The Shield of Faith

The fourth piece of equipment in the Christian soldier’s armor is the shield of faith: “In every situation,” says the apostle, “take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Eph 6:16).

Some take Paul’s use of the expression “above all” (as some texts begin this verse) to mean “above everything else in importance,” and from this they go on to argue that the last three pieces of armor are more important than the first three. But the phrase really means “in addition to all this.” It is a transition phrase designed to introduce us to a section of the armor that has a different purpose.

The six pieces of armor fall clearly into two main groups, the first consisting of the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. The second group comprises the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. The first three pieces of armor were fixed to the body by a special fastening, and hence, to a certain degree, were immovable. But the shield was not fixed to the body; it was something quite separate. The same applies to the helmet; that, too, was something that could be put on or taken off quite easily. And obviously the same was true of the sword of the Spirit.

The lesson, quite clearly, is this—the first three pieces of equipment should be worn at all times, while the other three are to be taken up when and where necessary.

Further Study

1Tim 1:12-20; 6:12; 1Th 5:8; 1Jn 5:4

What had some rejected?

What was the result?