Ephesians 6:12-16

 

6:12

 

ὅτι    οὐκ     ἐστιν    ἡμῖν    ἡ    πάλη    πρὸς    αἷμα    καὶ    σάρκα    ἀλλὰ

For we wrestle not against __ flesh and blood  but

 

πρὸς     τὰς      ἀρχάς,              πρὸς     τὰς      ἐξουσίας,        πρὸς         

against            principalities             against                  powers            against

 

τοὺς      κοσμοκράτορας           τοῦ      σκότους         τούτου,        πρὸς      

            the rulers      world                   of the darkness          of this              against

 

τὰ πνευματικὰ     τῆς      πονηρίας      ἐν     τοῖς        ἐπουρανίοις.

        spiritual                         wickedness       in                      high places

 

 

Principalities, Powers, etc. have already been mentioned as neutral in:

A portion (1/3, Rev. 12:4)) rebelled and are now hostile to God

They have been disarmed in Colossians 2:15 on the cross.

Disarmed powers are no threat to the saved people who are covered with the panoply of God.

But, the problem for the believer is that they may not have put that armor on.

The believer has been told to "put off the old self" and "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" in Eph.       4:22-24

Believers can even give Satan and his principalities room in their lives: "Do not   give the devil a foothold." (Eph.4:27)

 

Classes of Evil Forces:

  1. Principalities (NIV: Rulers) - ἀρχάς, -
  2. Powers (NIV: Authorities) -ἐξουσίας, -
  3. World Rulers (NIV: Powers) -κοσμοκράτορας- used only here in the Greek NT. Similar references are 1 Cor. 2:6, 8, John 12:31; 14:30 ; 16:11. The original use of this word was to rulership of the planets. It eventually was used to refer to the Roman emperor. They are assigned to the realm of darkness, which is the realm believers have been rescued from (Colossians 1:13). They are forces of spiritual evil and only spiritual weapons will be effective (the opposite of evil would be truth, righteousness, etc.)
  4. Spiritual Wickedness (NIV: Spiritual Forces of Evil) - πνευματικὰ τῆς      πονηρίας-

People who disobey are under their power and authority (Eph. 2:2)

 

6:13

διὰ τοῦτο ἀναλάβετε    τὴν πανοπλίαν  τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα δυνηθῆτε ἀντιστῆναι ἐν

Wherefore __ take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in

 

τῇ ἡμέρα τῇ πονηρᾷ καὶ ἅπαντα κατεργασάμενοι στῆναι.

the evil day                    and       having done all                  to stand


The panoply is available, but we must put it on.

 

"Put on" - "ἀναλάβετε" is aorist imperative active

 

The Roman soldier was a man who could be counted on.

 

"Having Done All" means "having accomplished all that your duty requires"

 

The Roman soldier was to stand his ground and not give up.

Paul says, when you have done your full duty of standing your ground, then you

            still must stand.

 

We live in an evil age, so the day of evil would be a particular time when that evil manifests itself in a moment in our life.

 

6:14

στῆτε οὖν περιζωσάμενοι τὴν   ὀσφὺν    ὑμῶν    ἐν    ἀληθείᾳ      καὶ

Stand     therefore having       your     loins  girt about    with      truth           and

 

ἐνδυσάμενοι    τὸν     θώρακα     τῆς     δικαιοσύνης

having on               the breastplate              of righteousness

 

Each piece of armor is a divine characteristic or gift.

This armor, of divine character is the way you stand.

 

1 Thes. 5:8

These are ethical qualities

These are not:

 

 

 

1)     Belt of Truth - Isaiah 11:5 "righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness (LXX "truth") the girdle of his loins"

2)     Breastplate of righteousness - Isaiah 59:11 righteousness is the breastplate.

3)     Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace - The feet are what you will be using to stand. Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15. The "readiness" refers to the person whose feet are prepared to understand and proclaim the gospel. We must know and communicate the gospel that enables us to stand.

4)     Shield of Faith - fire tipped darts - is this faith in God or faithfulness to God. The answer is in 1 Peter 5:8-9. Here Satan is resisted by being firm in your faith. This is flint like resolution and commitment to what you believe.

5)     Helmet of Salvation- Isaiah 59:17 Yahweh wears this and gains the victory. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 mentions the hope of salvation.

6)     Sword of the Spirit, Word of God - Isaiah 11:4; Revel. 19:15; Deut 8:3. This is the Word of God, spoken by the Spirit and heard by us empowered by the Spirit

7)     Prayer