A crown is in view, and reigning with Christ (2:4 -12).

This recurs in

chapter 4, where Paul speaking of himself says:

'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the

faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown' (2 Tim. 4:7,8).

Yet further, it is in the parallel epistle of the 'Prize', namely

Philippians, that Paul calls Epaphroditus a 'fellowsoldier'.  We feel,

therefore, with these passages before us that every believer is not

necessarily numbered among the ranks of those able to go forth to war.

It is noteworthy that the actual word 'fight' does not occur in

Ephesians 6.  We are instructed that our 'wrestling' is not towards (pros)

flesh and blood, but against spiritual foes.  The word that is most prominent

in the description of the conflict is the word 'stand':

'That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil ... that

ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to

stand.  Stand Therefore' (Eph. 6:11 -14).

There appear to be three phases of conflict suggested here:

Standing against the wiles of the devil.

Withstanding in the evil day.

Having worked out all, to stand.

The wiles of the devil are in active operation at the present time;

open warfare is not yet the order of the day.  Wiles, stratagems, craft,

cunning snares, wolves in sheep's clothing, ministers of Satan like ministers

of righteousness, these are some of the devil's devices.  Ephesians 4:14 uses

the word methodeia, translated 'lie in wait to deceive', which has been

rendered a 'systematic deception'.  We find the system at work in 2

Corinthians 4.  There, Paul repudiates the 'craftiness' and the 'deceitful

handling of the Word of God' by his opponents, and appears clad in the armour

of righteousness as he battles for the truth (2 Cor. 4:2 -4; 6:7).  The days

in which we live are evil (Eph. 5:16) and, evil is to increase (2 Tim. 3:13).

We are at present training for the mighty battle that lies ahead.  Some

interpret the words 'having done all' by 'having overcome all the spiritual

foes'.  While it certainly involves that thought, we shall come nearer to the

truth by observing the actual word employed and its usage in other passages.

Katergazomai means to work thoroughly, or to achieve.  Two occurrences of the

word in the epistles seem to give light upon its meaning in Ephesians 6.  The

first is:

'Work Out your own salvation with fear and trembling' (Phil. 2:12).

Salvation was the blessed possession of the Philippians, but the object

of that epistle is to urge these believers into practical realization of

their position in Christ.  It speaks of 'striving', of running for a 'prize',

of 'suffering', and of the 'power of His resurrection'.  The other passage is

2 Corinthians 4:17:

'For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, Worketh for us a

far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory'.