The
Belt of truth
Ephesians 6:14a states, ”Stand therefore, having your loins
girt about with truth….” What does it
mean to “have your loins girt about with truth?” The Twentieth Century New Testament
translated the phrase “having your loins girt about with truth (KJV)” as “truth
for your belt (TCNT).”[1] “Girding” refers to a “strapping” or
“wrapping” of something around a certain part of a human body or a particular
item and “loins” refers to the waist.
Therefore, the conclusion exists that the object that is supposed to be
wrapped around the believer’s waist is a belt.
Belts serve specific purposes. Some belts were created for the sole purpose
of fashion. Others were created in order
to prevent pants or skirts from falling off people. Some belts were created for keeping the human
back straight while exercising. When
investigating the passage of Ephesians chapter six, the context declares what
kind of belt that Paul was referring.
Paul wrote to a gentile church using the example of a soldier’s
belt. The armor that the Ephesian
believers were acquainted with was that of the Roman soldier uniform. The belt of the Roman soldier provided
protection; it served as a tool of intimidation because the enemy could hear
his belt clang as he marched; it strapped his sword and/or dagger to his side;
it secured the breastplate; and it housed any smaller weapons that the soldier desired to carry with
him. The believer does not strap on just
any belt for support but God gave him/her a special belt for their armor.
The believer is to gird
himself/herself with truth. What is
truth? Around two thousand years ago, a
governor, by the name of Pontius Pilate, asked a man on death row the same
question.[2] Philosophers, such as Socrates, also asked
the question, “What is truth?” Socrates
believed that the truth was the knowledge of how to live a moral ethical
lifestyle. He never recorded his
teachings and beliefs, but his student recorded some of Socrates’ beliefs. Who was this student of Socrates?
Plato (circa 428-347 BC) continued Socrates’ search for
truth. Unlike Socrates, Plato recorded
his beliefs in writings. Because Plato
wrote down his beliefs, he acquired the capabilities needed to found a school,
known as the Academy. Plato concerned
himself with political and military issues, but he also concerned himself with
the same investigation as Socrates...”What is truth?” He arrived at the conclusion that there
existed different levels of truth, as illustrated in his Allegory of the Cave.
However, Plato never discovered the truth—that God created everything,
but his student, Aristotle realized that God existed but he had the wrong
concept or idea of God.
This student of Plato was Aristotle (circa 384-322 BC). He concluded that logic contained the best
solution to philosophical questions. Aristotle claimed that an immaterial being
created the universe, yet, this being, also contained no purpose. Aristotle’s immaterial being neither created
the universe or involved itself with the universe. Out of the three philosophers mentioned,
Aristotle contained the closest answer to what truth when he acknowledged a
supreme being (God), but what is the answer to Pilate’s question?
Christ was the man on death row, but He never responded to
Pilate, however, Christ established the answer to this question long before the
trial. In John 17:17, Christ prayed and said to the
Father, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. God’s word is truth. But what is God’s word? God’s word comes in two forms. There is the “logos,” which is the written
word and there is the “rhema,” which is the living Word. Jesus confirmed this in John 14:6 when he
informed Thomas that He was “the way, the truth, and the life.” Christ is truth. John 8:32 informs the reader, “And ye shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Anyone who experiences Christ experiences
freedom. They can experience freedom
from stress, anxiety, sin, the cares of this world, sickness, etc. Therefore, Paul instructs the believer to put
on Christ. Paul instructs the believer
to put on Truth.
Truth resides as the glue to
faith. Without truth, there exists
nothing to nourish faith. Truth exists
as knowledge that cannot be changed or even shaken. Such truths compose our belief system. These truths are more than simply how to
receive salvation. These truths
reinforce our salvation. If the belt of
truth was simply salvation, the believer would not have much support. But the more of Christ that the believer puts
on, the more truths the believer discovers.
These truths include knowing that the believer’s salvation is sure
unless he/she chooses to leave the salvation experience and knowing that Christ
is our peace that surpasses all understanding in times of trouble.[3] The believer can also know that God always
resides with them.[4] Truth cannot be partially wrong or right.
Truth must agree with the Word
of God. Either what the Bible states is
fact or God is a liar. To compromise on
what is truth is to lessen the deity and power of Christ and also to lay aside
a piece of the Almighty’s armor.
[1]
The author adheres strictly to the King James version of the Bible. However, a different translation was quoted
here in order to provide a clearer interpretation of the Bible.
[2]
John 18:38 “Pilate saith unto him [Jesus], What is truth? And when he had said
this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no
fault at all.”
[3] Philippians 4:7” And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.”
[4]
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content
with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee.”
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