Eph 6:12 -- our struggle is not with flesh and blood

[AlanFromWichita]

Eph 6:12:

For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.

Can anybody help expand on what “principalities” and “powers” and “world rulers” is talking about? Government leaders?

How is this different than when we are told to obey our authorities on earth? Are we at battle with them – and fight by obeying them?

Thanks in advance,

Alan

 

[Phyllo]

Can anybody help expand on what “principalities” and “powers” and “world rulers” is talking about? Government leaders?

How is this different than when we are told to obey our authorities on earth? Are we at battle with them – and fight by obeying them?

Thanks in advance,

Alan

Haydock’s Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859 edition.

Ver. 12. Flesh and blood, which may either signify temptations of the flesh, or raised by mortal men. — Principalities and powers; i.e. devils, or apostate angels, who before their fall were in such ranks of spirits, and who are permitted to rule over the wicked in this world of darkness. (Witham) — By which we are to understand the fallen angels. For as by nature, and from their creation, they were the governors of this corporeal world, and were deprived of this their power on account of their pride, they received it (though limited by certain restrictions) in order to tempt man. (Estius) — Rulers of the world of this darkness. By these are meant the devils who exercise their power and authority in our inferior and dark atmosphere, by raising winds, storms, tempests, &c. By darkness may be understood the wicked, in whom Satan reigns as in a citadel. (Menochius) — Our inferior world is called dark and misty in comparison of the world above, which is always bright, serene, and clear. Our atmosphere is called the cloudy and dark heavenly. Cicero, in his Tuscul Quæst. Prudentius likewise, in Hamartigenia, writes thus:

Non mentem sua membra premunt, nec terrea virtus

Oppugnat sensus liquidos, bellove lacessit;

Sed cum spiritibus tenebrosis nocte dieque

Congredimur quorum dominatibus humidus iste

Et pigris densus nebulis obtemperat aer.

Scilicet hoc medium cœlum inter et infima terræ

Quod patet ac vacuo nubes suspendit hiatu,

Frena potestatum variarum sustinet, ac suo

Principe Belial rectoribus horret iniquis.

His colluctamur prædoribus, at sacra nobis

Oris Apostoli testis sententia prodit. ------ (Estius)

— Against the spirits of wickedness: or wicked spirits in the air, says St. Jerome. Literally, in celestials. (Witham) — High places. That is to say, in the air, the lowest of the celestial regions in which God permits these wicked spirits or fallen angels to wander. (Challoner)

 

[Cryptic1]

Can anybody help expand on what “principalities” and “powers” and “world rulers” is talking about? Government leaders?

How is this different than when we are told to obey our authorities on earth? Are we at battle with them – and fight by obeying them?

Thanks in advance,

Alan

We are each of us born into an intense spiritual battle that has been going on since the beginning of time, from when God created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. It is the story of God and man and His great love for us.

Before man was created, God created the angels, magnificent beings who served to worship the Lord. One angel in particular, Lucifer, the angel of light was so beautifully created that he himself fell to the sin of pride and was cast out of heaven along with a third of the angels. Since that time, satan (as he is now known), roams the earth like a “roaring lion” seeking to devour souls and lead them to eternal damnation.

Because we are born with the sin nature of Adam, it is difficult to see that this is taking place. When one becomes “born again” or transformed by the grace of baptism, one begins to see with the eyes of the heart or spirit–that satan or evil spirits are behind many of the evils of this world. Because of Adam’s fall from grace, satan became the prince of this world…" wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air,(satan) of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;"…Ephesians 2:1-3. The scripture that you refer to is pointing to the reality of what is. We are living in a world where people are broken and evil abounds but behind all of that is the true reality of the spiritual battle that is still taking place.

The world looks down on anything that appears christian in values or morals (see the separation of God and state) not because it despises christianity but what christianity represents, which is the kingdom Jesus established on earth. When Jesus went into the desert for 40 days, satan used that opportunity to tempt him with his worldly kingdom, but Jesus rebuked him with the Word.

God has great things in store for those who believe in Him and in His son Jesus Christ. Religion points the way but we must also listen to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit that draw us even closer to a walk with God and Jesus. “Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:11-13

There is a heavenly reward awaiting each one of us who follows Jesus and there is eternal damnation for those who follow the world. God gave us free will but He also gave us His only son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to help us get there. We would be wise to use the helps that God gave us to make it through this life. All suffering, tragedy and despair are nothing compared to the eternity that awaits each individual. We all have to choose, so let us choose to follow Jesus.

God Bless

 

[mercytruth]

Can anybody help expand on what “principalities” and “powers” and “world rulers” is talking about? Government leaders?

How is this different than when we are told to obey our authorities on earth? Are we at battle with them – and fight by obeying them?

Thanks in advance,

Alan

Post #2 is a good summary from Haydock’s Commentary and it concurs with the
Deut. 32:8 as the ‘sons of God’ translation that is found in the Septuagint.

Daniel 10 speaks of an apparent angelic ‘wrestling’ of two angels (one of which is Michael the archangel) with the Prince, or angel over Persia that may have lasted for the three weeks during the time that the prophet Daniel was fasting for the deliverance of his people from Babylonian captivity.

The two angels succeeded in overcoming the ‘Prince’, or angel over Persia, The end result was that King Cyrus of Persia gave permission for the Jewish captives of Babylon to return to Israel.

Ephesians speaks of Satan as the 'Prince of the power of the air" apparently to his domain in the atmospheric region over the earth.

I don’t know how spiritually sensitive you are when traveling in different countries, or regions, but there are some who claim there are differences according to the ‘principality’ which is given some sort of authority, or influence over individual countries, or regions.

This website article is very interesting as it discusses Deuteronomy 32:8 in it’s two differing translations, if you are up to the reading.

thedivinecouncil.com/DT32BibSac.pdf

God’s peace

micah

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Thank you all for your time and information.

I’m still trying to put it together a bit, so I will comment on them. Just letting you know I read your replies and appreciate them.

Alan

 

[Nicea325]

Can anybody help expand on what “principalities” and “powers” and “world rulers” is talking about? Government leaders?

How is this different than when we are told to obey our authorities on earth? Are we at battle with them – and fight by obeying them?

Thanks in advance,

Alan

Principalities and powers refers to angelical ranks/choirs.