Tuesday - Today's Scripture / Insight - ODB

-

Today's Scripture

Insight 

In Paul’s day, Roman soldiers would carry a large wooden shield covered in leather in battle, wetting the leather to extinguish any fire-tipped arrows fired from the opposing side. In battle, the first row of soldiers would carry their shields in front, while the rows behind would hold their shields above their heads, effectively protecting the unit from nearly all incoming threats. This was called a testudo (or tortoise) formation because it resembled a tortoise shell.

In Ephesians 6:10–20, Paul subtly inverts this military image to describe believers’ resistance to evil forces. Paul relies on imagery from Isaiah 59:17, which describes God’s righteousness in restoring His exiled people. The metaphor reveals that the only way for believers to stand firm against evil is through continual reliance on “the Lord and . . . his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Century - Israelite House

-
Image
First Century - Israelite House The homes of poor families were small and plain. They were built of rough stone (or mud-brick) walls and roofs of woven branches covered with clay. Living spaces were used for household work—cooking and weaving. At night, the family’s domestic animals were housed in the lower level.
Read more

Herod's Temple on the Temple Mount

-
Image
Herod's Temple on the Temple Mount ‎King Herod the Great began renovations on the Temple in approximately 20–19 BC. The entire temple expansion, including the massive Temple Mount, was not complete until approximately AD 62–64, only to be destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.
Read more