The verb translated put on is not the same as the one used in verse 11; here it is a Greek verb meaning “take up” (also in verse 16), that is, to get the weapons and put them on for combat; so Good News Translation, New American Bible, New International Version have “put on”; others have “take” or “take up”; Phillips “wear.”

Put on God’s armor now may be rendered as “now you should put on the protection which God has provided you” or “… put on what God has provided you to protect yourself.”

Here the evil day is the day of combat with the spiritual forces; it is not the last day, the final battle between the forces of God and the forces of evil, but the day, any day, when the Christian has to go into combat against the forces of evil. Beare thinks the word may reflect the language of astrology, which would claim to tell a person when that person’s “evil day” would be.

In a number of languages one cannot speak of the evil day, for the day itself is not evil but only the events which take place on such a day are destructive and bad. Therefore the evil day may be rendered as “the day of bad events” or “the day when evil strikes.”

Resist … hold your ground: these two verbs in English translate two infinitives in Greek, “withstand … stand” (see Revised Standard Version). In verse 11 the latter is used in the sense of “resist, withstand”; here, however, it carries the idea of “stand firm, stand ready” (for another assault from the enemy). You will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks may sometimes be best rendered as “you will not retreat when the enemy attacks” or “you will not give way….”

After fighting to the end translates the aorist participial phrase “having done all.” The Greek verb means “to accomplish, do, achieve.” There are various translations: New English Bible “to complete every task”; New American Bible “do all that your duty requires” (so Robinson, Abbott); Translator’s New Testament “when you can do no more”; Barclay “you will be able to see things through to the end.” Barth translates “carry out everything” and says the Greek means to prepare for battle (also Murray). A&G cite examples of the verb which allow for the meaning “overpower, subdue, conquer” (so Moffatt); Goodspeed has “when it is all over.”

After fighting to the end may be rendered as “after you have fought as long as the enemy attacks” or “as long as the enemy attacks you, you will still keep on fighting.”

You will still hold your ground may be expressed as “you will not at all retreat” or “the enemy cannot make you go back” or “… yield.”

In this context it would seem that the writer is talking about a constant series of battles with the enemy, not the final, eschatological, once and for all battle; in this view, the participial phrase would mean that after fighting each battle to the end the Christian warrior will still be on his feet, ready for the next battle.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .