Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 6:12

"For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]." — Ephesians 6:12 (ASV)

In military strategy one must never underestimate the strength of the enemy. Paul is certainly not guilty of such fatal misjudgment but gives a realistic report of its potential. The “struggle” (lit., “wrestling”) is not merely against human foes but a war to the death against supernatural forces. Four aspects of the corporate menace are presented here. The particular terms used are in themselves morally neutral, though in Paul they invariably indicate something sinister (1:21; 3:11). “Rulers” (GK 794) are “cosmic powers.” Until the end of this age these demonic forces, already defeated by Christ on the cross (4:9), exercise a certain limited authority (here “authorities”; GK 2026) in temporarily opposing the purposes of God. The title “powers” (GK 3179) denotes those who aspire to world control. It was attached to savior gods in the ethnic religions and identified with the sun. The expression “the spiritual forces of wickedness” suggests the heavenly bodies, which were regarded as the abode of demons who held human lives in their grip. Pagans had no option but to resign themselves to an unalterable destiny. But Christians can fight against such malign influences. “The heavenly realms” probably denotes the unseen world in general, including both good and evil forces.