rwp - Ephesians:6:12-13

rwp@Ephesians:6:12 @{Our wrestling is not} (\ouk estin hmin h pal\). "To us the wrestling is not." \Pal\ is an old word from \pall\, to throw, to swing (from Homer to the papyri, though here only in N.T.), a contest between two till one hurls the other down and holds him down (\katech\). Note \pros\ again (five times) in sense of "against," face to face conflict to the finish. {The world-rulers of this darkness} (\tous kosmokratoras tou skotous toutou\). This phrase occurs here alone. In strkjv@John:14:30| Satan is called "the ruler of this world" (\ho archn tou kosmou toutou\). In strkjv@2Corinthians:4:4| he is termed "the god of this age" (\ho theos tou ainos toutou\). The word \kosmokratr\ is found in the Orphic Hymns of Satan, in Gnostic writings of the devil, in rabbinical writings (transliterated) of the angel of death, in inscriptions of the Emperor Caracalla. These "world-rulers" are limited to "this darkness" here on earth. {The spiritual hosts of wickedness} (\ta pneumatika ts ponrias\). No word for "hosts" in the Greek. Probably simply, "the spiritual things (or elements) of wickedness." \Ponria\ (from \ponros\) is depravity (Matthew:22:18; strkjv@1Corinthians:5:8|). {In the heavenly places} (\en tois epouraniois\). Clearly so here. Our "wrestling" is with foes of evil natural and supernatural. We sorely need "the panoply of God" (furnished by God).

rwp@Ephesians:6:13 @{Take up} (\analabete\). Second aorist active imperative of \analamban\, old word and used (\analabn\) of "picking up" Mark in strkjv@2Timothy:4:11|. {That ye may be able to withstand} (\hina dunthte antistnai\). Final clause with \hina\ and first aorist passive subjunctive of \dunamai\ with \antistnai\ (second aorist active infinitive of \anthistmi\, to stand face to face, against). {And having done all to stand} (\kai hapanta katergasa menoi stnai\). After the fight (wrestle) is over to stand (\stnai\) as victor in the contest. Effective aorist here.