In Ephesians 6:15, Paul writes:
“And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
This imagery comes from the footwear of Roman soldiers, who wore sturdy sandals with nails or cleats in the soles to give them firm footing in battle. Spiritually, the believer is to be grounded and ready, standing firm in the truth of the Gospel and prepared to carry it wherever they go.
The phrase “the preparation of the gospel of peace” refers to being equipped and ready with the message that brings reconciliation between God and man through Jesus Christ. Isaiah 52:7 provides a parallel:
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
The Gospel is not only the source of our peace with God (Romans 5:1), it also gives us inner peace amid conflict and the mission to bring that peace to others. These “shod feet” enable the Christian to stand firm when attacked and to move forward in proclaiming the truth of Christ.
Without the Gospel of peace, a believer is unstable, unready, and spiritually barefoot. With it, they stand in confidence and are mobile in spiritual warfare, advancing the kingdom of God.
