ENDUO (Put On)

WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ

What is the Word?

One of the great tragedies of our modern condition is our loss of identity. Having no idea who we are, we search out and invent identities for ourselves. We become, in some sense, things that we like. We identify with increasingly trivial things: the sports teams we follow, the music we listen to, where we live – all of these things pass away. The Bible gives us a solution to this by telling us exactly who we are. We are sinners, and we need to put on Christ. The word the New Testament uses for “put on” is enduo.

How does the Bible use this word?

A favorite metaphor of Paul’s is to speak in practical terms. He often speaks of washing, of racing, of building; things that we do any given day. But enduo is a favorite of his when he speaks about identity. We can be as certain of our identity in Christ as we are certain that we have put on clothes. Grammatically, it is a compound verb, bringing together the prefix en, meaning “in'' and duno meaning “to sink.”

Where in the Bible?

An excellent example of the usage of this word can be found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 13:

Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on (ἐνδύσασθε) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Paul warns us not to be conformed to the ways of this world, but to clothe ourselves with the righteousness of Christ so that we make no room for sin.

Put on Christ

To be a Christian is more than just acknowledging God, for even the demons acknowledge him. Rather, it is truly “sinking in” to Christ, becoming seamlessly tied into him and always allowing him to cover up our sins and clothe us with his perfect righteousness.