For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ~Ephesians 6:12

I have read quite a bit of Dogmatic Theology, and I have as of yet to come across any that deal directly with the stuff of Paul’s passage above. ‘Spiritual Warfare’ usually isn’t the stuff of academic papers presented at theological conferences; it’s usually not the stuff of theological journals; and it’s usually not the stuff that most popular theological and biblical blogs ever engage at even a cursory level. If anything this kind of stuff is relegated to pastoral theology (whatever that is).

I wonder why most academic Christian theologians don’t deal with this kind of stuff in their theologies? I have read some theologians who don’t really believe that what Paul is referring to in this passage represents personal beings (i.e. like fallen angels or something); instead some of these theologians identify these “world forces of darkness” as an all pervasive ‘principal of evil’ or something. They may go as far as identifying it as systemic evil or power structures (like political) that seeks to thwart the purposes of God. Indeed, these evil forces certainly entail such things; but the Apostle Paul’s language in this passage is much more personal in nature. He seems to believe that there are personal evil agents of power and doom whom we as Christians are in battle with on a daily basis. The Apostle Paul experienced this reality more than once; as I recall in Acts 19 Paul came up against the evil spirit who physcially worked the seven sons of Sceva over.

Anyway, I wonder why some modern theologians don’t really deal with this kind of stuff in their theologies? And I wonder why some modern theologians interpret passages like this to be referring to a principle of evil instead of personal (demonic) evil?

I believe that there are real life fallen angels (or demons) who along with the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12) seeks like a roaring lion whom they may devour. In fact, I believe it is important to remember this reality in our daily walks as Christians; in sanctification. To remember that we live from and through the victourious resurrected humanity of Jesus Christ; the one who has disarmed the principalities and powers by making a public spectacle of them through his cross. Interestingly, this spectacle, in context, takes on a first century Roman and Jewish political form. I have more to say on this, but I will save it for another post.