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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | what does having on the breastplate mean | Eph 6:14 | pray4me2009 | 215651 | ||
Hi, can I get a breakdown or opinions maybe on Ephesians 6:14, particularly about the second half of that verse, having on the breastplate of righteousness! Im not looking for any particular answers, just some comments-thanks | ||||||
2 | what does having on the breastplate mean | Eph 6:14 | DocTrinsograce | 215657 | ||
Hi, pray4me2009... Welcome to the forum! ...and we will, indeed, pray for you! :-) As you study Scripture, keep in mind this simple rule: Imperatives arise from indicatives. As you read any given passage, ask yourself: Is this an imperative or an indicative? If it is an imperative, find the indicative upon which it is based. Let me give you an example. Matthew records for us the Great Commission: And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NASB) Do you see the indicative? It is in verse 18. See how our Lord Jesus gives us this statement of truth, and out of that statement arises the command. You see, there's always the temptation to just get down to brass tacks. I know that this is true of me. As a new believer I read through Ephesians, skimming over the first three chapters, thinking "Come on Paul, let's get past all this doctrinal stuff. Just tell me what I need to do." Of course, then I was overwhelmed by all the stuff he was saying to do. In fact, I counted over 30 commands. Quite a while later, though, I noticed something odd: all those commands (imperatives) were in the last three chapters. It finally dawned on me -- and later more formal study confirmed this -- that Paul almost always gives doctrine and then commands. If you don't get a handle on the doctrine, then the commands will simply be onerous. However, if you understand the doctrine, the commands arise naturally and easily. Try this for yourself: Read through Ephesians four or five times. Then, in a notebook, write at the top of a blank page, "Indicatives." At the top of another page, write "Imperatives." Then read through the epistle again, and write an abbreviated note, citing the chapter and verse, of each indicative and each imperative. You will see what I'm talking about. (If you really want to be a good student, later you can connect each imperative with at least one indicative.) In Him, Doc PS It is more work, but this is a great exercise for Romans, too! :-) |
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