The Greek verb endyo means to put on, to clothe oneself, or to be clothed with. It appears about 27 times in the New Testament in both literal and rich metaphorical senses. Metaphorically, it describes the spiritual action of 'putting on' Christ, virtues, or the armor of God.
Paul's metaphorical uses of endyo are among the most powerful and practical in all his letters. Three stand out: 1. Put on Christ: 'Rather, clothe yourselves (endysasthe) with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh' (Romans 13:14). This is the baptismal theology of Galatians 3:27: 'For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves (enedysasthe) with Christ.' 2. Put on the new self: 'Put on (endysamenoi) the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator' (Colossians 3:10). Sanctification is active — it requires daily conscious dressing in Christ's character. 3. Put on the armor: 'Put on (endysasthe) the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes' (Ephesians 6:11). The armor is not passive protection but active readiness — each morning the believer is to dress for battle.