Ephesians 6:12 NASB1995 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the … Against that, the kingdom of the Redeemer was to be set up; and that was to be overcome by the spiritual weapons which he specifies. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12, NASB: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the … (5) with the wickedness of the pagan world - the sins of benighted nations - also a part of that kingdom. There can be no doubt that in this whole context the Apostle has in mind the great passage in Isaiah lix. Against spiritual wickedness - Margin, "or wicked spirits." The word (ἐπουράνιος epouranios) is used of those that dwell in heaven, Matthew 18:35; Philippians 2:10; of those who come from heaven, 1 Corinthians 15:48; Philippians 3:21; of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, and stars, 1 Corinthians 15:40. Ephesians 6:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Certainly, in the past, the institutions of society and state have …Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian. 13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, 'Having put on the breastplate of righteousness.'--Eph. 'The Breastplate of Righteousness''Having put on the breastplate of righteousness.'--Eph. Like good angels, they were regarded as divided into ranks and orders, and were supposed to be under the control of one mighty leader; see the notes on Ephesians 1:21. The evil spirits are supposed to occupy the lofty regions of the air, and thence to exert a baleful influence on the affairs of man. In that passage the Lord puts on righteousness as a breastplate--that is to say, God, in His manifestation of Himself for the deliverance of His people, comes forth as if arrayed …Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John, "But if Ye have Bitter Envying," &C. James iii. There can be no doubt that in this whole context the Apostle has in mind the great passage in Isaiah lix. "Darkness" is an emblem of ignorance, misery, and sin; and no description could be more accurate than that of representing these malignant spirits as ruling over a dark world. Ephesians 6:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 12 For our struggle is not against [ a]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. New American Standard Bible (NASB), Ephesians 6:12 in all English translations, NASB, Thinline Bible, Large Print, Red Letter Edition, 1995 Text, Comfort Print, NASB, Thinline Bible, Red Letter Edition, 1995 Text, Comfort Print, NASB, Zondervan NASB Study Bible, Red Letter Edition, NASB, Life Application Study Bible, Second Edition, NASB, Classic Reference Bible, Red Letter Edition: The Perfect Choice for Word-for-Word Study of the Bible, NASB, Super Giant Print Reference Bible, Red Letter Edition, 1995 Text, Comfort Print. When he speaks of the Christian warfare here, he refers to the contest with the powers of this dark kingdom. New American Standard Bible For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 14. 12 For our (A)struggle is not against [a](B)flesh and blood, but (C)against the rulers, against the powers, against the (D)world forces of this (E)darkness, against the (F)spiritual forces of wickedness in (G)the heavenly places. It has also been pointed out that this unit must be kept clean, pure and right, in all its relations, or society and the state will suffer grave consequences. Scripture references: Ephesians 6:1-9; 5:25-33; Colossians 3:17-25; 1 Corinthians 7:12-17; Mark 10:2-12; 7:9-13; 5:19; 1 Timothy 5:4; Luke 15:6; Titus 2:1-15; Exodus 20:12,17; Deuteronomy 6:1-9. And there is no greater subtilty of Satan, nor no stronger self deceit, than this, to palliate and cover vices with the shadow of virtue, and to present corruptions under the similitude of graces. Text: Ephesians 6, 10-17. But against principalities - There can be no doubt whatever that the apostle alludes here to evil spirits. The contest therefore was not primarily with people, or with the internal corrupt propensities of the soul; it was with this vast and dark kingdom that had been set up over mankind. This is the allusion here. It is a warfare on a large scale with the entire kingdom of darkness over the world. Wherever we come in contact with evil - whether in our own hearts or elsewhere - there we are to make war. The earth - dark, and wretched and ignorant, and sinful - is just such a dominion as they would choose, or as they would cause; and the degradation and woe of the pagan world are just such as foul and malignant spirits would delight in. 14. The apostle does not mean to say that Christians had no enemies among men that opposed them, for they were exposed often to fiery persecution; nor that they had nothing to contend with in the carnal and corrupt propensities of their nature, which was true of them then as it is now; but that their main controversy was with the invisible spirits of wickedness that sought to destroy them. where the prophet, in a figure of extreme boldness, describes the Lord as arming Himself to deliver the oppressed faithful, and coming as a Redeemer to Zion. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. where the prophet, in a figure of extreme boldness, describes the Lord as arming Himself to deliver the oppressed faithful, and coming as a Redeemer to Zion. No empire has been so extended, or has continued so long, as that empire of darkness; and nothing on earth is so difficult to destroy. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Here it refers to the struggle or combat which the Christian has to mainrain - the Christian warfare. 14.--"But if ye have bitter envying," &c. The cunning of Satan, and the deceitfulness of our own hearts, are such that when a grosser temptation will not prevail with conscience in some measure enlightened, then they transform themselves into angels of light, and deal more subtilely with us. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. THE HOME What is a Home?--It has been answered that, "It is the unit of society." 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the worldrulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Against the rulers of the darkness of this world - The rulers that preside over the regions of ignorance and sin with which the earth abounds, compare notes on Ephesians 2:2. Powers - Those who had power, or to whom the name of "powers" was given. Hugh Binning, The Christian HomeScripture references: Ephesians 6:1-9; 5:25-33; Colossians 3:17-25; 1 Corinthians 7:12-17; Mark 10:2-12; 7:9-13; 5:19; 1 Timothy 5:4; Luke 15:6; Titus 2:1-15; Exodus 20:12,17; Deuteronomy 6:1-9. James iii. vi. Ephesians 6:12-13 NASB. Not against flesh and blood - Not with people; see the notes on Galatians 1:16. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the worldrulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Twenty First Sunday after Trinity the Christian Armor and Weapons. There is undoubtedly here an allusion to the ancient games of Greece, a part of the exercises in which consisted in wrestling; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. Ephesians 6:12 (New American Standard Bible) A.F.V A.S.V. It is probable that the allusion here is to the ranks and orders which they sustained before their fall, something like which they may still retain. Certainly, in the past, the institutions of society and state have. In that passage the Lord puts on righteousness as a breastplate--that is to say, God, in His manifestation of Himself for the deliverance of His people, comes forth as if arrayed, Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John.