Eph 6:15 Does this mean we have to preach to be protected?

Verona

Our speaker who gave the public talk used this scripture to indicate that unless we have a good habit of preaching then we are not keeping our spiritual armor in good shape. I'm wondering if there is a better, logical explanation for that verse? Would anyone know of any?

averyniceguy

Welcome to the board! Where are you from? I am not that good in answering bible questions, so I am sure someone will answer that for you shortly.

Apostate Kate

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

Completly wrong WT interpretation and as usual out of context.

Eph 6:15
Verse 15. And your feet shod. There is undoubtedly an allusion here to what was worn by the ancient soldier to guard his feet. The Greek is, literally, "having underbound the feet;" that is, having bound on the shoes, or sandals, or whatever was worn by the ancient soldier.
The protection of the feet and ankles consisted of two parts:

(1.) the sandals, or shoes, which were probably made so as to cover
the foot, and which often were fitted with nails, or armed with spikes,
to make the hold firm in the ground; or

(2.) with greaves that were fitted to the legs, and designed to defend
them from any danger. These greaves, or boots, 1Sa 17:6, were
made of brass, and were in almost universal use among the Greeks
and Romans. See the figure of the "Grecian warrior" on page 159.

With the preparation. Prepared with the gospel of peace. The sense
is, that the Christian soldier is to be prepared with the gospel of
peace to meet attacks similar to those against which the ancient
soldier designed to guard himself by the sandals or greaves which
he wore. The word rendered preparation--etoimasia means,
properly, readiness, fitness for, alacrity; and the idea, according to
Robinson, (Lex.,) is, that they were to be ever ready to go forth to
preach the gospel. Taylor (Fragments to Calmet's Dic., No. 219)
supposes that it means, "Your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel; not iron, not steel-- but patient investigation, calm inquiry,
assiduous, laborious, lasting; or with firm footing in the gospel of
peace." Locke supposes it to mean, "with a readiness to walk in the
gospel of peace." Doddridge supposes that the allusion is to
greaves, and the spirit recommended: is that peaceful and
benevolent temper recommended in the gospel, and which, like the
boots worn by soldiers, would bear them safe through many
obstructions and trials that might be opposed to them, as a soldier
might encounter sharp-pointed thorns that would oppose his
progress. It is difficult to determine the exact meaning; and perhaps
all expositors have erred in endeavouring to explain the reference of
these parts of armour by some particular thing in the gospel. The
apostle figured to himself a soldier, clad in the usual manner.
Christians were to resemble him. One part of his dress or
preparation consisted in the covering and defence of the foot. It was
to preserve the foot from danger, and to secure the facility of his
march, and perhaps to make him firm in battle. Christians were to
have the principles of the gospel of peace--the peaceful and pure
gospel--to facilitate them; to aid them in their marches; to make
them firm in the day of conflict with their foes. They were not to be
furnished with carnal weapons, but with the peaceful: gospel of the
Redeemer; and, sustained by this, they were to go on in their march
through the world. The principles of the gospel: were to do for them
what the greaves and iron-spiked sandals did: for the soldier--to
make them ready for the march, to make them firm in their
foot-tread, and to be a part of their defence against their foes. ~Barnes

The preparation of the gospel of peace; the inward preparation of
mind which the gospel of peace gives. ~Family Bible Notes

The preparation of the Gospel may be as it were shoes to you:
and it is very fitly called the Gospel of peace, because, seeing we
have to go to God through most dangerous ranks of enemies, this
may encourage us to go on bravely, in that you know by the doctrine
of the Gospel, that we are travelling to God who is at peace with us.~Geneva Bible Footnotes

fullofdoubtnow

Hi Verona, and welcome to the forum.

The speaker used this verse out of context, which is a regular jw tactic. Apostate Kate's post should help you see that, and I found a very comprehensive explanation of that text at this link.

http://bible.cc/ephesians/6-15.htm

I hope that helps

Leolaia

It's not a matter of keeping "armor in shape". It's a matter of how armor can defend one in battle. The metaphor in this verse concerns shoes that give a soldier a firm grounding, for in a clash between swords, a slip will expose a fatal vulnerability to the opponent. This verse is simply talking about how the gospel can give one a firm grounding when temptations, persecutions, and other "flaming arrows of the evil one" come one's way.

moggy lover

Hi, Verona and welcome to the Forum.

Nope. Your speaker got it all wrong. Which is not surprising since, to the exclusion of all else, the WTS puts all its attention on the preaching work. First of all, there is nothing in the NT that requires everyone to preach. The command to go and preach to all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit, is what is called a "corporate" command given to the entire "church" as a body. Who among those who will actually do the preaching is left up to the Lord since He gave some, not all, to be evangelists. [Eph 4:11]

Eph 6:14-20 is one long sentence in the Greek, and the subject is not speaking of us to be prepared to preach, but to stand firm in the faith that salvation brings. The imperative in this long sentence is "STAND"! This is followed by four Greek participles that denote either the cause or the means of standing.In the NIV these participles are rendered as follows: "Buckled" "In place" fitted" and "take up"

Note that vs 15, the vs you mentioned, does not actually speak of spreading the Gospel, instead it refers to a True Christian believer's [as opposed to those false ones in the WTS] stability or surefootedness that comes as a result from the Gospel. In other words, because the Gospel has already been preached, you now have the means to stand firm.

It is this for which you can give thanks, and gain peace.

It is truly obscene that the leadership of the WTS puts so much emphasis on the preaching work, when in fact none of them in the higher echelons do any themselves. Ask Ted Jaracz when he last went out preaching. In fact Knorr, third president of the WTS, always booked three seats on a plane, one on either side of him, if he was flying anywhere simply because he did not wish to talk to anyone. [See the book "The Four Presidents of the WT Society" by Edmund Gruss]

Hope this helps.

Cheers

And keep asking questions and keep seeking answers

RAF

From Leo and same statements as a base :

to be more specific and clear on why it's not about preaching
keep in mind that it says the Gospel of peace (and not just the Gospel)

Verona

Thanks for your answers.

There was some very good expressions made, that are helpful.

I'm from Canada.. the province of Ontario.

I was an elder and served over two decades, but, lately it hasn't been easy.

I want to express my thanks for some of the expressions that I've read from time although I don't read this read this form two often. I have many friends and family that share our faith. Many of them question some of the ideas that come out of the publications .. but we just grin and bear it.

It's good that many receive some help, and answers to what seems to be puzzling at times to bear.

Bumble Bee

Welcome Verona - I'm from Ontario as well!

BB

avidbiblereader

Welcome the board, while we need certain pieces of spiritual armor to protect us salvation is another issue, the Bible makes it very clear, salvation comes from complete and absolute faith in Christ sacrifice for our sins and forgiveness comes from the blood of Chirst not from works and especially in the preaching. We should veiw preaching as a privledge to speak of our faith and of God and it should come naturally as we speak from the heart full of love and appreciation for what God and Christ have done. It isnt a prefunctory obligation but rather as the scriptures says "God loves a cheerful giver" we should want to do it and would do it when the opportunity affords itself and especially to silence those that oppose the faith but with mildness and deep respect and never a feeling of superiority over the next but rather that of humility.

abr

Eph 6:15 Does this mean we have to preach to be protected?

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