Audio Transcript
Welcome again to the podcast as we start this June collectively. Pastor John, at present in our Bible studying we arrive at Ephesians 2:1–10 — an extremely essential textual content, and one you might have talked about in your works over 1,400 occasions over the a long time. It’s a mega-text in your legacy, I’d name it, one you would speak about for hours and hours on finish. Nevertheless it features a curious little line that you simply not often speak about, particularly in comparison with the opposite superb factors Paul makes right here. I’m speaking in regards to the singular title he provides to the satan — that the satan is “the prince of the ability of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).
All kinds of interpretations have been steered for this over the a long time. Traditionally, again within the Nineteen Twenties and Nineteen Thirties, as gospel programming was first launched to broadcast radio, one critique mentioned that any try to evangelise over the airwaves was “doomed to fail” as a result of such ministry “operates within the very realm wherein Devil is supreme. Is he not ‘the prince of the ability of the air’?” So, there’s like a cosmological dimension to his reign.
That argument is principally lifeless at present, however questions stay. APJ listeners need to know what that implies that Devil is the “energy of the air”? One in every of our listeners, named Emon, desires to know “if this means that Devil is omnipresent or all-seeing.” Different listeners need to understand how Devil influences “the air” and the way it’s that his reign as “the prince of the ability of the air” leads him to coerce disobedience from sinners, as Paul implies right here within the broader context of Ephesians 2:1–3. What sort of energy, Pastor John, is Paul ascribing to the satan on this verse?
Properly, first, let me recommend a precept of interpretation that I believe is actually essential, particularly for a sure mindset that’s continually fascinated with marginal, unsure issues within the Bible as a substitute of being thrilled with central, certain, superb issues within the Bible. The precept is that this: don’t let speculations about what you don’t know management or dominate the issues which might be clear within the Bible that you simply do know. That’s the precept. We all know many clear, true issues about Devil and his work on the earth which might be said plainly within the Bible, and it will not be clever to start out speculating about what we’re uncertain of — particularly, the which means of air in “the prince of the ability of the air” — in a method that may contradict or dominate these clear, true issues.
“Don’t let speculations about what you don’t know management or dominate the issues which might be clear within the Bible.”
Students and commentators, together with me, are usually not usually assured or sure about why Devil known as “the prince of the ability of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. There are pointers — I gained’t cease right here; I’ve one thing to say; we’re not left at the hours of darkness about what this in all probability signifies — however it will be unwise to place an excessive amount of emphasis on what I’m about to say, as a result of regardless that it’s essential (it’s within the Bible), it’s not practically as essential as different clear issues, I believe, even in these verses and elsewhere within the New Testomony. So, that’s the very first thing, a precept.
Clearing the Air
The second factor we have to do, simply by the use of preparation, is to clear away some confusion. To say that Devil is “the prince of the ability of the air” doesn’t imply we should always cease dwelling and respiration and talking and looking out by way of the air. Air is what exists between the web page of the Bible and your eye. Air is what exists between the preacher’s mouth and your ear. To say that we shouldn’t broadcast the reality by way of airwaves would additionally imply you shouldn’t preach into the air or take a look at the Bible by way of the air. That’s nonsense.
There’s a battle to be fought with the prince of the air, however you don’t struggle it by stopping listening to by way of the air or seeing by way of the air or transferring by way of the air. Okay, let’s simply get that out of the way in which. To say that you simply shouldn’t do radio or Wi-Fi or one thing like that’s to over-prove what you’re attempting to do, as a result of it’s going to cancel out all preaching and all Bible studying, which occur by way of the air.
And we will add this: the truth that Devil has some measure of authority within the air doesn’t suggest that he’s omnipresent or omniscient. We’re not instructed within the Bible the extent of Devil’s data or how a non-spatial actuality like a spirit — which he’s known as on this very verse, “the spirit” that’s dominating “the sons of disobedience” — with no up, down, or sideways actuality, positions himself on the earth. However he’s not God. He doesn’t share God’s omniscience and omnipresence, however we do know that he has many unclean spirits, demons, at his disposal, and they’re deployed everywhere in the world within the air. The air is the place his flaming arrows fly, in keeping with Ephesians 6:16.
Evaluting the Enemy
Right here’s what Paul mentioned; let’s get the textual content in entrance of us:
You have been lifeless within the trespasses and sins wherein you as soon as walked, following the [age, sometimes translated “the course”] of this world, following the prince of the ability of the air, the spirit that’s now at work within the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1–2)
So, listed here are some pointers that collectively deliver some readability, I believe, to this time period “prince of the ability of the air.”
1. Air Above Us
First, the air is just what Paul and other people in his time known as the area above the earth, and so they had no scientific consciousness of how excessive the air went. So far as they knew, it simply went on and on, so human life takes place within the decrease a part of this air the place it meets the earth. That’s the place we dwell. That’s level primary. It’s only a common assertion in regards to the sphere of our life.
2. Layers of Air
Second, in Matthew 6:26, Jesus says, “[Consider] the birds of the air.” Now, the rationale that’s vital is as a result of the phrase translated air is heaven. It’s translated heaven nearly in every single place. The time period heaven within the New Testomony was very broad in its utilization, referring to layers which might be above the earth, generally known as the sky. Nehemiah 9:6 refers to “heaven [and] the heaven of heavens,” the place the celebrities are. And Psalm 148:4 refers back to the “highest heavens.” In 2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul refers to “the third heaven.”
“We have now the victory over this one with whom we’re contending within the air.”
Since Jesus makes use of the phrase heaven interchangeably with air, the place the birds fly, we will consider varied layers of air or heaven. There are these heavens. The truth is, the phrase heaven is often used within the plural, I believe in all probability as a result of it’s considered when it comes to these varied layers. That is in all probability why Paul refers so usually, like in chapter 6, to heavens the place the battle with Devil occurs, he says (Ephesians 6:12). So, that’s quantity two.
3. Seated in Heaven
Third, the time period “prince of the ability.” Simply take these two phrases. “Prince of the ability,” “ruler of authority” — archonta tēs exousias — is precisely the identical as these two phrases 4 verses earlier in Ephesians 1:20–21, the place it says God raised Christ “and seated him at his proper hand within the heavenly locations [the heavens], far above all rule and authority.” Now, that’s the phrase that describes the satan, “rule and authority” — “far above all rule and authority.” Far above the satan. Far above the prince of the ability, the ruler of the authority, of the air.
So Devil, although he has a measure of rule and authority within the air or the heavens, isn’t God. He’s vastly beneath God. Christ is vastly superior to, over, has authority over him — so Devil’s rule within the energy of the air, or within the decrease air of the heavens, isn’t supreme. He’s decisively defeated. Colossians 2:15 says, “[God] disarmed the rulers and authorities,” and that’s precisely the identical phrase as “the prince of the ability.” Ephesians 2:2: “The prince of the ability of the air” is “the rulers of the authority of the air,” and that has been decisively disarmed on the cross.
So, he’s mortally wounded. A decisive battle has been fought, and we in Christ have a victory over him. And in relation to Ephesians 6:12, the place it says, “We don’t wrestle in opposition to flesh and blood, however in opposition to the rulers, in opposition to the authorities” — similar phrase as again in Ephesians 2:2 — “within the heavenly locations,” these heavenly locations are evidently layers of heavens, the layers of the air above the earth however under the very best heaven, the place Christ sits supreme, governing all issues. And now we have the victory over this one with whom we’re contending within the air.
4. ‘God of This World’
Fourth, Paul calls Devil “the god of this world” in 2 Corinthians 4:4. I believe “god of this world” and “ruler of the authority of the air” are nearly interchangeable phrases, with the world being the sphere wherein we dwell and the air being the sphere wherein we dwell. They seek advice from the identical factor.
Stay with Boldness
So, listed here are 4 implications I draw from Paul’s calling Devil the prince of the ability of the air:
- Devil is a spirit who’s invisible like air, not like flesh and blood, in keeping with Ephesians 6:12.
- There’s no place to go whereas we breathe air the place the flaming arrows of Devil won’t fly by way of the air at us (Ephesians 6:16).
- Anywhere we go the place there’s air, heaven, sky, area, we might want to put on the armor of God and do battle with the phrase of God and the protect of religion.
- Christ is exalted as King to the very best heaven, above all rule and authority. The prince of the ability of the air isn’t sovereign. He’s on a leash.
John says, “The entire world lies within the energy of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), however those that are born of God he can’t contact; he can’t destroy (1 John 5:18). We must always imagine that; we should always take up the armor of God and dwell with that form of boldness.
