For our struggleis not againstfleshand blood,but againstthe rulers,againstthe powers,againstthe world forcesof thisdarkness,againstthe spiritual[forces] of wickednessin the heavenly[places].
The LORDsaidto Satan,"Wherehave you comefrom?" Then Satanansweredthe LORDand said,"From roamingabouton the earthand walkingaroundon it."
And Jesussaidto him, "Blessedare you, SimonBarjona,becausefleshand blooddid not reveal[this] to you, but My Fatherwhois in heaven.
but the worriesof the world,and the deceitfulnessof riches,and the desiresfor other thingsenterin and chokethe word,and it becomesunfruitful.
"Striveto enterthroughthe narrowdoor;for many,I tellyou, will seekto enterand will not be able.
"While I was with you dailyin the temple,you did not layhandson Me; but thishourand the powerof darknessare yours."
"Nowjudgmentis upon thisworld;nowthe rulerof thisworldwill be castout.
"I will not speakmuchmorewith you, for the rulerof the worldis coming,and he hasnothingin Me;
and concerningjudgment,becausethe rulerof thisworldhas been judged.
to opentheir eyesso that they may turnfrom darknessto lightand from the dominionof Satanto God,that they may receiveforgivenessof sinsand an inheritanceamongthosewho have been sanctifiedby faithin Me.'
For I am convincedthat neitherdeath,norlife,norangels,norprincipalities,northings present,northings to come,norpowers,
NowI saythis,brethren,that fleshand bloodcannotinheritthe kingdomof God;nordoes the perishableinheritthe imperishable.
Nowonder,for evenSatandisguiseshimself as an angelof light.
in whosecasethe godof thisworldhas blindedthe mindsof the unbelievingsothat they might not seethe lightof the gospelof the gloryof Christ,whois the imageof God.
to revealHis Sonin me sothat I might preachHim amongthe Gentiles,I did not immediatelyconsultwith fleshand blood,
far aboveallruleand authorityand powerand dominion,and everynamethat is named,not onlyin thisagebut alsoin the one to come.
Blessed[be] the Godand Fatherof our LordJesusChrist,who has blessedus with everyspiritualblessingin the heavenly[places] in Christ,
in whichyou formerlywalkedaccordingto the courseof thisworld,accordingto the princeof the powerof the air,of the spiritthat is nowworkingin the sonsof disobedience.
sothat the manifoldwisdomof Godmight nowbe made knownthroughthe churchto the rulersand the authoritiesin the heavenly[places].
For He rescuedus from the domainof darkness,and transferredus to the kingdomof His belovedSon,
When He had disarmedthe rulersand authorities,He madea publicdisplayof them, having triumphed overthem throughHim.
Alsoifanyonecompetesas an athlete,he does not win the prizeunlesshe competesaccording to the rules.
Therefore,since we haveso greata cloudof witnessessurroundingus, let us alsolay asideeveryencumbranceand the sinwhich so easily entanglesus, and let us runwith endurancethe racethat is set beforeus,
You have not yetresistedto the pointof shedding bloodin your strivingagainstsin;
whois at the right handof God,having goneinto heaven,after angelsand authoritiesand powershad been subjectedto Him.
