In today’s Epistle reading, the Apostle Paul speaks of the spiritual war against us and the defense we can gird ourselves with: the whole armor of God. Fr. Gregory points out that this military imagery has grounding in Old Testament texts, including Isaiah and the Wisdom of Solomon. He continues by expounding on several of the elements of the armor of God.

First is the breastplate of righteousness. We must be just in all matters and live properly according to God’s law in order to gird ourselves with this piece of armor. Next is the shield of faith. Faith, Fr. Gregory points out, is not just a “true-false test,” but rather involves action. To have true faith, we must believe, but we must also act on that belief. Next is the helmet of salvation, which Paul elsewhere refers to as the “Helmet of the hope of salvation.” In this phrasing, we see that we are protected by the hope that we have been saved, that we are being saved, and that we will be saved. Finally is the sword of the Spirit, which is identified with the Word of God. In Scripture, we see that even the Devil knows the Scripture, but we must know it better, defending ourselves with the sword of the Spirit.

To conclude, Fr. Gregory emphasizes that there is, indeed, an invisible war. We must put on the whole armor of God to protect ourselves and, as James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee.”

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