11. the whole armour--the armor of light
(Ro 13:12);
on the right hand and left
(2Co 6:7).
The panoply offensive and defensive. An image readily suggested by the
Roman armory, Paul being now in Rome. Repeated emphatically,
Eph 6:13.
In
Ro 13:14
it is, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ"; in putting on Him, and
the new man in Him, we put on "the whole armor of God." No opening at
the head, the feet, the heart, the belly, the eye, the ear, or the
tongue, is to be given to Satan. Believers have once for all overcome
him; but on the ground of this fundamental victory gained over him,
they are ever again to fight against and overcome him, even as they who
once die with Christ have continually to mortify their members upon
earth
(Ro 6:2-14;
Col 3:3, 5).
of God--furnished by God; not our own, else it would not stand
(Ps 35:1-3).
Spiritual, therefore, and mighty through God, not carnal
(2Co 10:4).
wiles--literally, "schemes sought out" for deceiving (compare
2Co 11:14).
the devil--the ruling chief of the foes
(Eph 6:12)
organized into a kingdom of darkness
(Mt 12:26),
opposed to the kingdom of light.
JFB.
Picture Study Bible