To Equip & Encourage

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The Swordsman: Vegetius, De Re Militari, & the Training of Soldiers

swordsman

“They gave the men round shields and wooden swords double the weight of common ones. The young soldiers were drilled every morning and afternoon and the veterans and most expert regularly once a day.” – Vegetius, De Re Militari, The Training of Solders, Book 1

A man with a sword in his hand is dangerous… either to himself, his family, his allies... or his Enemy. When Vegetius wrote De Re Militari in the late fourth century, the once mighty nation of Rome had begun to weaken and wane from its glory days. The De Re Miliari was more than just a historical account, it was a call to reform and rebuild the nation by restoring the discipline and dedication of the swordmen who had once made it formidable. What made Rome powerful, and the swordsmen whose blades had carved out their greatness was an intense commitment to -

Elite Standards for Selection: The Roman military forces were built with the highest quality of men, who raised the bar for both their aptitude and attitude as soldiers.
Rigorous Training: Swordsmen did not work on their skill with a blade when it was convenient, or when the day of battle was before them. Day and night, they trained, with swords heavier than what they would wield when their Commander gave the order.
Battle Readiness: The swordsmen were prepared for every aspect of battle, learning to fight with and for one another, and intensely studying the tactics of their enemies.

Historically, a swordsman was not merely a man carrying a sword. The word referred to a man skilled in its use - trained, practiced, and capable in battle. The title of swordsman was earned on the merit of the man who had demonstrated in battle that he was a man who could be trusted to fulfill his mission and defeat the enemy before him.

Would you say your spiritual preparation and study of God’s Word could be described in a similar way? Are you…

Rigorous in your spiritual growth and training?
Ready for whatever battle you may face spiritually?
Elite in your standards of holiness and integrity?

The Swordsman: Wielding the Word — Part 1: Husbands is a new IMPACT Cohort study for men who desire to be great husbands who are skillfully equipped with the Word of God. We call these men who know how to rightly handle Scripture in their marriage, family, and work lives “Swordsmen.”

The difference between a man with a sword and a swordsman comes down to training and expertise. The Word of God is known as “the sword of the Spirit” and “a double-edged sword,” yet most men have not learned to wield God’s Word like an expert swordsman. In this IMPACT Players Cohort study, men will be trained with the 7 verses that every husband must learn to wield effectively in their marriage.

To learn more about The Swordsman cohort study for men, click here.

Warren Mainard
National Director | IMPACT Players
warrenm@impactplayers.org

To Equip & Encourage

The Swordsman: Vegetius, De Re Militari, & the Training of Soldiers

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