Wrestling In the Dark

November 14th, 2005
Eph. 6:11-13-"Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day and having done everything, to stand firm."

Paul seems to be intimating that if we put on the Armor of God (which
ancient Christian writer/teacher Jerome calls Christ Himself) we have
the capability of standing firm. But against what or whom? And will we? I think that Paul is concerned that Believers can be totally unaware 1) that they are fighting 2) what they are fighting against and 3) who their enemy is. So, he goes to painfully redundant lengths to impress upon us, the readers, what is going on.

The schemes of the devil. Schemes are from the word methodeia (looks familiar) and in the N.T. has the connotation of evil doing or artificiality. St. John Chrysostom describes them like this: "The enemy does not make war on us straightforwardly or openly but by his wiles. What are the devil's wiles? The consist in trying to capture us by some shortcut and always by deceit.... The devil never openly lays temptation before us. He does not mention idolatry out loud. But by his stratagems he presents idolatrous choices to us, by persuasive words and by employing clever euphemisms." (Homily on Ephesians)

People are not the enemy. Paul is pretty clear on this one. "For our struggle is NOT against flesh and blood". Look at the people that you are in any form of conflict with. They aren't the bad guys. Nor is the problem your own flesh and blood. Again, a word from Jerome: "The battle is not against flesh and blood or ordinary temptations. The scene is the war of the flesh against spirit. We are being inticed to become entrapped in the works of the flesh (Gal. 519-21). ...But this is not merely a physical temptation. It is not merely the inward struggle against flesh and blood as such. Rather Satan has cleverly transformed himself into an angel of light. He is striving to persuade us to regard him as a messenger of goodness. This is how he throws his full might into the struggle. He employs deceptive signs and lying omens. He sets before us every possible ruse of evil. Then, when he has so ensnared us that we trust him, he says to us, "Thus says the Lord." This is not flesh and blood deceiving us. It is not a typical human temptation. It is the work of principalities and powers, the ruler of darkness and spiritual wickedness." So, people aren't the problem. The Word of God says so. So who's the problem?

1)the rulers: the word arche. This refers to the "princes or chiefs" among the demons. These are the big boys.
2)powers: the word exousia. Simply refers to demons. More of the little guys.
3)world forces: the word kosmokrator. This means "lord of this world". Can specifically mean Satan himself. Also can infer his fallen angels. So, this can be the big boy of the dark side.
4)darkness: the word skotos. Can mean spiritual darkness (error, sin & misery, people trapped in these things). This is what the world forces rule over.
5)spiritual forces of wickedness: the words pneumatika ponerias. Simply means evil spirits.
6)heavenlies: the word epouranios. Means heavenly, celestial, what pertains to or is in heaven. Here refers to the "lower heavenlies" i.e. the sky or air. In Jewish theology, the sky/air is where the evil spirits reside, thus they don't live in heaven w/God. One more time, my good friend Jerome: "Hosts of wickedness in heavenly places? This does not mean that demons dwell in heaven but that the air above has received this name, as birds who fly through the air are called fowls of heaven. ...It is indeed impious to suppose that the spirits of wickedness in the heavens occupy the same heaven of which God says, 'It is my throne.'" Fun guy, that Jerome.

Paul finishes up by saying that since these are all our enemies, we should take up all of God's armor. Why? The evil day is coming. Not maybe. He then injects a curious phrase: "having done everything to stand firm". This is challenging to me personally. 1) Do I do anything, much less everything, to stand firm? And 2) Do I even attempt to stand firm? Sadly, I may try a couple of things and then stand like a cooked pasta noodle. Sigh. Will I ever get a spiritual spine? We shall see.