Ephesians 6 Study Notes
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6:14-16 The defensive armor that Paul describes in these verses includes five components. Paul called for believers to put on the “full armor” (v. 13), which points to its divine nature more than its completeness.
6:17 The offensive armor included only one weapon, a short sword used in close combat. The “sword” symbolized God’s word. Because of its design, content, and origin, Scripture (the word of God) “endures forever” (1Pt 1:24-25).
6:18-20 Each piece of armor must be carefully put on with prayer, drawing upon divine resources. This prayer is Spirit-energized, Spirit-enabled, and Spirit-directed. Praying in the Spirit is an admission of a believer’s ignorance and dependence on God.
6:21-24 Paul concluded with greetings that lack the personal references usually present in his letters. Such omissions are hard to explain if the letter was intended only for the church at Ephesus, the place where Paul stayed longer than anywhere else in his ministry (Ac 18:19-21; 19; 20:13-31) and presumably had numerous personal relationships. For this reason many conclude that the letter was intended to circulate more broadly, addressing not just the church at Ephesus but other churches of the region also. Most likely Tychicus carried the letter, along with the letter to the Colossian church and the personal letter to Philemon.