EPHESIANS 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Be strong; "to make strong" (en, "in," dunamis, "power"), "to strengthen," is rendered "waxed strong". The Greek word here is ἐνδυναμόω endunamoo. Vine's B-1, Strong's G1743.
Power; is translated "power" in the RV and AV. The Greek word here is kratos. Vine's A-4,Strong's G2904 See this study under "Greatness Of His Power".
Might; inherent and in action as used of God, Ephesians 1:19, RV, "(the strength, kratos, of His) might" AV, "(His mighty) power," i.e., power (over external things) exercised by strength; The Greek word is ἰσχύς ischus. Vine's A-2, Strong's G2479.
Moving to Verse 11.
The whole armor of God is the believer's protection against evil and the evil one. Paul presented the extended metaphor of the battle dress roughly according to the order in which various pieces were put on. NSB*
The Whole Armor Of God; (Eng., "panoply"), lit., "all armor, full armor," (pas, "all," hoplon, "a weapon"), is used of the spiritual helps supplied by God for overcoming the temptations of the Devil, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13. Among the Greeks the panoplia was the complete equipment used by heavily armed infantry. The Greek word for Armor is πανοπλία panoplia. Vine's A-2, Strong's G3833.
Stand Against; Intransitively, in the 2nd aorist and perfect Active, "to stand, stand by, stand still," e.g. "by faith" (marg., "by your faith"); of steadfastness. The Greek word for "stand" is ἵστημι histemi. Vine's (def B-1), Strong's G2476.
Wiles; denotes craft, deceit" (meta, "after," hodos, "a way"). "a cunning device, a wile," and is translated "wiles (of error)" in Ephesians 4:14, RV [AV paraphrases it, "they lie in wait (to deceive)"], lit., "(with a view to) the craft (singular) of deceit;" in Ephesians 6:11, "the wiles (plural) (of the Devil.)" The Greek word here is μεθοδεία methodia[-eia. Vine's (def prime), Strong's G3180.
My notes - This verse ends with Paul's warning that, unlike humans, the devil is working 24 hours a day, and while we were yet unborn the devil schemed against us in more than one way. Paul goes on to describe the kind of warfare we will be waging.
Moving to Verse 12
Our real battle is not with human cultists, false religionists, atheists, agnostics, and pseudo-Christians, but with demonic beings working together through them, of which even the flesh and blood opponents themselves are sometimes unaware. NSB*
Luke 22:53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Wrestle Against; a wrestling" (akin to pallo, "to sway, vibrate"), is used figuratively in Ephesians 6:12, of the spiritual conflict engaged in by believers, RV, "(our) wrestling," AV, "(we) wrestle." The Greek word is πάλη pale. Vine's (prime), Strong's G3823.
Principalities; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank). The Greek word is ἀρχή archē.
Thayer's expands - 1) beginning, origin 2) the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader 3) that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause 4) the extremity of a thing 4a) of the corners of a sail 5) the first place, principality, rule, magistracy 5a) of angels and demons.
Powers; See this study under powers.
Rulers Of Darkness; The Greek word for "rulers" here is κοσμοκράτωρ kosmokratōr. In Greek literature in Orphic Hymns, etc, and in Rabbinic writings, it signifies a "ruler" of the world, a world lord. In the NT it is used of "the rulers of darkness of this world". The context "not against flesh in blood" shows that not earthly potentates are indicated, but spirit powers, who, under the permissive will of God, and in consequence of human sin, exercise satanic and therefor antagonistic authority over the world in its present condition of spiritual darkness and alienation from God. The suggested rendering "the rulers of this dark world" is ambiguous and not phraselogically requisite. The Greek word for ruler is κοσμοκράτωρ kosmokratōr. Strong's G2888.
Moving to verse 13.
The Whole Armor Of God; See above.
The Evil Day; Is taken by some to refer to the end times when the Evil One will launch a ferocious campaign against Christ and His army. A more common view is that any great spiritual contest in a believer's life could be in view here. NSB*
Withstand; "to set against," is translated "to withstand" in Acts 13:8 (Middle Voice); in the intransitive 2nd aorist, Active Voice. The Greek word here is ἀνθίστημι anthistemi. Vine's (def 2), Strong's G436.
Takeaway: This section is the identification of the enemy and then the setup for the Armor Of God. The Bible spends the next section getting into the definitions of the pieces of the armor.
*Nelson Study Bible.
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