above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Truth to Learn
We need faith to protect us from some of Satan’s attacks.
Behind the Words
The words “above all” are translated from the Greek words epi pasin. Epi means “above, over, or on top of” and pasin is a form of pas, meaning “all.” There is a difference of opinion as to what Paul means by this. Some think his meaning is “in addition to,” while others think it means “as a covering overall”
“Taking” is from analambanō, which is composed of ana, meaning “up” and lambanō, meaning “to take.” Thus, it means “to take up.” The picture is of a soldier picking up his shield and putting it into position.
Thureos is the word translated “shield,” which is derived from the word thura, meaning “a door.” This was a large shield about 2 ½ feet wide and about four feet high, which protected the entire body of a soldier. There is another Greek word for shield, aspis, which refers to a smaller round shield.
“Extinguish” is translated from sbennumi, which means “to extinguish” or “to put out.” Figuratively, this word also means “to dampen, hinder, or repress.”
The word “darts” is from the Greek noun belos, which is derived from ballō, meaning “to throw.” It refers to any kind of missile that is thrown with a sling or shot from a bow.
Meaning Explained
When Paul wrote this letter, he was in prison guarded by Roman soldiers. It is fitting, therefore, that he would use the metaphor of Roman armor in describing how we are to prepare ourselves for our spiritual battle. Having described the belt, breastplate, and shoes of Christian armor, he now talks about our shield.
Roman soldiers used two different types of shields depending on the type of battle they were engaged in. The thurios was used when the Romans were facing a foe that utilized arrows as a primary strategy in their attack. These arrows often had the tips packed with a tar-like substance which was then set on fire. With this door-like shield, an entire regimen could set up a nearly impenetrable wall of protection from a salvo of arrows. A single soldier whose shield was struck with such a fiery arrow would sometimes cast his shield aside to avoid the fire, thus leaving him vulnerable to further attack.
In a Christian’s battle against Satan and his demons, our enemy will often use such fiery arrows in the form of temptations, hateful or impure thoughts about others, or doubt. It is at these times that our unshakable faith protects us. This is not our saving faith, but our day-to-day living faith. It is the belief that we are secure in God’s love, that He will never leave us, that all of our sins have been forgiven, and that He will be a shield to us in times of attack. It is the faith which allows us to follow God’s leading in our lives even when the future looks uncertain along the path He has chosen for us.
Application
When you are attacked by the spiritual enemy, make sure that your shield is in place. Though your faith may be weak at times, believe God’s promises and trust in Him to protect you.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.