by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Parallel translations
- WEB in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
- KJV By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
- BSB in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
- NASB in the word of truth, and in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
- NLT We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul ministers by truthful speech and God's power, armed with righteousness for attack and defense. His ministry is upheld by truth and divine strength.
Overview
Paul points to 'the word of truth' and 'the power of God' as the substance of his work, not human cleverness. The 'armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left' pictures righteousness as both weapon and shield (cf. Eph. 6). His ministry depends on God's truth and power rather than worldly means.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 26
- 2 Cor 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Eph 6:11–20Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
- 2 Tim 2:15Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.
- 2 Cor 10:4–5for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
- Eph 3:20Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
- 1 Th 5:8But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
- 2 Cor 13:4For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.
- 2 Tim 4:7I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
- Jas 1:18Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
- 1 Cor 2:4–5My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
- Eph 1:13in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation — in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Ps 119:43Don’t snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in your ordinances.
- 2 Cor 7:14For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
- Heb 2:4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
- Isa 59:17He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
- 1 Cor 1:24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
- Prov 3:16Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
- Mark 16:20They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
- Rom 13:12–13The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.
- Col 1:5because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News,
- Eph 1:19–20and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
- Acts 11:21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
- Eph 4:21if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
- Isa 11:5Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.
- 2 Cor 1:18–20But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not “Yes and no.”
- Exod 14:22The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.
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In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
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