Ephesians 6 v 14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist
Here Paul begins to describe the Armour of God. The first instruction is to ‘Stand Firm’ against the powers of darkness.
He then goes on to talk about the first item, the Belt of Truth.
It is probable that Paul is connecting this item with Isaiah 5 in the Septuagint Translation (The Greek version of the Bible). Most early Christian used this version.
Isaiah 5 v 11 (Sept)
And he shall have his loins girt with righteousness, and his sides clothed with truth.
Belt of Truth
The original Greek in Ephesians does not mention a belt. The text reads that a Christian should fasten Truth around their waist. The belt is implied in the context of the overall theme of the Armour.
So, by wrapping Truth around the waist, Truth covers the centre of anyone who wears the armour.
Who is Truth?
Surely, the question should be, ‘What is Truth?’ No. The Truth is a ‘Who’ not a ‘What’.
Have you heard this phrase describing a habitual liar, ‘He has a very loose relationship with the truth.’? This rings true, because Truth is actually a person.
His name is Jesus.
John 14 v 6
Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
Knowing Truth
John 8 v 31-32
Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”
By wearing the Armour of God, we are wrapping Jesus (Truth) around ourselves. He frees us from the lies that can warp our understanding of Reality.
Through our relationship with Jesus, Reality becomes clearer. And we begin to live in a truthful environment.
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is when someone lies so convincingly, it undermines our relationship with Reality. It warps how we engage with it. Gaslighting is a spiritual attack which seeks to destroy our sense of what is true.
Through wearing the Belt of Truth, Jesus holds us together. Even when we are under attack, knowing the truth that God loves us, He has a plan and purpose for our lives, can get us through the most difficult of times.
A Whole Worldview
Finally, I want to make a symbolic point here.
When a belt is fastened, it holds together the lower garments and the upper garments. Our clothes come together around our waist.
Similarly, this image suggests that Truth keeps together the physical (Lower) and the spiritual (Higher) parts of us.
If we prioritise heavenly things over earthly things, we don’t connect fully with Reality as it truly is.
Equally if we say the physical is more important than the spiritual, or the spiritual doesn’t even exist, then our interaction with Reality will be incomplete.
Living in the Truth is the best way to experience Reality in all its fullness. Living in Christ means we engage with both the physical and the spiritual worlds altogether, not separately.
"Thinking aloud" here. :-)
Paul was chained to a Roman soldier, and studied the pieces of the armor closely. The "belt" was similar to what we'd call a girdle, and held everything fast (together) on the soldier's body.
It's wonderful to meditate on Jesus, our belt of truth, who counters the adversary's lies. I like how you bring in "gaslighting" by the adversary. Very appropriate.
John 1:14 (ESV) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
What a precious gift! The eternal Word of God is our truth. The daily challenge is shutting of the lies the world tells us.