What is the imperative in Eph 6:10-13?

What is the imperative in Eph 6:10-13?

• A. Be gentle and avoid conflict
• B. Be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil.
• C. Be strong in your own power
• D. Pray for success in your own strength

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that the passage issues commands about how a believer should respond to spiritual conflict. The direct commands, or imperatives, tell you what to do: you are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, and you are to put on the whole armor of God so you can stand against the devil’s schemes. The purpose of this strength and armor is to withstand the evil forces described in the following verses, so the outcome is standing firm in the face of spiritual opposition. This emphasis on dependence on God’s strength rather than human power is central. The instruction isn’t about personal grit or worldly success; it’s about relying on God and donning his protection for spiritual warfare. The armor imagery that follows reinforces that these are active, purposeful actions you undertake for the sake of faithfulness and endurance. The other options don’t fit because they shift away from the command to depend on God and to engage in spiritual warfare. Being gentle and avoiding conflict isn’t the directive here. Relying on one’s own power contradicts the call to be strong in the Lord. Praying for success in one’s own strength misses the emphasis on divine power and the armor supplied by God.

The key idea here is that the passage issues commands about how a believer should respond to spiritual conflict. The direct commands, or imperatives, tell you what to do: you are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, and you are to put on the whole armor of God so you can stand against the devil’s schemes. The purpose of this strength and armor is to withstand the evil forces described in the following verses, so the outcome is standing firm in the face of spiritual opposition.

This emphasis on dependence on God’s strength rather than human power is central. The instruction isn’t about personal grit or worldly success; it’s about relying on God and donning his protection for spiritual warfare. The armor imagery that follows reinforces that these are active, purposeful actions you undertake for the sake of faithfulness and endurance.

The other options don’t fit because they shift away from the command to depend on God and to engage in spiritual warfare. Being gentle and avoiding conflict isn’t the directive here. Relying on one’s own power contradicts the call to be strong in the Lord. Praying for success in one’s own strength misses the emphasis on divine power and the armor supplied by God.