Read through Ephesians 6:10-20, noting each time Paul uses some form of the verb stand. Why is this idea so important to him?

We must understand Paul’s military metaphor in the context of the ancient battlefield. What did it mean to “stand” (Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13-14)? Does the verb suggest a defensive-only posture? Battle speeches included in the writings of Thucydides, one of the great classical authors of battle literature, highlight three successive actions that must occur if a side is to be victorious: (1) soldiers must “close with the enemy,” which means they must march to meet their foes; (2) then, they must attack and “stand fast,” or “stand our ground,” fighting hand-to-hand with their foes; (3) Finally, they must “beat back the enemy” (see Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War [New York: E. P. Dutton, 1910], 4.10.1-5).

Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com

The key moment of an ancient battle occurred with the second of these three actions, when the two opposing phalanxes came crashing together in “a terrible cacophony of smashed bronze, wood, and flesh,” which ancient author Xenophon refers to as that “awful crash.” — Victor Davis Hanson, The Western Way of War (New York: Oxford University Press, 1989), Pages 152, 153. Standing firm, holding one’s ground at this strategic moment, was the great challenge of ancient battle. In the close combat that would ensue, each side would seek momentum for “the push.”

Paul’s call to arms reflects combat in which soldiers were “bunched together, giving and receiving hundreds of blows at close range.” — Victor Davis Hanson, The Western Way of War, p. 152. This is confirmed by Paul’s depiction of the church’s battle against its foes as a wrestling match (Ephesians 6:12; see Thursday’s study) and in his use of an intensive form of the verb “to stand” in verse 13: “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day” (NKJV, ESV, emphasis added).

This is no relaxed stance! To “stand,” then, is to be vigorously engaged in battle, employing every weapon in close-order combat, a point obvious from the military imagery in Paul’s earlier exhortation to be found “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27, ESV).

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr John McVay, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-ulyqtOKNk?si=BUzxUwU7kiKcVBZD&w=560&h=315]

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You can view an in-depth discussion of The Call to Stand in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfYOy0FBt6w?si=SjGh_q7iJl9-CDLk&w=560&h=315]>/p>

With thanks to

Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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 The book of Ephesians does show us “How to Follow Jesus in Trying Times”: 
Hymn 623 – I Will Follow Thee, My Saviour so that our actions will always speak louder than our words.

 “The Call To Stand” resounds in several beautiful hymns:
Hymn 518 – Standing On The Promises, 
Hymn 610 – Stand Like The Brave, and 
Hymn 618 – Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus!

Our Memory Text commands us to “be strong in the Lord” and this is shown in 
Hymn 339 – God Is My Strong Salvation.

Just as Elisha prayed for his servants eyes to be opened, so do we in 
Hymn 326 – Open My Eyes That I May See that 
All My Hope On God Is Founded – Hymn 5 because 
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less – Hymn 522.

Paul gives a “call to battle” on Sunday so that we may 
Sound The Battle Cry – Hymn 614. As in our previous hymns above, we are then able to “put on the whole armor of God” – Ephesians 6:11.

 Hymn 185 – Jesus Is All The World To Me,…. He is my strength from day to day….(Monday). Paul then goes on to “summarize an important theme of the letter, God’s power…” 
Hymn 88 – I Sing The Mighty Power of God.

Tuesday encourages us as 
Soldiers Of Christ Arise – Hymn 616. With our world crumbling around us, on Wednesday Paul encourages us to be like the soldiers and 
Hold Fast Till I Come – 600, and stand firm as per our hymns above.

Our wrestling (Thursday) is sung in 
Hymn 616 – Soldiers of Christ Arise and verse 1 of 
Hymn 599 – Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers.

So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward and
“Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus IS coming again” – Hymn 213.

 To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Read Romans 13:11-14, 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, and 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. How do these verses compare with Ephesians 6:10-20? Why do you think Paul uses this kind of imagery?

In his letters, Paul frequently employs military language and imagery, inviting believers to mimic exemplary, soldierly behavior. While Ephesians 6:10-20 represents his longest and most concentrated use, military language exhibits one of his major ways of understanding the gospel story.

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

Having conquered the “rulers and authorities” at the cross (Colossians 2:15, ESV), the exalted Christ now works out the results of that victory from His position as exalted Lord over the powers (Philippians 2:9-11). Recruiting His followers as combatants in the cosmic war, Christ leads the armies of light toward a grand day of victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-58, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Romans 16:20). Gathering up Paul’s uses of military symbolism, we see that he understands the conflict between good and evil to be “a long-running cosmic war: battles ebb and flow between two armies which face each other down through the ages until one wins the final confrontation.” — Peter W. Macky, St. Paul’s Cosmic War Myth: A Military Version of the Gospel (New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 1998), p. 1.

Paul’s frequent theme of cosmic war is also part of the fabric of Ephesians. In his call to arms (Ephesians 6:10-20), Paul draws together elements of the cosmic conflict, that he has already used: God’s empowering of believers with immense “power” (Ephesians 1:18-20; Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 3:20); Christ’s victory and exaltation over the powers (Ephesians 1:20-23); believers as a resurrected army of the once-dead but now empowered by their identity with the exalted Christ and able to fight against their former, dark master (Ephesians 2:1-10); the church’s role in revealing to the powers their coming doom (Ephesians 3:10); the use of Psalm 68:18 to portray Christ as the conquering, divine Warrior (Ephesians 4:7-11); and the call for believers to “put on” gospel clothing (see Ephesians 4:20-24). When called to put on God’s “full armor,” we are well prepared to understand the central role of cosmic conflict, but, also, we are to remain firm in the assurance that we have of participating in Christ’s ultimate victory.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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