Is the "Full" Armor Incomplete?

The chart in my kid's study Bible is helpful, but when the Biblical instruction is to put on the FULL or take up the WHOLE armor of God, the standard chart may come up short. Thanks to Dr. Bill Mounce, I'm again reminded of the importance of study that doesn't assume an end to the riches that we can mine from God's Word.

The chart (or Sunday School poster) we're familiar with is a medieval night, although some use a roman soldier. Arrows point out the helmet, breastplate, belt, shield, sandals, and sword. However, a close look at Scripture may suggest the poster about the whole armor of God is incomplete.

Ephesians 6:10-20 is the Scripture in question, although the charts and poster generally only look at verses 14-17. The context (as seen in verse 10) is a charge to Christians that we are to be strengthened by the Lord. To help us get a mental picture, verse 11 starts an illustration of a warrior, ready for battle.

Verse 12 expresses why we should think it this "battle" mentality. It says, "For" (or "because" is a reasonable translation except that it's not acceptable to start an English sentence with "because") "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens." I once heard someone say, if you can see them, they are not your enemy (because they are of flesh and blood).

Verse 13 gets back to the illustration, even reminding the reader with another "because of this statement." The verse concludes with a statement that it is with this "full armor" in which we stand, ready for the battle.

Verse 14 (where the poster typically starts) tells us how we stand.

The word "stand" in verse 13 is indicative, meaning it has a modification that lets us know it's a statement of information or explanation. The word that starts verse 14, "Stand," is indicative, meaning it is modified to show command or instruction. How do we stand in the vast strength of the Lord (from verse 10)? The rest of the paragraph tells us how we obey the command.

Generally speaking, I thought the armor illustration was complete. It's not. Two more things were not explained in the illustration but are critical parts of the "how."

A series of participles follow verse 14. A participle is an adjective (a word helping to explain) that is formed from a verb. Included in this series is verse 18! It's a tricky translation that causes us English readers to miss that prayer and keeping alert are part of the complete set of tools that strengthen us in the Lord and allow us to stand in battle.

Pray and staying alert are set apart in some ways, but they are still modified as participles and still a part of this list. It could be that they didn't have an easy piece of armor or weapon that correlated with these last two items. Or maybe it's because they are more over-arching, or perhaps they undergird the full "battle-rattle." In any case, these critical resources for us are usually left off the charts and posters. And then, when we are in the battle, we don't think about them.

The ESV translation keeps verses 17 and 18 in the same sentence. The KJV and the ASV put a colon following verse 17 as if to indicate the connection. The NKJV smooths it out slightly, moving to a semi-colon. This approach may help us see the link better than the posters and charts. Or what could really be helpful is the addition of prayer and alertness to our Sunday School posters, even if they don't point to a specific part of the soldier's armor.

Until then, be strengthened and stand firm in the Lord.