… with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Summary: Turning to the breastplate of righteousness, we discover that the word “breastplate” is a bit of an understatement.
To understand Paul’s use of the word “breastplate” in this passage, we need to dive into the history of the words behind the word.
The Latin word for “breastplate” is “lorica.” The Latin word “lorica” also translates as “hauberk” or “mail.” The word that Paul used in his letter was the Greek word “thorax.” Strong’s Concordance tells us that “thorax” (G2382) translates as “breastplate or corselet.”
Why is this important?
Because the breastplate covers more than just the chest area.
Illustrations of Roman armor show that the breastplate includes armor plates covering the shoulders, like epaulets. The Roman breastplate covers the entire upper body, including the back and sides, similar to a chain mail shirt or hauberk.
Thinking about it, this makes sense. Why would God send us into the world with our shoulders, neck, back, and sides exposed to danger? He wouldn’t. This is why it is important to understand Paul’s words accurately.
Righteousness isn’t just a patch of armor to protect our chest from frontal attack. Righteousness covers us in all directions. The righteous do not allow for a chink in their armor.
So, what is righteousness? Is Paul telling us to put on something we can’t have? After all, in his letter to the church at Rome, he writes, “There is no one righteous, not even one…” (Romans 3:10). He then goes on to tell us about a new kind of righteousness, one that is “given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22).
Paul was raised as a Jew, and he aspired to be a Pharisee. His first understanding of “righteousness” was grounded in a kind of righteousness that conforms to an extensive and detailed set of moral and civil laws. If you obeyed the law, you were “righteous.” If you broke a law, you were not righteous.
Righteousness for Gentile believers is different. Instead of conforming to an elaborate set of man-made laws, Paul argues that Gentiles should obey God’s moral law as outlined in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17, Romans 2:13, Ephesians 4:17 – 6:20).
As Paul notes in his letter, the righteousness of man is not enough to win God’s approval. By the same token, the righteousness of Christ does not adhere to someone who willfully opposes God’s will (Matthew 3:8-10). To put it another way, we cannot hate God and expect to gain heaven. There has to be an agreement between our will and his. This is why we are called to repent (Luke 5:32).
The righteousness that saves us belongs to Christ alone. The righteousness that protects us in our daily lives is our agreement with Christ’s righteousness and God’s will.
Application: Whether we wear the breastplate of righteousness depends on our knowledge of God’s Word.
Food for Thought: What does it mean to live a righteous life? (i.e. — What does it mean to do God’s will?)
Excellent one! We need the armor of God! Look forward to studying with you regarding every piece if armor we need today!
Thanks Jim!
We do, indeed, need the armor of God. More and more in these evil times!
There are a lot of angles to take with this question. The one I am taking is that to live a righteous life one must demonstrate faith in Christ. Romans 1: 16 – 17. Living this faith will lead to a transformed mind that does God’s will more and more. Romans 12: 2.
Thank you, Rich!
Great verses!! I agree that faith in Christ leads to transformations in a person’s life. I am a living testimony to that fact. 🙂
10-21-2023, What does it mean to live a righteous life? (i.e. — What does it mean to do God’s will?)
Great stuff! I think I end up with what Rich writes. I just take a longer path.
We put on the full armor of God to fight a spiritual battle against the rulers and authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12
It is because of Him that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30
So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:12b-14
The breastplate of righteousness is Jesus Christ in our hearts. His presence directing every action of our lives as we fight this battle, seeking to live as spiritual beings in control of these temporary vessels of flesh we are confined in. Christ will protect and direct our our hearts as He achieves victory over sin.
Nicely said, Ron!
Thank you!!
I too will land where Rich and Ron landed.
My mind, being what it is, looks at your question and differentiates “a righteous life” and “living righteously.” I suspect you mean the latter. 🙂
“A righteous life”: nope. I was born with sin and in every sense of the word, I could not overcome it. It overcame me at one point. Christ redeemed me. Even in my walk with the Lord, all my acts of righteous living are not of my design. Whether i am following the Holy Spirits guidance or applying Gods Word to my life, it is the righteousness of Christ that has produced any righteousness in me. God knew I was incapable, He sent His Son to pay my debt and to allow me to share in His righteousness. “Righteous living” is only possible by my faith that Christ has redeemed me and will continue to help me turn from sin. Faith that I can live a life that pleases God, that when i ask Him how I should live, His answers speak to the same righteousness as is inherent in His character.
Thanks, Chris!
You make an interesting distinction between “life” and “living.” You are correct in thinking “to live a righteous life” means “righteous living.” It does not mean that our entire life has been righteous or could ever be.
This topic of righteousness presents interesting challenges, and almost all of them can be traced back to how we understand the words used to describe righteousness, as you have pointed out here. Thank you!