Charles Ellicott Commentary Ephesians 6:11

"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." — Ephesians 6:11 (ASV)

Put on the whole armour.—The special emphasis in this verse is on the whole armour, or “panoply” (a word used only here and in Luke 11:22); not mainly on its strength or its brightness, as armour of light , but on its completeness, providing against all the wiles and all the fiery darts of the Evil One, leaving no point unguarded by a carelessness that may be fatal in every respect. In this, it accords well with the general completeness and harmony of idea so characteristic of this Epistle.

To put on the armour of God—given to us, that is, by God—is declared (by comparing Romans 13:12 and Romans 13:14) to be to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, its completeness corresponds to the divine perfection of His true humanity. We are to grow up unto Him in all things (Ephesians 4:15), to put on His image in all the harmony of truth and righteousness, of peace and faith, to receive and use His salvation and wield the spiritual energy of His Word.

The wiles of the devil.—The word wiles (used only here and in Ephesians 4:14) is an almost technical word for the stratagems of a skillful leader. It is notable that these wiles are ascribed to the devil, the “prince of the evil spirits” directing his hosts against the army of Christ; the actual wrestling of hand-to-hand struggle is with these evil spirits themselves. The word wrestling is, of course, not used technically; otherwise, the counsel must have been to divest oneself of all encumbrance. It is the personal grapple with the foe. Still, it is possible that there may be some allusion to the “wrestling with the angel” of Genesis 32:24-29, though with a wholly different application.