Because of our own indisposition, timorousness, dulness, and backwardness to all holy and good duties. "Stanley Derickson - Notes on Selected Books". ].” Can he not then speak what is good? Be strong in the Lord; as those who are united by faith to the Lord Jesus, and depend on him for strength and all needed aid to perform every duty, bear every trial, and conquer every foe. How can anyone "stand" in those views? ].” Sometimes conscience will make a stand against the wicked one; but it is soon overpowered, and either bribed into consent, or stunned to silence, or forced, in spite of all its efforts, to give way. He would not go against his adversary with armour suited to the occasion: he went forth in the name of the God of Israel; and therefore he did not doubt one moment the issue of the contest: he well knew that God could direct his aim; and that he was as sure of victory without any other arms than a sling and a stone from his shepherd’s bag, as he could be with the completest armour that Saul himself could give him [Note: 1 Samuel 17:45-47.]. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cgt/ephesians-6.html. The theme of power introduced earlier in this epistle recurs here (cf. 1832. ]: the powers of darkness are put to flight [Note: James 4:7. But it will be asked, What purpose did it serve to enjoin the Ephesians to be strong in the Lord’s mighty power, which they could not of themselves accomplish? 136-137). . [Note: Wiersbe, 2:58. 3. We cannot; we dare not. During the night one of the children died, but in the morning, when the first light came, the little girls were still alive. “Be strong then and very courageous [Note: Joshua 1:6-7; Joshua 1:9. In high places - Εν τοις επουρανιοις· In the most sublime stations. 4. Ellison, Christian World Pulpit, vol. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jab/ephesians-6.html. Ephesians 6:14. Med. Wisdom of Solomon 5:18) is ‘righteousness’ figuring in the first instance that ‘faithfulness to His covenant obligations’ which brings Him forth for the deliverance of His people from their oppressor, and which makes Him seek for a means of restoring the communion between Him and them when it has been interrupted by sin. Many are soon engaged in holy duties, easily persuaded to take up a profession of religion, and as easily persuaded to lay it down; like the new moon, which shines a little in the first part of the night, but is down before half the night be gone; lightsome professors in their youth, whose old age is wrapt up in thick darkness of sin and wickedness. And he thinks the meaning may be extended to all corrupters of Christianity in all succeeding ages. Having your loins girt about, &c.— It has often been observed, that the military girdle was not only an ornament, but a defence; as it hid the gaping joints of the armour, and kept them close and steady, as well as fortified the loins of those who wore it, rendering them more vigorous and fit for action. But in what sense again? And so God has constituted the human mind, it is “strong” only when it is concentrated. Two of these I will refer to. Yes; but might not the crisis to which the weakness has proved unequal have been prevented by a little foresight? The clause explains where our strength resides; until thus strengthened the armor is useless, and the foes too powerful for us. He knows the insidiousness of people being under the bondage of sin. but against principalities, against powers; by whom are meant not civil magistrates, or the Roman governors, though these are sometimes so called, Titus 3:1, and may be said to be the rulers of the darkness of this world, or of the dark Heathen world, and were in high places, and were of wicked and malicious spirits, against the people of Christ; yet these cannot be opposed to flesh and blood, or to men, since they were such themselves; and though they were in high, yet not in heavenly places; and the connection with the preceding verse shows the contrary, the enemy being the devil, and the armour spiritual; wherefore the devils are here designed, who are described from their power, rule, and government; see Gill on Ephesians 1:21, both in this clause, and in the next: and against the rulers of the darkness of this world; that is, over wicked men in it, who are in a state of darkness itself; and so Satan is called the prince, and god of the world, John 12:31. The conflict is not between the good and bad principles of our nature. One night, near the end of their voyage, the girl had seen her charges, two girls and a boy, safely asleep, and now, when all the other passengers had retired, she was reading in the saloon. "Commentary on Ephesians 6:10". We are to put on the new man which after God has been created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24), the new man in which we have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son on the cross (Ephesians 2:16), the new man through whom we are to reveal the fruit of the Spirit in righteousness (Ephesians 5:9). Nowhere do soldiers use to one another the title brethren more than in the field of battle.— ἐνδυναμοῦσθε, be strong) Those, and those only, who are strong in themselves, are fitted for putting on the whole armour [the panoply].— καὶ) a Hendiadys.— κράτει τῆς ἰσχύος, by the power of His might) This is said of Christ, as Ephesians 1:19 of the Father. Cowards win neither earth nor heaven. As such a conflict is inevitable, the believer should —. Now this, though nearly allied to sincerity, differs materially from it: sincerity relates to the aims and motives of a person; but righteousness to his actions and habits. As the Captain of salvation, “He spoiled principalities and powers, and triumphed over them.” The order to the spiritual host is now given, as if with the stirring peal of a trumpet-. Nothing will effectually shew men their error, till they are “renewed in the spirit of their minds.” Then they have the film removed from the organs of vision. Paul. O take heed of this wistful eye to our profit, pleasure, honour, or anything beneath Christ and heaven; for they will take away your heart, as the prophet saith of wine and women; that is, our love; and if our love be taken away, there will be nothing left for Christ. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/sbc/ephesians-6.html. You are to do it, but you are to be set as in firm so that you will stand and not fall. The apostle does not mean to say that Christians had no enemies among men that opposed them, for they were exposed often to fiery persecution; nor that they had nothing to contend with in the carnal and corrupt propensities of their nature, which was true of them then as it is now; but that their main controversy was with the invisible spirits of wickedness that sought to destroy them. 5. So that the dart thrown at them only rings against such a cuirass, and falls blunted to the earth. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. It has been consolidated by ages. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tsk/ephesians-6.html. 454: ταχυπόρος πόδα, and see Elmsley, ad Eur. It is probable that the allusion here is to the ranks and orders which they sustained before their fall, something like which they may still retain.