Ephesians 6:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 6:10-18

Here is a general exhortation to constancy in our Christian course, and to encourage in our Christian warfare. Isa. not our life a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the common calamities of human life. Isa. not our religion much more a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the opposition of the powers of darkness, and with many enemies who would keep us from God and heaven. We have enemies to fight against, a captain to fight for, a banner to fight under, and certain rules of war by... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 6:10-20

6:10-20 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his strength. Put on the armour of God. so that you may be able to stand against the devices of the devil. It is not with blood and flesh you have to wrestle, but against powers and against authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against malicious spiritual forces in the heavenly places. Because of this you must take the armour of God that you may be able to stand against them in the evil day, and that you may be able... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood ,.... The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and some copies, read "you", instead of "we". This is a reason why saints should be strong in the Lord, and why they should put on the whole armour of God, and prepare for battle, since their enemies are such as here described: not "flesh and blood"; frail mortal men, such as were wrestled against in the Olympic games, to which the apostle alludes. For this wrestling, as Philo the Jew says F5 Leg.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood - Ουκ εστιν ἡμιν ἡ παλη προς αἱμα και σαρκα· Our wrestling or contention is not with men like ourselves: flesh and blood is a Hebraism for men, or human beings. See the note on Galatians 1:16 . The word παλη implies the athletic exercises in the Olympic and other national games; and παλαιστρα was the place in which the contenders exercised. Here it signifies warfare in general. Against principalities - Αρχας· Chief rulers; beings... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 6:12

Verse 12 12.For we wrestle (171) not. To impress them still more deeply with their danger, he points out the nature of the enemy, which he illustrates by a comparative statement, Not against flesh and blood. The meaning is, that our difficulties are far greater than if we had to fight with men. There we resist human strength, sword is opposed to sword, man contends with man, force is met by force, and skill by skill; but here the case is widely different. All amounts to this, that our enemies... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:10-20

THE CHRISTIAN WARFARE . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:10-20

The Christian warfare. Even in common parlance we speak of "the battle of life." Even for ordinary purposes we have to fight against indolence, evil lusts, dishonest tendencies, and many other things in ourselves; and against opposition, ill treatment, temptation on the part of others, and the depressing effects of trial and disappointment. All hard work -is a fight; we have to fight against the sense of monotony, against the feeling of weariness, against the longing for ease; and when we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:10-20

Panoply of God. Conclusion of Epistle "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. In drawing the Epistle to a close, the apostle falls back on a form of expression he had used in the first chapter. There he showed that he had a high admiration of the strength of his [the Father's] might which he wrought in Christ," and which was proved by Christ being raised from the state of the dead "far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion." Here his admiration... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:10-20

Soul-militancy. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord," etc. The subject of these words is soul-militancy , and they bring under our notice the soul ' s foes , the soul ' s strength , the soul ' s weapons , and the soul ' s religiousness . I. THE SOUL 'S FOES . "We wrestle not against flesh and blood." The passage teaches the following things in relation to the antagonists of souls:— 1. They are spiritual personalities. They are spiritual , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:10-24

The Christian panoply. After having treated Christian morals so carefully and shown how Christianity elevates the individual, the family, and the slave, Paul proceeds, in the close of this remarkable Epistle, to speak of the enemies and the arms of a Christian. Life is seen to be a battle, The enemies are manifold. It is not flesh and blood against which we fight. We leave the carnal warfare to the world. We contend against "the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers... read more

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