UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: weapons and armor

Semantic entry: 6.30

Semantic domains: Artifacts

Subdomains: Weapons and Armor

Definition: a complete set of instruments used in defensive or offensive warfare (usually, however, with emphasis upon defensive armament, including helmet, shield, breastplate)

Notes: πανοπλία is also used figuratively in the NT as a reference to the virtues of Christian character used in the strife against evil: ἐνδύσασθε τὴν πανοπλίαν τοῦ θεοῦ πρὸς τὸ δύνασθαι ὑμᾶς στῆναι πρὸς τὰς μεθοδείας τοῦ διαβόλου ‘put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks’ RV EPH 6:11 · LV EPH 6:11 · Read together EPH 6:11.|Since certain ancient types of armor are no longer used to any extent in fighting, it may be necessary to employ descriptive expressions in order to make clear the types of weapons and/or instruments which were involved. Offensive weapons are often spoken of as ‘tools with which one kills or harms an enemy,’ while defensive armor may be described as ‘what one wears to defend oneself when fighting.’ The complete sense of πανοπλία may then be described in some languages as ‘tools with which one fights against the enemy and what one uses to defend oneself’ or ‘… to protect oneself.’