Baptist Militia A library & museum of the Whole Armour of God Visit
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Ephesians 6:11 · King James Version

Put on the whole armour of God

A digital library and museum of the Christian’s spiritual armour, from the Baptist perspective — so that anyone, anywhere, may see why we trust the Scriptures as the one and only rule of faith.

“Militia” here means what the Apostle meant: the soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3), whose warfare is not against flesh and blood.

Read the textEnter the Armoury

Behind: Papyrus 46, fol. 157v — Ephesians 6:8–18 · Public domain

The Text

Ephesians 6:10–18

10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:10–18, KJV

The Treasures · From the Gallery

From the scroll to the page of 1611

Real pages, held today in the world’s libraries and museums, shown in the order they were written or printed. Each is reproduced under the licence named beneath it.

  1. The Great Isaiah Scroll, the column containing Isaiah 53
    c. 125 BC The Great Isaiah Scroll Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  2. Papyrus 46, folio 157 verso (Ephesians 6:8–18). University of Michigan Papyrology Collection
    c. AD 175–225 Papyrus 46: the armour passage on papyrus Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  3. The Aleppo Codex, a page of Deuteronomy
    c. AD 920 The Aleppo Codex, the “Crown of Aleppo” Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  4. Tyndale’s New Testament (Peter Schöffer, 1526), the first page of John. British Library
    1526 Tyndale’s New Testament: the Gospel of John Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
  5. The first page of Genesis from the original 1611 printing of the King James Bible
    1611 (London) The King James Bible of 1611: Genesis 1 Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Enter the Gallery

The Exhibits

Seven pieces, named by the text

  1. A soldier’s silver belt from the Tekija hoard

    The Girdle of Truth

    “having your loins girt about with truth”

    Ephesians 6:14

    A soldier’s silver belt from the Tekija hoard CC BY-SA 3.0 RS

  2. Plate armour from the Corbridge Hoard

    The Breastplate of Righteousness

    “having on the breastplate of righteousness”

    Ephesians 6:14

    Plate armour from the Corbridge Hoard CC BY-SA 3.0

  3. A soldier’s caliga

    The Gospel Shoes

    “your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”

    Ephesians 6:15

    A soldier’s caliga CC BY-SA 2.0

  4. The Dura-Europos scutum

    The Shield of Faith

    “taking the shield of faith”

    Ephesians 6:16

    The Dura-Europos scutum Public domain

  5. A legionary helmet of the Weisenau type

    The Helmet of Salvation

    “take the helmet of salvation”

    Ephesians 6:17

    A legionary helmet of the Weisenau type CC BY 3.0

  6. The Sword of Tiberius

    The Sword of the Spirit

    “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

    Ephesians 6:17

    The Sword of Tiberius CC BY-SA 2.0

  7. All Prayer

    “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit”

    Ephesians 6:18

Enter the Armoury

The Timeline · A slow reel

The Book carried through the ages

A few of the dated entries in the Timeline, from the early papyri to the Victorian pulpit. Each opens its entry; each plate is reproduced under the licence named beneath it.

  1. early 3rd century
    Papyrus 47, folio 7 recto (Revelation 13:16–14:4), early 3rd century. Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
    Papyrus 47: the oldest surviving copy of the Book of Revelation Public domain
  2. AD 367
    Athanasius holding a book: icon from Sozopol, late 17th century, tempera on wood. National Art Gallery, Sofia
    Athanasius lists the twenty-seven books of the New Testament Public domain
  3. 382 · 390s
    Codex Sangallensis 1395, Vulgate Gospels, John 16:30–17:8, 5th or 6th century. Stiftsbibliothek St. Gallen
    Jerome and the Latin Vulgate Public domain
  4. 5th century
    Codex Alexandrinus, fol. 41v: the end of the Gospel of Luke with its decorative tailpiece, 5th century. British Library, Royal MS 1 D VIII
    Codex Alexandrinus: the whole Greek Bible in one book Public domain
  5. 692 · 716
    Ezra the scribe, frontispiece of the Codex Amiatinus, fol. 5r, Monkwearmouth–Jarrow, c. 700. Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence
    The Codex Amiatinus: a whole Bible made at Jarrow Public domain
  6. c. 715 · gloss c. 950–970
    Lindisfarne Gospels, fol. 27r, the opening of Matthew, “Liber generationis,” early 8th century. British Library, Cotton MS Nero D.IV
    The Lindisfarne Gospels, and the oldest English Gospels between their lines Public domain
  7. c. 800
    The Book of Kells, fol. 34r: the Chi Rho page, opening Matthew 1:18, c. 800. Trinity College Library, Dublin, MS A. I. 58
    The Book of Kells: the four Gospels in Latin Public domain
  8. March 1516
    Title page of Erasmus’s 1516 Greek New Testament
    Erasmus publishes the New Testament in Greek CC BY-SA 3.0
  9. April 1539
    Coloured title page of the Great Bible, 1539, probably Henry VIII’s own copy
    The Great Bible: the first English Bible authorized for the churches Public domain
  10. 1638 · 1652 · 1663
    “Portrait of a Clergyman,” attributed to Guilliam de Ville, c. 1659. Redwood Library, Newport; believed, not proven, to depict John Clarke
    John Clarke: the Newport church, and a charter for liberty of conscience Public domain
  11. 2 October 1792
    William Carey (1761–1834). Unknown artist; reproduced in J. B. Myers, William Carey (London, 1887)
    The Baptist Missionary Society is founded at Kettering Public domain
  12. 1854
    Charles Haddon Spurgeon by Alexander Melville, 1885. National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG 2641)
    Charles Haddon Spurgeon is called to New Park Street, Southwark Public domain
Enter the Timeline

The Halls

The halls of the museum

Every historical claim in this museum will carry its source. Nothing is displayed until it can be shown true.

  1. The Dura-Europos scutum

    The Armoury

    Seven exhibits — one for each piece — each with its Scripture and its cross-references through the whole Bible.

    The Dura-Europos scutum Public domain

  2. The St John fragment (Rylands Papyrus 52)

    The Gallery

    Real objects from the world’s museums and libraries: the papyrus page that carries Ephesians 6, the Great Isaiah Scroll, and the Roman armour Paul named — every plate licensed and sourced.

    The St John fragment Public domain

  3. Stephanus’s Editio Regia: the Gospel of John

    The Timeline

    An illustrated, sourced walk through the history of the Scriptures and of Baptist witness — every entry carrying its citation.

    Stephanus’s Editio Regia Public domain

  4. The Leningrad Codex: Genesis 15

    The Bible Catalogue

    All sixty-six books of the King James canon, Genesis to Revelation, browsable by testament and division.

    The Leningrad Codex Public domain

  5. What We Believe

    Who we are, what our name means, and what we hold — each conviction with its Scripture.

  6. The Complutensian Polyglot: the first printed Greek New Testament

    The Reading Room

    Every citation in the museum in one place: the histories, the licence behind each plate, and the Scripture behind each exhibit.

    The Complutensian Polyglot CC BY-SA 3.0

The Visitors’ Center

Come in.

You are at the Entrance, the first of seven stops on the suggested walk. New to the museum? Begin at the Visitors’ Center, or walk on to the Armoury.