In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
16. Taking the shield of faith. Though faith and the word of God are one, yet Paul assigns to them two distinct offices. I call them one, because the word is the object of faith, and cannot be applied to our use but by faith; as faith again is nothing, and can do nothing, without the word.
Our life is warfare; our religion is still more so. We struggle against the powers of darkness and enemies bent on keeping us from God and heaven. A soldier needs both courage and arms. Our natural strength is perfect weakness; all sufficiency comes from God. We must fetch in grace and help from heaven by faith to do what we cannot do ourselves.
AI summary
Commenting on Ephesians 6:10-18
Above all, taking the shield of faith,.... Which may be understood either of the grace of faith, which is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial; and like a shield of mighty men, by which mighty things are done, and by which the believer not only repels, but conquers the enemy.