Paul’s Exhortation in Ephesians 6:11

Paul’s exhortation in Eph. 6:11 to “stand” (ἵστημι) “against” (πρός) warrants attention. In the Greek, “against” connotates leaning forward or toward something—thus leaning into something, a thing one is determined to resist. Needing resisting, according to Paul, are the “schemes” (μεθοδεία) of the “devil” (διάβολος).

The word 'devil,' diabolos in Greek, is well known, associated as it is with the term diabolical. Schemes, for its part, is not. It comes from the Greek methodeia, from which we get the word 'method.'

Being Christian for Paul, among other things, is described as leaning into, or against, diabolical methods, the root of what he calls “stand[ing] against.”

The Classical Greek Military Term

Paul actually employed a classical Greek military term used by Thucydides and others in 6:11 when pressing his point. That he was, in fact, pressing it is evidenced by how he repeats it in short order. The “standing against,” in v. 11, morphs a bit a few verses down where it becomes “standing firm” (ἀνθίστημι) in 6:13 and 14. Standing firm—ἀνθίστημι in Greek—is transliterated as anthistémi in English.

Readers may be interested to discover the Greek term is the origin of our word antihistamine. Modern women and men know antihistamines as medical blocks used to: stave off colds and flus and employed as decongestants, cough suppressants and pain relievers. Interestingly, the description in v. 11 becomes a prescription in vv. 13-14. It is not beyond the pale of reason to perceive an association with believers serving as medicine for a sickened world.

Cultural Absurdities and Christian Response

Christians can feel something is terribly wrong in culture. Well-intended, passionate persons are recognized by the discerning as absolutely delusional. It’s not simply that some folk are missing the mark by a fraction; they seem to be missing reality by a mile.

How does one reason with someone who is unable to determine the difference between a male and a female? Why is that hard to fathom? What does one say to someone unable to ascertain how protecting a national border serves as national interest? Is that not common sense? What does it say when someone marches behind the banner of “Queers for Palestine,” given that queers would actually be killed in Palestine? Is this not insane?

Christians are beckoned to lean against these absurdities and provide a bulwark against the destruction associated with the surging madness. Note the word Christians.

The Need for Collective Action

It is unreasonable to expect a single Christian to form a defensive wall, a rampart, an embankment, to provide protection against the encroaching danger. Why is it unreasonable? It is so because someone cannot do this alone—as an individual. It takes a collective. Its doing so harks back to the language Paul used in Ephesians and through it to the source of the term.

Though Thucydides and others spoke of individuals “standing firm” (ἀνθίστημι) they meant so within the context of fighting within a unit. The Greeks developed the phalanx, whereby men stood firm as they fought side-by-side against lesser, disciplined sorts who threw themselves against the front line. They cast aspersions on fighting alone; for, if the unit broke down something had gone terribly wrong.

The Romans, likewise, placed a premium on formations. Training for war entailed learning to work within and through them and they enjoyed good success as a result of doing so. Even against seemingly insurmountable odds, the Greeks and Romans prevailed when they fought as units.

Individualistic as we are in modernity, the concept of doing anything together for any length of time presents challenges. This brief treatment of Paul’s urging us to do so, however, will hopefully awaken within some the call to do so—and with the call, a faithful response. While it is true we believers individually receive Jesus as our “personal Lord and Savior,” persons are beckoned to disregard aspects of individuality thereinafter.

When individuals are bound together in church affiliations, and when churches bind together in associations, together we can successfully lean against the troubles of the day and advance Christ’s Kingdom in the process of so doing.

Let’s do it! Let’s stand firm—together.