Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
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 (katexw). Note prov again (five times) in sense of "against," face to face conflict to the finish.
The world-rulers of this darkness (touv kosmokratorav tou skotouv toutou). This phrase occurs here alone. In John 14:30 Satan is called "the ruler of this world" (o arxwn tou kosmou toutou). In 2 Corinthians 4:4 he is termed "the god of this age" (o qeov tou aiwnov toutou). The word kosmokratwr is found in the Orphic Hymns of Satan, in Gnostic writings of the devil, in rabbinical writings (transliterated) of the angel of death, in inscriptions of the Emperor Caracalla. These "world-rulers" are limited to "this darkness" here on earth.
The spiritual hosts of wickedness (ta pneumatika thv ponhriav). No word for "hosts" in the Greek. Probably simply, "the spiritual things (or elements) of wickedness." Ponhria (from ponhrov) is depravity (Matthew 22:18; 1 Corinthians 5:8).
In the heavenly places (en toiv epouranioiv). Clearly so here. Our "wrestling" is with foes of evil natural and supernatural. We sorely need "the panoply of God" (furnished by God).
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
1 Corinthians 10:20
2 Corinthians 4:4
Ephesians 1:3
Jude 1:6
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