Spiritual Warfare: Ephesians 6 Explained
Spiritual Warfare 3
The Manual of Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6)
Throughout church history, believers, theologians, and lay people alike have sought guidance from Ephesians 6, especially when facing overwhelming spiritual opposition. How does the Apostle Paul’s teaching help us effectively evangelize those blinded to the Gospel’s truth by evil spirits? In this chapter, Paul’s teachings culminate in a call to war, preparing readers for the letter’s most crucial instruction on spiritual warfare. This is the practical application of his teachings. One commentator noted, “This is the only place in all of Paul’s writings that calls believers to fight.”
The Holy Spirit-filled believers struggle, using the full armor of God against the devil’s schemes, to stand in victory.
Paul begins by stating, “For this reason, the Holy Spirit has been given to us; Christ dwells in us, and we are one body with Him.”
Though defeated by the Lord Jesus, the devil and evil powers continue attacking to hinder our ministry.
There’s no need to fear. However, we must learn to be strong in Christ. While the enemy attacks, God provides everything we need to be victorious soldiers.
A Look at Ephesians 6
The expression “for the rest” is followed by three imperatives: “be strong” (v. 10), “put on” (v. 11), and “take” (v. 13). The last two refer to the armor of God, highlighting the need for divine strength to resist the enemy. Paul’s use of the conjunction “both” (v. 13-14) introduces the main exhortation of verse 14, emphasizing the need for divine power due to the supernatural nature of our powerful enemies revealed in verse 12, which describes our adversary’s character.
The imperative “to stand” (v. 14) is considered the passage’s central appeal. Acquiring divine strength and training is not an end in itself. This strength serves a specific purpose: enabling believers to stand against the “powers” and successfully resist (vv. 11, 13, and 14). Therefore, “standing firm” in this verse becomes the passage’s central command.
Stand Fast, Therefore
Paul’s first command is “Be strong.” W.E. Vine says this means “to receive intentionally and willingly what is offered, to take hold of, to seize, to grasp something.”
Stand firm, victory is ours in Jesus’ name; everything is possible. Verses 14-20 entirely depend on the thought expressed in verse 14: all other ideas contribute to this ultimate goal, for which God provides armor and divine power.
This crucial verse emphasizes that every believer must live in Jesus’ power, strengthened by His might.
Paul asserts that believers have full access to this divine power, proven strong enough to overcome satanic opposition. Paul was likely inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote Ephesians 6:10.
The Enemy We Face
After calling believers to be strengthened in the Lord’s power and put on the full armor of God, Paul explains his battle cry in verses 11 and 12:
- The need to “stand against the wiles of the devil” (v. 11d).
- We do not face human enemies (v. 12a).
- We fight a complex hierarchy of vicious supernatural beings who have infiltrated the heavens and exert significant control over the earth (v. 12b).
The command to “stand” in verse 14 reiterates the previous two instances (vv. 11b, 13b), reinforcing the central mandate. Commentators note that the construction “stand against” (v. 11b) is a Greek military expression meaning “to stand and fight against,” used by Paul in these verses.
According to Paul, this military approach isn’t directed against humans but against the devil and his demonic powers (vv. 11-12). The title “Satan” is used to refer to the devil in this chapter, as well as “the devil” (v. 16).
In 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians further describes principalities and powers, including the devil as the ultimate cosmic evil principality. The idea behind methodeia is deception. The apostle warns that the devil’s entire war strategy against us is based on lies. He doesn’t fight on a battlefield but uses cunning, sudden assaults, and ferocious attacks.
The Enemy We Face
Ephesians 6:12 is a remarkable verse on spiritual warfare. Paul clearly states that we fight against high-ranking principalities and powers of complete supernatural evil.
Greek athletics involved a competition where opponents tried to throw each other down. The loser often suffered lifelong blindness. This illustrates the intensity of Paul’s imagery. Christians’ struggle against the powers of darkness is no less desperate or critical.
Paul’s shift from soldier to wrestler isn’t surprising, as soldiers sometimes wrestled in combat. He likely used this imagery to emphasize the intensity of the struggle.
Paul has been speaking generally about evil principalities and powers. Now, in Ephesians 6, he mentions the devil (vv. 11, 16) and evil principalities and powers (v. 12), clarifying that our battle isn’t against the devil in person but against attacks he sends through high-ranking cosmic rulers and authorities.
Paul isn’t technical but uses various terms to describe the complex hierarchy of supernatural evil against which believers fight.
Commentators believe Paul borrowed this terminology from the magical and astrological world of his time. Believers who once worshipped deities like Artemis, Serapis, and others with magical or cosmic power are now instructed on how to deal with spirits.
Pagan deities are emissaries of the devil, whom we must resist with God’s powerful armor. Paul wants Christians to understand that participating in pagan worship and offering sacrifices placed people under the influence of these deities, making pagan cults instruments of Satan.
We sometimes speak of giving offerings of praise to God. In the religious sphere, Ephesians had the physical temple of Artemis. In much of the world, non-Christian gods are similar to those of Ephesus, though with different names. Malignant cosmic powers control these contemporary systems of deities, spirits, and magic.
Thank God for delivering us from darkness and bringing us into His beloved Son’s kingdom, where we have redemption through His blood and forgiveness of sins.
God’s Word declares that Christians have been delivered from darkness. Therefore, we should not fear. Though we face a fierce struggle against the power of darkness, victory is ours through Jesus Christ’s blood.
Finally, Paul says we are at war with spiritual wickedness in high places. He concludes his list of powers with a general reference to all hostile spirits, urging believers to be prepared to face all evil forces in battle.
Paul encourages Christian soldiers by highlighting the terrible enemy they face, evil in essence and action. A church that remains defensive and doesn’t engage in battle is already defeated.
Paul describes armor that is both offensive and defensive. He omits the pilum (javelin) and pugio (dagger), but the latter was carried on the belt and can be considered implicit in “having your loins girt about with truth.”
Paul’s repetition of “stand firm” emphasizes that Christians are not merely attacking but also resisting being overwhelmed. He doesn’t envision believers in a desperate defensive operation but in a war against evil powers.
Analyzing Each Piece of Armor
Having Your Loins Girt About With Truth
This refers to Middle Eastern soldiers preparing for battle. The question arises: what truth does Paul mean? The truth is the Gospel, Jesus as the truth, and the absence of deception. Concretely, the Gospel is the “power of God” for salvation, which Paul emphasizes in Ephesians.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The breastplate of righteousness was part of Yahweh’s armor in Isaiah. Therefore, righteousness comes from God as divine power. In this context, God’s righteousness is a term of power. God’s gift of righteousness to believers completely defeats the enemy. Experiencing God’s righteousness results in a righteous life.
Feet Shod With the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
Paul alludes to an Old Testament text mentioning feet prepared to announce the Gospel of peace. The equipment linked to the feet isn’t the proclamation itself but the hetoimasia (“readiness” or provision) of the Gospel of peace. This is the believer’s preparation for combat and firmness in battle, provided by the Gospel of peace.
The Shield of Faith
Paul draws from the Old Testament, where the shield symbolized God’s protection for His people. Faith draws on God’s resources amid fierce enemy attacks, producing a firm resolve that repels the devil (v. 16). Faith enables believers to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (v. 16), providing the power to resist and triumph over such attacks.
The Helmet of Salvation
Paul introduces the next two pieces of armor with a different verb, implying they are gifts from the Lord. The helmet protects the head. “Having put on righteousness as a breastplate, and having put on the helmet of salvation on your head.” These words are wonderful! The helmet of salvation protects us from the most fatal blows a child of God can suffer: doubts about their acceptance by the Lord.
The Sword of the Spirit, Which Is the Word of God
Paul uses two technical terms here. For the first time in Ephesians, the Holy Spirit is seen as the power behind the Christian warrior’s use of God’s Word, the sword given for battle. The short, sharp sword (machaira), unlike the long sword (rhomphaia), was the primary offensive weapon in close combat. As the church continues to be a reconciled and reconciling community, the Gospel confronts hostile spirits of enmity and fulfills God’s purposes.
Interestingly, Paul hasn’t finished his instruction after describing the divine armor. Prayer isn’t an additional piece of armor but is directly related to everything in verses 10-17. Prayer is the seventh piece of spiritual armor, too great, fundamental, essential, and comprehensive to be listed as a single piece, however important the others are.
Paul concludes his presentation of spiritual weapons with a call to prayer. He wants readers to understand that prayer is an essential spiritual weapon, and more than that, it’s central to deploying all other weapons. It’s the key to effective warfare against the powers of darkness.