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Examined Doctrine
PASSAGE · BSB

Ephesians 6

10 positions on the map lean on this chapter. Cited verses are marked.

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),

3“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

4Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

6And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

7Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,

8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

15and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,

20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

21Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.

22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.

23Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Who leans on it

Aquinas on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCELEANSThe demons' assault is real and comes from their malice and envy, though God orders it to good and stops it when he wills. Exorcism belongs in the rite of baptism: before baptism the demons are cast out so they cannot hi…Athanasius on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°Since Christ came the enemy is fallen and his powers weakened. Any Christian may put demons to flight with prayer, fasting, faith, the sign of the cross and the name of Christ, and Antony cleanses others of evil spirits.…Calvin on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°The devil is a real enemy, already overcome by Christ's death, who wars against believers until death and can wound them but never conquer them. The fight is vigilance, perseverance, the armour of Ephesians 6, and above …Chrysostom on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°The devil is real and evil, and Ephesians 6 describes a true wrestle with incorporeal powers, but the weapon is moral: we overcome them by becoming by choice what they are by nature. He insists the devil overcomes no one…Tim Keller on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°The armour of Ephesians 6 is the gospel applied: putting it on means taking the benefits of the gospel and using them in your life. Most satanic influence works through the imagination, in things like worry. The sermon r…Luther on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°The devil is a real, constant enemy, a liar and a murderer, and nothing is left to do on earth but pray against him without ceasing. The weapons are prayer and God's Word, and when Scripture alone does not drive him off,…John MacArthur on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°Satan is a real enemy, but the believer meets him with the Lord's strength and the armour God has provided, not by fighting him directly: report to the commander. He rejects Christian exorcism, and Christians delivering …Gavin Ortlund on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°Satan is a real person, not a metaphor, and he has been disarmed and disgraced at the cross, so no one trusting Jesus needs to fear him. Most of the fight is ordinary: Ephesians 6, reading Scripture aloud, preaching the …John Piper on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCELEANSSatan is real and can put thoughts into a Christian's mind, and our own sin is like an open door to him. The normal way to deal with him is truth and love, gently teaching in the hope that God grants repentance. Asked wh…Wesley on spiritual warfarePRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°Satan and his angels are always at war with us, and Wesley assigns a great deal to them: he thinks many diseases are caused or made worse by them. The defence is universal holiness as the whole armour of God, the shield …