I JUST ADDED EPHESIANS to the Casual English Bible, paraphrasing Paul into everyday English.
Paul doesn’t always make sense.
Plenty of times his writing leaves Bible experts scrambling with guesses.
Several of those times show up in his letter to Christians living in Ephesus, on what is now the west coast of Turkey. And I had to try and make sense of it.
On the other hand, Paul can be uncomfortably clear as well.
Here’s one of those uncomfortable snippets. It’s something he said in Ephesians 6 about our battle with Satan and with other evil spirits. I paraphrased this in a beta version of Ephesians for the Casual English Bible.
Suit up for battle
6:11. Strap on all of God’s spiritual armor. You’ll need it to fight the devil’s tactics.
6:12. We’re not fighting flesh-and-blood humans. We’re fighting otherworldly beings. These are spiritual forces: leaders, authorities, and rulers of spiritual darkness and evil in the heavenly dimension.
6:13. Suit up into every piece of God’s armor. You’ll need it if you want to do everything possible to stand your ground on the day evil comes calling.
6:14. Do it. Stand your ground. Strap the belt of truth around your waist and tug it tight. Protect your chest with the body armor of spiritual integrity.[1]
6:15. Slip on boots of the Good News of peace, to help keep you on your feet.
6:16. You’ll need the shield of faith, too. Its heavy armor will protect you from deadly flying objects and from your main enemy, Satan.[2]
6:17. Don’t forget your helmet of salvation. And take the sword that the Spirit forged for you: the word of God.
Notes
[1] 6:14. Often translated as “righteousness.”
[2] 6:16. Literally, ponēros, a Greek word that can mean “evil” or “wicked one.”
Casual English Bible Leader’s Guide & Atlas for Luke
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