Metaphysical dualism and spiritual warfare : a reading of Ephesians 6:10-19

Abstract

In recent years, there has been considerable attention given to the realm of “Spiritual Warfare” (Dawson 1989; Renner 1991; Jacobs 1997; Beam 2000; Wagner 2012). These books were published as a necessary corrective emphasis within the Evangelical western church on the Gospel as only truth and on evil as fundamentally human weakness. In bringing spiritual realities into focus, one faces encounters with witchcraft, spiritism and demon possession as the onslaught of the devil against God’s world. This article seeks to address the question, is God at war and with whom? In addressing this issue, the article will address the different opinion and forms of dualism that are prevalent within the Evangelical and African tradition. This article will also attempt to examine the extent to which spiritual warfare has shifted from its basic moorings from being a metaphor for the Christian life to “spiritual combat techniques” so that the Christians can “take back what the devil has taken from us”. In this article, I shall argue that Paul writing the Epistle to the Ephesians focused on proclaiming the peace of God and nowhere does he consider any techniques for battling “territorial” demons but instead focuses on the Christians protection to stand against the devil.