Second Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson: Ephesians 6:10-20

[For a look at the first pass and an explanation of what this is all about, see here.]

Ephesians 6:10-20

A Few More General Comments
1. Either implicitly or overtly, most commentators organize the passage as follows:

vv.10-13: Opening with God's "command to take up God's weaponry against hostile spiritual powers"
vv.14-17: Linking "divine armor with virtues or gifts of salvation"
vv.18-20: Prayer

2. Walter Taylor sees the entire passage as being composed of seven exhortations. They're found in: 6:10; 6:11-12; 6:13; 6:14-16; 6:17; 6:18a; and 6:18b-20.

3. NIB points out that throughout this section, Paul--or whatever member of the Pauline school of Christianity authored this letter--harks back to themes explored in preceding chapters. This section particularly surfaces Christ's power, mentioned memorably at 12:19-21, and how that power is at work in our world today. (See 1:21; 2:2; 3:10) "His [Christ's] power provides the energy at work in believers and in the ministry of the imprisoned apostle (3:7)."

More later, I hope.