SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:17
Y tomad el yelmo de la salud, y la espada del Espíritu; que es la palabra de Dios;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:17
Verse 17. Take the helmet of salvation] Or, as it is expressed, 1 Thess. v. 8, And for a helmet, the hope of salvation. It has already been observed, in the description of the Grecian armour, that on the crest and other parts of the helmet were a great variety of emblematical figures, and that it is very likely the apostle refers to helmets which had on them an emblematical representation of hope; viz. that the person should be safe who wore it, that he should be prosperous in all his engagements, and ever escape safe from battle. So the hope of conquering every adversary and surmounting every difficulty, through the blood of the Lamb, is as a helmet that protects the head; an impenetrable one, that the blow of the battle-axe cannot cleave. The hope of continual safety and protection, built on the promises of God, to which the upright follower of Christ feels he has a Divine right, protects the understanding from being darkened, and the judgment from being confused by any temptations of Satan, or subtle arguments of the sophistical ungodly. He who carries Christ in his heart cannot be cheated out of the hope of his heaven, The sword of the Spirit] See what is said before on xifov and macaira, in the account of the Greek armour. The sword of which St. Paul speaks is, as he explains it, the word of God; that is, the revelation which God has given of himself, or what we call the Holy Scriptures. This is called the sword of the Spirit, because it comes from the Holy Spirit, and receives its fulfillment in the soul through the operation of the Holy Spirit. An ability to quote this on proper occasions, and especially in times of temptation and trial, has a wonderful tendency to cut in pieces the snares of the adversary. In God's word a genuine Christian may have unlimited confidence, and to every purpose to which it is applicable it may be brought with the greatest effect. The shield, faith, and the sword - the word of God, or faith in God's unchangeable word, are the principal armour of the soul. He in whom the word of God dwells richly, and who has that faith by which he knows that he has redemption, even the forgiveness of sins, need not fear the power of any adversary. He stands fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made him free. Some suppose that tou pneumatov, of the Spirit, should be understood of our own spirit or soul; the word of God being the proper sword of the soul, or that offensive weapon the only one which the soul uses. But though it is true that every Christian soul has this for its sword, yet the first meaning is the most likely.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And take the helmet of salvation , &c.] Meaning either Christ himself, the Saviour; and so the Arabic version renders it, the helmet of the Saviour: or the salvation itself, which he is the author of, and a well grounded hope of it; (see 1 Thessalonians 5:8); the allusion is to ( Isaiah 59:17); and such an hope of salvation by Christ is a defence of the head against false doctrines; for the helmet is a piece of armour for the head; and it is an erecter of the head in times of difficulty, affliction, and distress; and it covers the head in the day of battle, when engaged with Satan, the enemy of souls: and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God ; the word of God is compared to a sword, for its two edges, the law and Gospel; the one convicts of sin, and cuts to the heart for it, and the other cuts down all the goodliness of man; and the Scriptures in general are a sharp sword, in convincing of sin, reproving for it, and threatening with wrath and ruin, in refuting error and heresy, and repelling Satan's temptations, and will be used in the destruction of antichrist: and this word may be called the sword of the Spirit, because it is not carnal, but of a spiritual nature; and is used by the spiritual man; and because the Holy Spirit, as the Ethiopic version here expresses it, is the author of it; and which he furnishes the saints with, and teaches them how to make use of, and makes it powerful and effectual. So the Jews say f90 , the words of the law are like to a sword, and speak of hrwt brj the sword of the law f91 Ver. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit , &c.] The last weapon is prayer, and takes in all sorts of prayer, mental and vocal, public and private; and every branch of it, as deprecation of evils, petitions for good things, and thanksgiving for mercies: and which should be used always: this stands opposed to such who pray not at all, or who have prayed, but have left it off; or who pray only in distress, and it suggests, that a man should pray as often as he has an opportunity; and particularly, that he should make use of it in times of darkness, desertion, and temptation: and this, when performed aright, is performed in the Spirit; with the heart, soul, and spirit engaged in it; it is put up with a true heart, and a right spirit, and without hypocrisy; in a spiritual way, and with fervency, and under the influence, and by the assistance of the Spirit of God. And watching thereunto ; either to the word, as a direction for prayer, or to prayer itself; for opportunities to pray for the assistance of the Spirit in prayer, for an answer of it, and to return thanks for blessings when bestowed; and against all dependence on it, and against Satan's temptations, and our own corruptions with respect to it: with all perseverance ; in it, notwithstanding what Satan and an unbelieving heart may suggest to the contrary: and supplication for all saints ; of every nation, age, sex, and condition, in all places, and of every denomination. So Christ taught his disciples to pray, saying, our Father, suggesting, that they were not only to pray for themselves, but for all the children of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-18 - Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare an suffering. Those who would prove themselves to have true grace, mus aim at all grace; and put on the whole armour of God, which he prepare and bestows. The Christian armour is made to be worn; and there is n putting off our armour till we have done our warfare, and finished ou course. The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our ow corrupt nature only; we have to do with an enemy who has a thousan ways of beguiling unstable souls. The devils assault us in the thing that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God's grace, not to yield to Satan Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give his advantage. The different parts of the armour of heavy-armed soldiers who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are her described. There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who tur back in the Christian warfare. Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. Thi girds on all the other pieces of our armour, and is first mentioned There can be no religion without sincerity. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of Divin wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us, fortifies the hear against the attacks of Satan. Resolution must be as greaves, or armou to our legs; and to stand their ground or to march forward in rugge paths, the feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Motives to obedience, amidst trials, must be drawn from a clea knowledge of the gospel. Faith is all in all in an hour of temptation Faith, as relying on unseen objects, receiving Christ and the benefit of redemption, and so deriving grace from him, is like a shield, defence every way. The devil is the wicked one. Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are darts Satan shoots at us Also, hard thoughts of God, and as to ourselves. Faith applying the word of God and the grace of Christ, quenches the darts of temptation Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a Scriptura expectation of victory, will purify the soul, and keep it from being defiled by Satan. To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifie evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answer unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, wel understood, and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or a objection, and subdues the most formidable adversary. Prayer mus fasten all the other parts of our Christian armour. There are othe duties of religion, and of our stations in the world, but we must kee up times of prayer. Though set and solemn prayer may not be seasonabl when other duties are to be done, yet short pious prayers darted out always are so. We must use holy thoughts in our ordinary course. A vai heart will be vain in prayer. We must pray with all kinds of prayer public, private, and secret; social and solitary; solemn and sudden with all the parts of prayer; confession of sin, petition for mercy and thanksgiving for favours received. And we must do it by the grac of God the Holy Spirit, in dependence on, and according to, his teaching. We must preserve in particular requests, notwithstandin discouragements. We must pray, not for ourselves only, but for all saints. Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but ou Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of his mighty we may overcome Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called often neglected to answer? Let us think upon these things, and continu our prayers with patience. (Eph 6:19-24)
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 την 3588 περικεφαλαιαν 4030 του 3588 σωτηριου 4992 δεξασθε 1209 5663 και 2532 την 3588 μαχαιραν 3162 του 3588 πνευματος 4151 ο 3739 εστιν 2076 5748 ρημα 4487 θεου 2316
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. Take the helmet of salvation (thn perikefalaian tou swthriou dexasqe). Compare Isa. lix. 17; 1 Thess. v. 8. Take is a different word from that used in vers. 13, 16. It is receive as from God. The meaning is the helmet which is salvation. The protection for the head. The helmet was originally of skin, strengthened with bronze or other metal, and surmounted with a figure adorned with a horsehair crest. It was furnished with a visor to protect the face.
Sword of the Spirit (macairan tou pneumatov). See on Apoc. vi. 4. The word of God serves both for attack and to parry the thrusts of the enemy. Thus Christ used it in His temptation. It is the sword of the Spirit, because the Spirit of God gives it and inspires it. The Spirit's aid is needed for its interpretation. Compare John xiv. 10; Heb. iv. 12, in which latter passage the image is sacrificial.
Word of God (rhma qeou). See on Luke i. 37. See Luke iii. 2; iv. 4; Romans x. 17; Heb. vi. 5; xi. 3.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:17 {The helmet of salvation} (ten perikefalaian tou swteriou). Late word (peri, kefale, head, around the head), in Polybius, LXX, #1Th 5:8; Eph 6:17 alone in N.T. {Which is the word of God} (ho estin to rema tou qeou). Explanatory relative (ho) referring to the sword (macairan). The sword given by the Spirit to be wielded as offensive weapon (the others defensive) by the Christian is the word of God. See #Heb 4:12 where the word of God is called "sharper than any two-edged sword."
