Verse
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
Meaning of Ephesians 6:12
The meaning of the verse, “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,” is that the battles Christians face in their lives are not a physical one but a spiritual one, which includes disappointments, illnesses and even major events like wars. Apostle Paul wants to tell his readers that they will wage war against the supernatural elements behind the people or objects. Paul also wants to say that a Christian’s enemy is never another human but Satan, who is the creator of evil, lies, deception, fear, ear, etc. This verse is meant to be a warning for believers to be on alert and prepared.
Interpretations of Ephesians 6:12
Ephesians 6:12 is a rarely quoted verse in Churches which can make one misinterpret it in many ways. Here are some of the interpretations of this verse.
Interpretation #1 Christians have to face battles constantly
The interpretation of the verse, “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,” is that Christians are prone to be under struggle or battles more than others. According to the reader, he or she believes that the battles faced by them as Christians make them separate and even above other religious communities. This is because their life appears simple while their lives are filled with emotional or physical challenges. The idea of hardships, troubles, problems and wars are repeatedly mentioned in the Bible. This can also means that Christian life is usually never peaceful and always involves fighting for their faith and most areas of their life.
Interpretation #2 Only Christians can see evil
A non-Christian faces many troubles in his/her life in the form of a job, health, marriage, money, etc. According to Apostle Paul, these troubles come under “flesh and blood” or regular human challenges despite the culture and beliefs. However, Christians, along with regular challenges, face supernatural battles because they can see evil. Hence, the reader’s belief that they are capable goes into the spiritual battle as well. The meaning of the verse, “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,” also means Christians can be equipped with the powers of seeing supernatural things if they believe in God.
Interpretation #3 Christians are meant to be protectors
The interpretation of the verse, “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,” is that Christians are chosen to be protectors of the world. Apostle Paul might be implying in this verse that anyone who believes in God has a special responsibility to fight on behalf of the world and protect non-believers from evil, sin, and supernatural forces. He asks them to do so by intervening, not in an earthly way but in a supernatural way through prayer and faith. Hence, Christians are meant to be guardians of non-Christians.
Interpretation #4 A Christian has supernatural powers to fight against evil
Through Ephesians 8:28, the reader understands that a Christian is armed with supernatural powers and gifts to fight against evil. This makes a Christian a hero or a guardian angel. Anyone who believes in this promise from the Bible might believe that they have powers to ward off evil, as seen in deliverance ministries in the Christian community. The idea of a Christian being a protector and defender is not novel, as the Bible asks its readers to be the world’s defenders through praying. Hence, the meaning of the verse, “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,” is that every Christian has supernatural gifts or powers to fight against evil.
Interpretation #5 A spiritual battle is always afoot in a Christian’s life
The final interpretation of the verse, “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,” is that a Christian who is devoted to God will always be facing a spiritual battle along with success. The reader thus believes that they must be spiritually equipped because evil is always trying to attack them or their loved ones. Paul warns his readers while acknowledging the common problems faced by humans as well. Additionally, the believers, including Jesus, had to face spiritual challenges in order to overcome temptation and earn favor from God. Christians are also repeatedly warned in churches to be alert and careful of sins and temptations.
Historical background of Ephesians 6:12
Ephesians is a letter written by Apostle Paul and is believed to be written when he was imprisoned in Rome around AD 62. He was writing this letter to Ephesus, where he worked for about two years. The sixth chapter is about Paul’s exhortation, with a particular section about how believers or Christians should accept their responsibilities to prepare for the battle against spiritual forces. It also tells its readers that nothing can harm them when they have God’s protection.
Literary Devices of Ephesians 6:12
The verse Ephesians 6:12 appears like a warning statement and contains some notable literary devices. Here are few.
Alliteration – The verse Ephesians 6:12 uses a lot of consonant sounds. For example, the sounds of /w/, /b/, and /p/, in ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers.’
Consonance – The verse also has good use of consonance. For example, the sounds of /l/, /s/, /r/, and /n/ are used continuously through the entire verse.
Metaphor – The verse is also a metaphor for Satan’s or the Devil’s fallen angels who were thrown away from heaven and became demonic entities. The phrase ‘flesh and blood’ is also a metaphor for people or human beings.
Hyperbole – There is also a good example of hyperbole as the author uses exaggeration while describing what humans fight against, which are other people or situations. For example, ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.’
Repetition – There is also a good use of repetition in verse as the word ‘against’ is repeated four times to emphasize what the reader is fighting against and why he or she must be aware of their enemy.