FIGHT THE FIGHT

	AS CHRISTIANS STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH EPHESIANS 6:
13	Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
	Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,	sth'te ou\n perizwsavmenoi th;n ojsfu;n uJmw'n ejn ajlhqeiva/, kai; ejndusavmenoi to;n qwvraka th'ß dikaiosuvnhß,
15	and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;	kai; uJpodhsavmenoi tou;ß povdaß ejn eJtoimasiva/ tou' eujaggelivou th'ß eijrhvnhß,
16	above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.	ejn pa'sin ajnalabovnteß to;n qureo;n th'ß pivstewß, ejn wJ'/ dunhvsesqe pavnta ta; bevlh tou' ponhrou' Íta;Ñ pepurwmevna sbevsai:
17	Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;	kai; th;n perikefalaivan tou' swthrivou devxasqe, kai; th;n mavcairan tou' pneuvmatoß, o& ejstin rJh'ma qeou',
18	with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:	dia; pavshß proseuch'ß kai; dehvsewß proseucovmenoi ejn panti; kairw'/ ejn pneuvmati, kai; eijß aujto; ajgrupnou'nteß ejn pavsh/ proskarterhvsei kai; dehvsei peri; pavntwn tw'n aJgivwn,
19	On my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,	kai; uJpe;r ejmou', i&na moi doqh'/ lovgoß ejn ajnoivxei tou' stovmatovß mou, ejn parrhsiva/ gnwrivsai to; musthvrion tou' eujaggelivou

Verse 12 Our wrestling is not (ouk estin hmin h palh). "To us the wrestling is not." Palh is an old word from pallw, to throw, to swing (from Homer to the papyri, though here only in N.T.),             A contest between two--till one hurls the other down and holds him down (katecw). Note proß again (five times) in sense of "against," face to face conflict to the finish. The world-rulers of this darkness (tous kosmokratoras tou skotouß toutou). This phrase occurs here alone. In John 14:30 Satan is called "the ruler of this world" (o arcwn tou kosmou toutou). In 2 Corinthians 4:4 he is termed "the god of this age" (o qeoß tou aiwnos toutouIn the heavenly places (en tois epouraniois). Clearly so here.             Our "wrestling" is with foes of evil natural and supernatural. We sorely need "the panoply of God" (furnished by God).

Verse 13 Take up (analabete). Second aorist active imperative of analambanw, old word and used (analabwn) of "picking up" Mark in 2 Timothy 4:11. That ye may be able to withstand (ina dunhqhte antisthnai). Final clause with ina and first aorist passive subjunctive of dunamai with antisthnai (second aorist active infinitive of anqisthmi, to stand face to face, against).           And having done all to stand (kai apanta katergasa menoi sthnai). After the fight (wrestle) is over to stand (sthnai) as victor in the contest. Effective aorist here.

Verse 14 Stand therefore (sthte oun). Second aorist active imperative of isthmi (intransitive like the others). Ingressive aorist here, "Take your stand therefore" (in view of the arguments made). Having girded your loins with truth (perizwsamenoi thn ospun umwn en alhqeiai). First aorist middle participle (antecedent action) of perizwnnuw, old verb, to gird around, direct middle (gird yourselves) in Luke 12:37; but indirect here with accusative of the thing, "having girded your own loins."           So endusamenoi (having put on) is indirect middle participle. The breast-plate of righteousness (ton qwraka thS dikaiosunhs). Old word for breast and then for breastplate. Same metaphor of righteousness as breastplate in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 YOU ARE TO STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH            You saved by the Grace of God alone--"there is no other name under heaven ye are saved other than Jesus Christ...."  HOWEVER RIGHTEOUS DEEDS CONFIRMS THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S SPIRIT DWELLING IN YOUR HEARTS.