Sermon Tone Analysis

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

BEB

ἰσχύς, ύος, ἡ (s.

ἰσχυρός, ἰσχύω; Hes.+; rare in later times and in ins and pap [e.g.

PMich 156—II a.d.], but oft.

LXX; pseudepigr.; Philo; Jos., C. Ap. 1, 19 al.; Just., Ath., Iren.) capability to function effectively, strength, power, might 1 Cl 13:1 (); 39:2; B 6:3; 12:11 (); Hv 3, 12, 2; ἐξ ἰ. by the strength .

ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰ. with all one’s strength , (ψυχῆς v.l.); 1 Cl 33:8; cp.

(s.

Herm.

Wr. 1, 30 ἐκ ψυχῆς κ. ἰσχύος ὅλης); ἰσχύειν τῇ ἰ.

Hs 9, 1, 2. (W.

δύναμις, as Dio Chrys.

14 [31], 11; 30 [47], 3; Appian, Bell.

Civ. 4, 71 §302; PLond III, 1319, 5 p. 272 [544/45 a.d.]; cp.

Thu. 7, 66, 3; ; Jos., Ant.

11, 44) ἄγγελοι ἰσχύϊ κ. δυνάμει μείζονες .

Used w. δύναμις and sim.

words as attributes of God (ἰ. as divine attribute in Trag.

and oft.

LXX; cp.

τοῦ λόγου ἰ.

Orig., C. Cels. 1, 62, 71) ; .

cp. also 1 Cl 60:1; Dg 9:6.

Of God κράτος τῆς ἰ. (cp.

παρʼ αὐτῷ …

BDAG

ἰσχύω, ἰσχυρός, ἰσχύς, κατισχύω* → δύναμαι, II, 284 ff. 1.

The word group ἰσχυ- has the meaning “to be able,” “to be capable,” “capacity,” “power,” “strength.”

It is largely co-extensive with δυνα-, and the derivatives overlap.

In the case of ἰσχύ- there is more emphasis on the actual power implied in ability or capacity,1 i.e., on the power which one possesses, for the stem is linked with ἰαχ — ἔχω.

ἰσχύω,2 “to be strong or powerful” physically; in this context the meaning can be “to be healthy” as opposed to → ἀσθενέω, v. also → ὑγιαίνω; but also “to be able” in respect of psychic qualities.

κατισχύω, like ἰσχύω, a. “to be strong or able”; but also b. “to be superior to someone,” “to master,” “to overcome”; and c. “to strengthen.”

The word is found from the time of Soph.

and occurs in the LXX, though it is rare in inscr.

and pap.

ἰσχυρός, “strong,” “powerful,” both of men and things.

Often used of God in the LXX, e.g., 2 Βασ‌.

22:32 f. ἰσχύς, “power,” …

MW Collegiate Dict.

(11th Ed.)

TDNT

κράτος, ους, τό (Hom.+)

① ability to exhibit or express resident strength, might ⓐ of God’s power (Theognis 376 al.; Ael.

Aristid.

37, 8 K.=2 p. 15D.; ; ; ; s. also 3 below) 1 Cl 33:3; 61:1; 64; AcPl Ha 5, 26.

Of the power of Jesus 2 Cl 17:5.—τὸ

κ. τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ his glorious (divine) might .

κατὰ κράτος αὐξάνειν grow mightily, wonderfully (κατὰ κράτος like Menand., Per.

407; Dio Chrys.

26 [43], 11; IG XII/5, 444, 103 [264/263 b.c.]; PTebt 27, 83 [113 b.c.]; AArgyle, ET 75, ’64, 151 connects κατὰ κ. with τ. κυρίου, by the might of the Lord).

ⓑ of intensity in might (cp.

Appian, Bell.

Civ. 2, 35 §141 κατὰ κράτος=with all his might; Ps.-Callisth. 1, 8, 2 ἡλίου κ.; ) τὸ κ. τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ the working of his strength = mighty strength ; ; Cl 27:5 (cp.

; Theod.; s. 1QS 11, 19f; 1QH 4, 32).

② a specific product of resident strength, mighty deed ποιεῖν κ. (cp.

עָשָׂה חַיִל ) do mighty …

74.8 ἰσχύςa, ύος f: exceptional capability, with the probable implication of personal potential—‘capability, strength.’

ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου … ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰσχύος σου ‘love the Lord your God … with all your strength’ or ‘… with your whole being’ .

In a number of languages the expression ‘to love the Lord with one’s strength,’ in the sense of physical strength, is meaningless, and therefore it may be necessary to translate ‘love the Lord your God as completely as you can.’

It is important to note that in a passage such as the terms in the series καρδία, ψυχή, διάνοια, and ἰσχύς do not refer to completely different parts or aspects of human personality; rather, the four are combined to emphasize the totality of the individual.

In some languages the equivalent way of expressing this comprehensive aspect of personality is ‘to love him completely with all you feel and all you think.’

BDAG

Power belongs to God

κράτος (θεοκρατία), κρατέω, κραταιός, κραταιόω, κοσμοκράτωρ, παντοκράτωρ* † κράτος (θεοκρατία) 1. κράτος, more closely related to → ἰσχύς than → δύναμις, and thus denoting the presence and significance of force or strength rather than its exercise, is found in various areas of Gk. literature from the time of Homer.1 Its first meaning is a. “might” or “strength” as a natural attribute, e.g., the physical strength which a man has, Hom.

Il., 7, 142, or the toughness which constitutes the strength of iron, Od., 9, 393.

A common expression is κατὰ κράτος, “powerfully,” “impressively,” “forcefully,” esp.

with military verbs, e.g., αἱρεῖν κατὰ κράτος, “to take by storm,” Ditt.

Or., 90, 26 (2nd cent.

b.c.), P. Tebt., 27, 83 (2nd cent.

b.c.), Ditt.

Or., 654, 3 (1st cent.

b.c.).

We then find the sense b. of “power” which one has or attains, or with which one is invested; the power of the gods: τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον (of Zeus), Hom.

Il., 2, 118, ἐλθέ μοι θεὰ …

MW Collegiate Dict.

(11th Ed.)

Louw-Nida

of ... might ESV, NASB95, KJV 1900, NKJV, RSV, AV 1873

mighty NIV

of ... power NRSV

of ... strength LEB

virtutis VGCLEM

TDNT

ἐνδυναμόω (δυναμόω ‘strengthen’; s. δύναμις) 1 aor.

ἐνεδυνάμωσα, pass.

ἐνεδυναμώθην; pf.

pass.

ptc.

ἐνδεδυναμωμένος Hs 5, 4, 4 ( B; .l. [ARahlfs, Psalmi cum Odis ’31 and Swete]; .l.; Aq.; Just., D. 88, 5).

① to cause one to be able to function or do someth., strengthen τινά someone or τὶ someth.

(Cat.

Cod.

Astr.

XI/2 p. 166, 22) of God or Christ, who give power (Herm.

Wr. 1, 32 ἐνδυνάμωσόν με) ; ; Hs 7:4 v.l.

Of Christ ; ; ἐ. τινὰ ἔν τινι make someone strong in someth.