![]() The believers are to “stand” against the devil (Eph 6:11, 13–14 cf. The spiritual battle the church must fight, then, includes an entourage of various schemes the Enemy might throw their way, and ours. Yet Satan thwarts the Pauline mission in other ways also, including tempting and persecuting the believers (1 Thess 2:18 3:5 1 Cor 7:5 2 Cor 12:7 Rom 16:20 1 Tim 3:6–7 Eph 4:26–27). Such exploitation takes place in an effort to confuse, discourage, divide, or destroy the faith of church members. It would not be difficult for us to imagine Satan exploiting the residents in Ephesus and neighboring cities to advance the non-Christian inhabitants’ views of magic, national pride, ethnic prejudice, and religious and political ideologies. It is quite possible for demonic powers to influence false teachers and instigate church divisions (2 Cor 2:11 11:3, 13–15 2 Thess 2:9–12 1 Tim 4:1 5:15 2 Tim 2:26 cf. 4:14 to denote deceptive scheming caused by humans. 6:11) are not specified, but ἡ μεθοδεία ( hȇ methodia) is used also in Eph. Christ’s words to his disciples are relevant here: “Continue to watch and pray that you come not into temptation” (Mark 14:37–38 cf. Col 4:2 1 Thess 5:6–8, 17 2 Tim 4:5), similar to Jesus’s example of watching and praying at the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke 4:1, 13).ĭuring such visitations, believers must watch and persevere in prayer (Eph 6:18 cf. The “evil day” may suggest a special occasion of demonic visitation that would seek to undermine believers through severe temptations (cf. This period of time is not purely futurist but already present (cf. Thus, it is necessary for believers, having made all proper virtue preparations, to stand firm and resist malicious spiritual onslaught on “the evil day” (Eph 6:13).
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