What does it mean to go deeper? |
We recently talked about putting on the Armor of God after reading Ephesians 6. We walked through The Vines Expository Bible that contained an overview of each piece of armor and what it represents for your daily walk with Christ. Getting an overview of a passage is the first step, but if you are still craving to know more, it's about building habits around reading and studying the Bible and digging even deeper when you read a passage. With Bible Gateway Plus, you'll have the ability to explore the underlying meanings, historical contexts, the connections between the Old and New Testaments, and theological nuances from over 60 premium resources. |
Let's take a closer look. |
Ephesians 6:11 clearly directs us to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (NIV) With a Bible Gateway Plus subscription, you get full access to trusted resources like The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Abridged to explore these verses in depth. When you dig deeper, you'll find something extraordinary. This 'armor' is based on what God "wears himself." Let's read from this resource: "11The call to "put on" God's armor recalls a similar appeal in 1Th 5:8. This accoutrement is provided by God and modeled on what he wears himself (Isa 11:5; 59:17). It is a complete outfit ("full armor," also v.13). The soldier must be protected from head to foot, and his armor is made up of all the various pieces, both defensive and offensive. |
As you can see, this excerpt is cross-referenced with Isaiah. Let's specifically look at Isaiah 59:15-17 to learn more about how God modeled the armor. It reads: |
Here, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Abridged explains:
15b-18 Paul's quotation of vv.7-8 in Ro 3:15-17 is in a context that presents sin against the background of the wrath of God (Ro 3:18-20). Here that wrath manifests itself. The intervention probably applies to those who are willing to take the part of the oppressed. The salvation reference made here is God's saving activity on behalf of those unjustly treated (cf. 49:24-26). God goes to war against sin, and this passage becomes a model for Paul's description of the Christian armor employed by God's people in their struggle against the devil, master of the realm of sin (Eph 6:10-17). In the final line of v.18, it becomes clear that God will do battle against evil in Gentile lands as well as in Israel. |
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As you delve deeper into Scripture, you uncover new layers of meaning to reflect upon.
You can ask yourself:
- What does it mean that the armor of God is modeled after what God Himself wears? How does that alter my perspective?
- How does knowing that God fights for the oppressed and wages war against sin affect the way I respond to evil around me?
- What pieces of armor do I find myself relying on most, and which do I neglect?
- How can I prepare each day for spiritual battle with the mindset that I'm participating in God's ongoing work against sin and injustice?
The 60+ premium resources in Bible Gateway Plus help answer the questions you didn't even know to ask. You'll explore what trusted Bible scholars have discovered, without having to search elsewhere. You'll uncover rich historical context, practical insights, and cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus. |
Next time you read Scripture, use Bible Gateway Plus to take yourself deeper into Scripture. If you're not sure where to start, ask yourself the following questions. - Who is speaking or being spoken to?
- What led to this event?
- When did this take place?
- Where is this happening?
Get started today for as low as $4.17/month when you choose a yearly subscription, you'll have access to over $3,100 worth of resources, including: ✓ 30+ Study Bibles (valued at $600) ✓ 13 Commentaries (valued over $2,050) ✓ 6 Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Bible Studies (over $350 in value!) ✓ Maps, Devotionals, and more (another $100 in value!) ✓ An ad-free experience 👉 Learn More About Bible Gateway Plus |
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