and having shod the feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Truth to Learn
We have a firm standing in our salvation.
Behind the Words
“Having shod” is translated from the verb hupodeō, which is a compound word made up of hupo, meaning “under” and deō, meaning “to bind.” So literally, this word means “to bind under.” This verb means “to fasten sandals to your feet” or “to put on shoes.”
The word “feet” is translated from the Greek word pous, which means “foot.” The plural of pous is poda. Many medical terms are based on Greek, so a doctor who specializes in feet is called a Doctor of Podiatry.
“Preparation” is from the Greek word hetoimasia, which is based on the verb hetoimadzō, meaning “to prepare” or “to make ready.” However, in early Greek this word referred to “a foundation” or “a solid base.”
“Gospel” is translated from euangelion, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of the verb angellō, meaning “to proclaim, announce, or tell.” Thus, euangelion refers to “a good message” or “good news.”
Meaning Explained
In these past few verses the Apostle Paul has been instructing us regarding the daily battle that we are engaged in with the spiritual forces of evil. As God’s children we are also God’s soldiers fighting these one-on-one wrestling matches with things we cannot see. Paul’s purpose in telling us about these battles is to prepare us for them so that we can know daily victory in our Christian walk.
He already told us to stand fast against the enemy forces, and in order to win the battles we need to have our armor in place. Yesterday we learned about the importance of knowing the truth contained in God’s word. This truth acts as a foundation garment to support the rest of our armor. The other thing we learned yesterday was to put on righteousness as a breastplate. This is not our own righteousness, for we have none in and of ourselves. However, because we have Christ’s righteousness, God sees us as with the righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself.
The next part of our armor is our shoes. A Roman soldier had heavy sandals which had nails, or spikes, protruding from the bottom. This gave him a firm footing so that he could effectively leverage his power against the enemy. This is probably Paul’s meaning. Yes, we need to be prepared to share the Gospel message with others, but that is an act of peace and reconciliation, not an act of war. What Paul is referring to here is for us to have a firm standing in our understanding that because we have believed the good news about Christ’s death on the cross, we are at peace with God. All of our sins have been forgiven and we will not experience His wrath. Instead, we will know His eternal love.
Application
If you have confessed Christ as your Lord and Savior and have accepted His blood as payment for your sins, you are at peace with God. As we have said elsewhere, that salvation can’t be taken away from you and you can’t give it back. If you are saved, you are eternally secure. Without that knowledge, you are an easy mark for the enemy. With that knowledge of security, you can stand firm in the gospel of peace!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved