You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
16 Above[epi] all,[pas] taking[analambano] the
shield[thureos] of faith,[pistis] wherewith[en][hos] ye shall be able[dunamai]
to quench[sbennumi] all[pas] the fiery[puroo] darts[belos] of the wicked.[poneros] KJV-Interlinear
16 in
addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to
extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. NASB
Whole or complete armor, refers to the complete and covered protection of a soldier in battle.
In these verses there are described six pieces of armor in the spiritual battle dress of the believer.
Belt of truth;
Breastplate of righteousness;
Footwear of peace;
Shield of faith;
Helmet of salvation;
Sword of the Spirit.
The shield is a reference to the use or application of faith.
Faith is used to extinguish evil as a candle is extinguished when it is blown out.
Flaming missiles, apply to all assaults that are intended to destroy or kill, as it were. Flaming missiles are all evil attacks, all non-spiritual opinions, all attempts to apply philosophy to life, to all temptations brought on by this unfair world, by poor health, by lack of money, by over talent, and so forth and so forth.
The shield is huge when it comes to battle and the actual fight. The shield is not used when there is no fight. It is used and is only useful when the fight is in force and active. And evil is always active.
The shield is carried by the arm with a hand hold. The shield can be maneuvered all around, covering and protecting all parts of the entire body, depending on from when and where the attack is coming.
Therefore, the shield is the functional application of that which it covers, namely doctrine which has already been studied in the belt, the breastplate and the footwear.
The shield applies all of these and in so doing protects all of these. Doctrine develops faith and faith protects doctrine. They are synergistically related, each building on the other, each producing far more exponentially when combined.
Faith is nothing without doctrine. Doctrine is nothing without faith. Both work hand in hand to produce and protect the total warrior.
Faith bears out the whole character of the Christian. Faith, correct faith, is not a wish, not a hope, but the application of substantive thought. It is wielded by the arm of activity and therefore is an application of the mind that directs the arm. That mind contains doctrine.
A shield is used effectively and well, after much practice and training, which is of course your daily study over the course of time.
