battle, and explains how it is that one stands.”33 1. Loins girded with truth (v. 14b). The verb in the middle voice means the Christian must gird himself with the truth. In Luke 12:35, 37, and 17:8, girding one’s loins is a sign of readiness for service. Lincoln feels the source of Paul’s imagery was probably the Old Testament more than the Roman soldier. “The primary influence on the writer’s choice of terminology at this point is LXX Isaiah 11:5, where the Messiah-King is said to have righteousness