Three Enemies, Three Responses
A Study of Ephesians 6:12
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
— Ephesians 6:12
Introduction — A Puzzle in Plain Sight
If you have read your Bible for any length of time, this verse may have puzzled you. Scripture speaks again and again about our struggle with the flesh. The Lord Jesus warned His disciples in the garden:
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
— Matthew 26:41
Paul describes the same battle inside every believer:
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
— Galatians 5:17
So how can Paul say in Ephesians 6:12 that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood"? Is the Bible contradicting itself?
It is not. The answer lies in one small phrase, and once we see it, this verse opens up a clear map of the Christian life. Scripture shows us three enemies, and it gives us a different response to each one.
Part 1 — What Does "Flesh and Blood" Mean?
The key is that "the flesh" and "flesh and blood" are not the same thing.
When Paul writes "the flesh" on its own (Greek sarx), he usually means our fallen, sinful nature, the part of us that still wants its own way. But "flesh and blood" is a Hebrew way of saying human beings: mortal people, as opposed to God or to spirits.
We can see this plainly in other verses:
"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
— Matthew 16:17
No person told Peter that Jesus was the Christ. God revealed it to him.
"To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"
— Galatians 1:16
Paul did not go and consult people about his gospel.
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;"
— Hebrews 2:14
The Son of God became a real human being.
So when Paul says "we wrestle not against flesh and blood," he means: your real enemy is not other people. He is not saying you have no battle with your own sinful nature. He is talking about a different enemy altogether.
Part 2 — Look at What Comes Right Before
A good rule for Bible study is to always read the verses around the one you are studying. Just before Ephesians 6:12, Paul gives instructions for the closest relationships in life:
• Wives and husbands (Ephesians 5:22–33)
• Children and parents (Ephesians 6:1–4)
• Servants and masters (Ephesians 6:5–9)
These are the people we live and work with every day. They are also the people we are most likely to clash with. Then Paul immediately turns and says:
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
— Ephesians 6:10-11
The order matters. Your husband or wife is not your enemy. Your parents, your children, your boss and your co-workers are not your enemy. When conflict comes, there is often something unseen working behind it, stirring up anger, pride and division.
This fits the whole message of Ephesians. Paul spends the first half of the letter showing how Christ has made Jew and Gentile into one body:
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;"
— Ephesians 2:14
Christ unites. The devil divides. When we treat people as the enemy, we are fighting the wrong battle.
Part 3 — Who Is the Real Enemy?
Paul names our true opponents with four terms. Together they describe an organized kingdom of darkness, ranked like an army or a government:
| KJV Term | Greek | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Principalities | archas | Rulers; those of the first or highest rank |
| Powers | exousias | Those who exercise delegated authority |
| Rulers of the darkness of this world | kosmokratoras | "World-rulers" over this present dark age |
| Spiritual wickedness in high places | ta pneumatika tēs ponērias en tois epouraniois | "Spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies" |
These are fallen spiritual beings under the leadership of Satan, whom Paul elsewhere calls "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2).
"High Places"
This is the same Greek phrase Ephesians uses for "heavenly places" throughout the letter. It is where God has blessed us (1:3), where Christ is seated (1:20), and where we are seated with Him (2:6). The unseen realm is where the conflict takes place, and it is also where our position in Christ already stands secure.
"Wrestle"
The Greek word (palē) describes hand-to-hand, close-quarters grappling. This is not a distant battle. The enemy's attacks are personal, and they come close.
There is good news in this verse too. These same principalities and powers are already defeated:
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:"
— Ephesians 1:20-21
Part 4 — The Three Enemies
Ephesians itself names all three enemies of the believer in a single passage, describing our life before salvation:
"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."
— Ephesians 2:2-3
1. The world: "the course of this world," the system of values and pressures around us that leaves God out.
2. The devil: "the prince of the power of the air," the external spiritual enemy. This is the enemy of Ephesians 6:12.
3. The flesh: "the lusts of our flesh," the internal enemy, our fallen nature. This is the enemy of Matthew 26:41 and Galatians 5:17.
These enemies work together. The devil uses the weakness of our flesh as an open door:
"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil."
— Ephesians 4:26-27
Unchecked anger, lust or pride gives the enemy a foothold. So the battle with the flesh and the battle with the devil are connected, but they are not the same battle.
A Word About "Flesh"
The word "flesh" is used in several ways in Scripture, and not every use means the sinful nature. Reading the context tells us which meaning is intended:
| Meaning | Example |
|---|---|
| The sinful nature | "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit" (Galatians 5:17) |
| Human beings | "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:17) |
| The physical body | "my flesh shall rest in hope" (Acts 2:26) |
| Christ's own body, given for us | "the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51) |
Only the first of these is our enemy. Christ's flesh is our life. Our bodies will one day be raised. And people, "flesh and blood," are the ones we are called to love.
Part 5 — Three Enemies, Three Responses
Here is where this study becomes practical. The Bible does not tell us to fight every enemy the same way. Many believers struggle because they use the right weapon against the wrong enemy.
Toward the Flesh: Flee and Put It to Death
When the pull comes from our own lusts, Scripture's usual instruction is not to stand and linger near it. We are told to run from it, and to put its deeds to death by the power of the Holy Spirit:
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
— 2 Timothy 2:22
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
— Romans 8:13
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
— Galatians 5:16
Toward the Devil: Stand and Resist
We are never told to run from the devil. We are told to stand our ground in God's strength:
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
— James 4:7
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
— Ephesians 6:13
Toward People: Love
People are not the target. Even those who oppose us are to be loved, prayed for and forgiven:
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
— Ephesians 4:32
At a Glance
| Enemy | Where It Is | Our Response | Key Verse |
|---|---|---|---|
| The flesh | Inside us | Flee; mortify by the Spirit | 2 Timothy 2:22; Romans 8:13 |
| The devil | The unseen realm | Stand; resist | James 4:7; Ephesians 6:13 |
| People ("flesh and blood") | Around us | Love; forgive | Ephesians 4:32 |
Paul sums it up in another letter:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"
— 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
Part 6 — Standing in a Victory Already Won
Notice how often Paul uses the word "stand" in this passage:
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
— Ephesians 6:11
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
— Ephesians 6:13
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;"
— Ephesians 6:14
"Stand" is a defensive word. Paul does not tell us to go out and conquer the powers of darkness. That victory has already been won by Christ at the cross:
"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
— Colossians 2:15
Our job is to hold the ground Christ has already taken. And we do not do it in our own strength: "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10).
The Whole Armour of God (Ephesians 6:14–18)
Every piece of the armour is something God provides, not something we produce:
| Piece | What It Is | Verse |
|---|---|---|
| Belt | Truth | 6:14 |
| Breastplate | Righteousness | 6:14 |
| Shoes | The preparation of the gospel of peace | 6:15 |
| Shield | Faith, to quench the fiery darts of the wicked | 6:16 |
| Helmet | Salvation | 6:17 |
| Sword | The Spirit, which is the word of God | 6:17 |
| (The power behind it all) | Prayer and supplication in the Spirit | 6:18 |
The believer's righteousness and salvation are not earned. They are received by faith in Christ alone (Romans 3:22; Ephesians 2:8–9). That is why the armour works: it is God's, not ours.
The only offensive weapon in the list is the sword, the word of God. When the Lord Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, He answered every temptation with "It is written" (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Knowing Scripture is not optional for the Christian soldier.
Conclusion
Ephesians 6:12 does not deny our struggle with the flesh. It points us to a second enemy, one we cannot see, and warns us not to mistake people for that enemy. Once we recognize all three enemies, we can answer each one the way God intends:
• The flesh: flee, and put its deeds to death through the Spirit.
• The devil: stand firm in Christ's victory, clothed in God's armour.
• People: love them, even when they oppose us.
Questions for Reflection
1. Think of a recent conflict with someone close to you. How might it look different if you saw that person as "flesh and blood" rather than as the enemy?
2. Is there an area of temptation in your life where you have been trying to "stand and fight" when Scripture tells you to flee?
3. Ephesians 4:27 says, "Neither give place to the devil." What attitudes or habits might be giving the enemy a foothold in your life?
4. Which piece of the armour of God do you feel you need to "put on" most this week? Why?
5. How does knowing that Christ has already triumphed over principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15) change the way you face spiritual struggles?
Memory Verse
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
— Ephesians 6:10
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that the Lord Jesus Christ has already triumphed over every principality and power. Help me to see the people in my life as You see them, and to love them rather than fight them. Give me the wisdom to flee the lusts of my flesh and the strength to stand against the wiles of the devil. Clothe me in Your armour, fill me with Your word, and keep me praying always. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Key Verses
Ephesians 6:10–18 · Ephesians 2:1–3 · Ephesians 1:20–21 · Ephesians 4:26–27 · Matthew 16:17 · Galatians 1:16 · Hebrews 2:14 · Matthew 26:41 · Galatians 5:16–17 · Romans 8:13 · 2 Timothy 2:22 · James 4:7 · 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 · Colossians 2:15