Ephesians 6:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

NIV: and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

NASB: and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace;

CSB: and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.

NLT: For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

KJV: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

NKJV: and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Roman soldiers typically wore sandals which allowed them to move quickly during battle, and provided protection to their feet. Here Paul imagines the shoes as "the readiness given by the gospel of peace." Shoes made a soldier "ready" to run into battle. The gospel of peace likewise makes a believer ready for spiritual battle. Anyone who has walked around outside with no shoes knows that some areas are virtually off-limits when you're barefoot. Shoes give you the ability to go almost anywhere. Shoes also provide traction. The gospel anchors our faith in certain basic, universal truths. Without that, we'd find our foundation slipping.

One of the modern world's most common problems is stress. Yet the peace given through the gospel is the answer to most of our daily anxiety. We can cast our cares on God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Further, connecting the concept of "shoes" with the gospel of peace may also suggest the idea of believers taking the gospel into daily battles, sharing it wherever they go (Matthew 28:18–20). Believers are given the gospel of peace in order to be ready for battle and to help others facing spiritual attack.

Those who study martial arts know that setting one's feet is the beginning of all combat. They affect balance, grip, power, and movement. In the same way, the foundation of our day-to-day Christianity is the gospel.

Ephesians 6:10–20 concludes Paul's practical application of Christianity with a famous series of metaphors. Here, he describes the ''armor of God.'' In this passage, Paul uses the allegory of a Roman soldier's basic equipment to show how the components of Christianity work together as we strive to serve God. The soldier's tools include a belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword. In parallel, the Christian's implements are truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. Christians are also given prayer. Just as a soldier's equipment is designed for their earthly battle, a Christian's equipment is meant for spiritual warfare.

Paul gives specific instructions to children and fathers, stressing obedience and patience, respectively. He also directs servants to serve with sincerity and good intentions, as if they were working for Christ. Masters are warned not to be harsh: the same God who judges all will not give them preference over those they supervised. All Christians are called on to use the tools given us by God for surviving the attacks of the devil. These are imagined as pieces of a suit of armor. Paul ends this letter in his typical style, with prayer, blessings, and news about his plans.

Ephesians opens with three chapters of doctrine, followed by three chapters of practical application. This final chapter of Paul's letter focuses on specific ways Christians should live. It also summarizes the spiritual tools we are given by God, imagining them as a suit of armor. Paul pulls the same basic ideas from the rest of letter together, showing how Christians should live out their knowledge of what salvation in Christ really means.

Ephesians follows a theme common in Paul's writings: connecting theory with practice. In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. The first three chapters lay out spiritual ideas, the last three chapters show how these truths should be applied in the life of a mature believer. Paul focuses heavily on love, the unity of the Christian church, and the incredible value of our salvation through Christ.