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For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world`s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Verse Takeaways

1

Your Fight Isn't With People

All commentators agree that the Christian's primary struggle is "not against flesh and blood." While conflicts with people are real, this verse identifies the true source as spiritual. As John Calvin notes, humans can be like "darts thrown by the hand of Satan." This perspective encourages believers to direct their fight against the spiritual powers of evil, not the people they may be influencing.

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Book Overview

Ephesians

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Commentaries

10

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Ephesians 6:12

18th Century

Theologian

For we wrestle. Greek, "The wrestling to us;" or, "There is not to us a wrestling with flesh and blood." There is undoubtedly an allusion …

AT Robertson

AT Robertson

On Ephesians 6:12

Our wrestling is not (ουκ εστιν ημιν η παλη). "To us the wrestling is not." Παλη is an old word from παλλω, to throw, to swing (fr…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Ephesians 6:12

19th Century

Bishop

For we wrestle.—Properly, For our wrestling is. That there is a struggle, a “battle of life,” must be assumed at once by …

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Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon

On Ephesians 6:12

19th Century

Preacher

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

Our great fight is not against our fellow-men. As Christians, we do not go forth armed w…

Expositor's Bible Commentary

Expositor's Bible Commentary

On Ephesians 6:12

In military strategy one must never underestimate the strength of the enemy. Paul is certainly not guilty of such fatal misjudgment but gives a rea…

John Calvin

John Calvin

On Ephesians 6:12

16th Century

Theologian

For we wrestle not. To impress them even more deeply with their danger, he points out the nature of the enemy, which he illustrat…

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John Gill

John Gill

On Ephesians 6:12

17th Century

Pastor

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood
The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and some copies, read "you", i…

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Ephesians 6:10–18

17th Century

Minister

Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who wish to prove they have true grace must aim at all gra…