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On Page 414 of In Heavenly Places, Charles Welch sets out the sixfold armour of
Eph. 6: 14-18 in the form of a structure, which we quote:
The sixfold armour.
A | The GIRDLE. Truth or faithfulness.
B | The BREASTPLATE. Righteousness.
C | The SHOES. Gospel of peace.
A | The SHIELD. Faith or faithfulness.
B | The HELMET. Salvation.
C | The SWORD. The Word of God.
In connection with the girdle, we observe that Charles Welch writes "Truth or
faithfulness", and we may ask why he adds faithfulness. The Greek word aletheia is
translated "truth", but Charles Welch points out that the LXX translates "faithfulness" by
aletheia, and quotes as an example Isa. 11: 5:
"Faithfulness (shall be) the girdle of his reins."
It is interesting to note that there is a link with the sixfold armour in other passages:
"For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his
head" (Isa. 59: 17).
"How beautiful . . . . . are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
peace" (Isa. 52: 7).
Truth is absolutely vital to the Christian. There is a link between truth and
faithfulness. The follower of Christ must be sincere, speak the truth and defend the truth
at all times. If there is any doubt in the heart, the enemy will use that uncertainty to
undermine faith, and ultimately the Christian may be deceived. Satan used this method to
sow the seed of doubt when he spoke to Eve in the garden of Eden. So she was
persuaded to eat the forbidden fruit and she disobeyed.
In view of the importance of truth in the life of the Christian, it may be helpful if we
look at all the references to truth in this epistle. We found that in Eph. 4: 24 the A.V.
reads "and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness". The margin has a note which reads "the holiness of truth", and it appears
that this gives the literal translation. We therefore include this in our list, and so there are
seven references to "truth" which we find form a pattern, which we give below:
Truth in Ephesians.
A | 1: 13. Heard the word of truth.
B | 4: 15. GROW UP. Speaking the truth in love.
C | 4: 21. PUT OFF. Taught by Him, as the truth in Jesus.
D | 4: 24. PUT ON. Righteousness and the holiness of truth.
C | 4: 25. PUT AWAY. Speak every man truth.
B | 5: 9. FRUIT. Goodness and righteousness and truth.
A | 6: 14. Loins girt about with truth.