of speech, Antimereia, which figure puts the
emphasis on God’s might. It’s not on the armor, Corps. The emphasis is in the lord and on
the might of God’s power.
The literal translation according to usage of verse 10 is:
Ephesians 6:10 Literal translation according to usage
Now therefore continue being strong in our lord and in the exerted power of
his might.
[Repeats verse] “Now therefore continue being strong in our lord and in the exerted
power of his might.”
The expanded according to usage is:
Ephesians 6:10 Expanded translation
From now on keep on being strong in your sold out commitment to and in
our lord and in the willfully exerted power of his might for you [the exerted
power of his might for you] for with vigor you can do.
Verse 11 of King James reads:
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil.
This is where we put on the armor and the whole armor is the complete equipment.
Liddell and Scott define it like complete equipment of a ship’s tackle or tackling, a
gymnastic exercise in the games. It literally means all the equipment. We need all the
spiritual equipment available to stand against the methods of the Devil. Bullinger says it
means an instrument or implement with which anything is done as of an artisan.
The word “stand” or “to stand” means to stand one’s ground in a contest with the view
to winning. I think that’s tremendous, Corps.
The word “wiles” we’ve handled many times as we’ve taught Dealing with the
Adversary. The Greek is the word “method,” methodos, from which we get our English
word “method.” Methodos is a way, but it is not the direct way, but a circuitous road which
those lying in ambush take. Schemes, devices, trickeries, that’s this word “wiles.”
The literal translation of verse 11 is as follows:
Ephesians 6:11 Literal translation according to usage
Put on the whole of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand up against
the scheming methods of the Devil.
The expanded one is:
Ephesians 6:11 Expanded translation
Clothe yourself with all the equipment, trappings and gear of a gymnast of
God with a view to being able to win standing up against the systematic
scheming, methods and devices of the Devil.
I think that’s a beautiful expanded translation accurate according to the Word.
Verse 12, King James.
Ephesians 6:12
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.
The Philoxenian text uses the word dara which means a wrestling contest. And that’s
what I think it is.
The word “we” here should be “your”…“you” and this is, this word…is in many of the
texts, the Greek word for it. If you’ll follow, you know, in verse 11 you had “ye”; verse 12
you have the “we” to “you”; then you get in 13, you’ve got “you”; 14 you’ve got “your”;
15 you’ve got “your”; 16 you have “ye”; so it fits the whole context.
“…flesh and blood” is the figure of speech Synecdoche, and…where a part’s put for
the whole, and this emphasizes the contest with invisible spiritual forces, not concrete
physical bodies.
And you’ll notice that the word “against” is used four times, and that’s the figure of
speech Anaphora, where a repetition of the same word at the beginning of
succenive…successive phrases or clauses. The Greek word pros used with the accusative
case in this figure emphasizes mental direction towards or against in the sense of
estimation or in consideration of the opponent, is what Bullinger says in his lexicon.
The words “principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual
wickedness” is the figure of speech, Synonymia, synonyms, repetition of words from
different roots but similar in sense.
“…rulers of the darkness of this world” is the possessors, plural, of this dark world,
which is exerted power with…with an impact.
“…spiritual wickedness” is evil spirits or against spiritual things of the evil one. And
this tells us four things, Corps: number one, our opponents are evil spirits or spiritually evil
ones; number two, gives us their posi…position, principalities; number three, their
authority; and number four, their impact. So you know the opponents, you know their
position, you know their authority, and you know their impact. “Spiritual wickedness”
literally means wicked spirits.
A literal translation according to use…uh…uh of verse 12 is:
Ephesians 6:12a Literal translation according to usage
Because we wrestle not against flesh and blood but…
(May I have some coffee, please.)
Ephesians 6:12b Literal translation according to usage
…with principalities, with rulers, and with possessors who control this dark
world and with devil spirits under heaven.
Now this is the expanded one that again I think is just…gives us the whole feel and
impact of this great verse.
Ephesians 6:12 Expanded translation
Because your wrestling contest is not with a view toward fighting flesh and
blood but with a view to be distinctly independent of all principalities in
cluding the exercised authority of sultans who rule and exert their worldly
powers by devil spirits in every place beneath the heavens.
Well, I’m tired. I’ve got the rest to do, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, but I don’t think I want to do
it tonight. I’ve come to the end of the road, because its two hours we’ve been on, and I
think that’s long enough. So if you can’t live ‘til next week, you’ll have to figure it out or
something {audience chuckles}. But that’s all I have the strength or heart to do tonight. So
I think I’d better close. Okay? We’ll take it up there and give you the balance of this
perhaps next week. All right?