Ephesians 6 12

Ephesians 6:12 kjv

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12 nkjv

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 niv

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 esv

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 nlt

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6 verses

Ephesians 6 12 Meaning

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. It's a spiritual battle. We are up against unseen powers and forces in the unseen realm. This involves principalities, powers, rulers of this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. It's a warfare that transcends the physical.

Ephesians 6 12 Context

Ephesians 6:10-20 focuses on spiritual warfare. Paul is concluding his letter to the Ephesians, providing practical instructions for Christian living. In the preceding verses, he exhorts believers to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might" and to "put on the whole armor of God." This verse directly explains the reason for this spiritual preparedness. The Ephesian church, located in a city deeply entrenched in paganism, magic, and false worship, would have been particularly receptive to the reality of spiritual opposition. Paul underscores that the difficulties and oppositions they face are not merely human issues but stem from a sophisticated network of evil spiritual forces.

Ephesians 6 12 Word Analysis

• Our (hēmōn - ἡμῶν): Possessive pronoun. Denotes a shared struggle, identifying believers as a collective body engaged in this battle.
• wrestle (palestē - παλαιστη): A compound of palaio (old, ancient) and histēmi (to stand). Originally meant wrestling as a sport. It implies a close, hand-to-hand combat, a rigorous and sustained struggle requiring strength, endurance, and skill. It is a very intense and personal kind of fighting, not a distant skirmish. It speaks of a continuous effort and a direct confrontation with an opponent.
• not (ouk - οὐκ): A strong negation. Emphatically denies the nature of the enemy being primarily human.
• against (pros - πρὸς): Indicates facing or opposing.
• flesh and blood (sarkos kai haimos - σάρκος καὶ αἵματος): A Hebraic idiom (akin to Gen. 6:3 "flesh" or 1 Cor. 15:50 "flesh and blood"). It signifies human beings in their natural, earthly existence, possessing human limitations, desires, and frailties. It represents the visible, tangible human sphere, but not the ultimate source of the conflict. This is contrasted with the spiritual reality that follows.
• but (alla - ἀλλά): A strong adversative conjunction, introducing the true nature of the conflict.
• against (pros - πρὸς): Again, signifying opposition.
• principalities (archōn - ἀρχῶν): From archē (beginning, rule, office, power). Refers to rulers, chief powers, or authorities. This term suggests ranked or organized governing powers, often seen in hierarchies within spiritual realms. It can refer to angelic beings, whether fallen or holy, holding positions of authority.
• powers (exousiōn - ἐξουσιῶν): From exousia (authority, power, permission). Indicates delegated or granted power. It further emphasizes the organized and hierarchical nature of the opposing spiritual forces, suggesting they operate with a degree of authority or dominion. This could include demonic hierarchies or Satan himself in his varied manifestations of authority.
• rulers (kosmokratorōn - κοσμοκρατόρων): From kosmos (world, universe) and kratos (strength, rule, power). Literally "world-rulers" or "rulers of the darkness of this age." This specifically points to dominant powers that exert influence over earthly kingdoms and the present, visible age, especially as they are darkened by sin and rebellion. It suggests cosmic-level dominion by evil forces controlling human affairs. This is a unique term to this passage in the NT.
• of the darkness (tou skotous - τοῦ σκότους): "Skotos" refers to literal darkness but primarily denotes spiritual darkness, ignorance, sin, and evil. It signifies the moral and spiritual condition associated with these ruling powers, the pervasive influence of evil that obscures truth and righteousness.
• of this present age (tou aiōnos toutou - τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου): "Aion" refers to an age or era. This specifies the particular epoch in which the believers are living, emphasizing that these spiritual forces are actively working within the current historical period. It highlights their immediate and present influence in the world.
• spiritual forces of evil (pneumatika tēs ponērias - πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας): "Pneumatika" (spiritual things) points to the non-material, spiritual nature of these entities. "Ponēria" (evil, wickedness, malice) describes their fundamental characteristic – they are intrinsically wicked and malicious. This is a general category encompassing all forms of evil spiritual beings. "Of evil" can be read genitively (spiritual ones belonging to evil) or with an adjective implication (evil spiritual ones). The overall meaning points to a vast, organized, and inherently evil spiritual army.
• in the heavenly places (en tois epouraniois - ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις): "Epouraniois" refers to the heavenly or celestial realms, the abode of God and His angels, but also the domain where these opposing spiritual powers are situated or operate from. This phrase suggests a multi-dimensional spiritual battlefield, where conflicts occur in realms beyond human sight but have profound impact on the earthly realm. It is not about fighting in heaven, but fighting against adversaries who have influence from the heavenly realms. This implies their organized presence and engagement in a spiritual war.

Ephesians 6 12 Bonus Section

The concept of "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" might seem paradoxical given that heaven is God's dwelling. However, in ancient Near Eastern thought and within biblical cosmology, the "heavenly places" or "heavens" (the skies, the firmament, and the upper atmosphere) were often understood as realms accessible to, and influenced by, spiritual beings, both divine and angelic (whether good or fallen). These Ephesians, steeped in beliefs about angelic hierarchies and cosmic powers (common in Gnostic thought which was rising), would understand these terms as representing an organized spiritual order of angelic beings that had rebelled against God. Paul’s intent here is not to deify these entities but to expose their organized rebellion and their influence through human systems, deceptive ideologies, and demonic manifestations that plagued the world, particularly a city like Ephesus known for its mystical practices. The use of kosmokratorōn ("world-rulers") uniquely emphasizes their dominion over earthly kingdoms and societal structures during this age, highlighting the far-reaching nature of the spiritual conflict.

Ephesians 6 12 Commentary

Paul asserts that the believer's battle is not a mere human conflict of interpersonal disagreements or political struggles. Instead, it is a profound spiritual engagement against a structured, powerful, and malicious hierarchy of fallen spiritual beings. These entities, referred to by terms like principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this age, actively oppose God’s purposes and exert their influence in the world. Understanding this adversarial nature of reality is crucial for effective Christian living. It necessitates reliance on God’s strength and the protection provided by the spiritual armor described previously. Recognizing the true enemy helps believers maintain a godly perspective and avoid being deceived by purely human causes or effects of evil, focusing instead on the spiritual dimension of their struggles and the ultimate victory achieved by Christ.