Battle Against Evil. ^10 [a]Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.^{(A) 12} For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.^{(B) 13} Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.^{(C) 14} So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,^{(D) 15} and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.^{(E) 16} In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(F) 17} And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.^(G)

Constant Prayer. ¹⁸ With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones^{(H) 19} and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel^{(I) 20} for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.^(J)

V. Conclusion

A Final Message.^[b]

^7 [a]Then war broke out in heaven; Michael^[b] and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, ⁸ but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. ⁹ The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,^[c] who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.^(A)

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

³ The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”

⁴⁴ You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.^(A)

⁸ Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour.^(A)

Chapter 3

Expulsion from Eden. ¹ Now the snake was the most cunning^[a] of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He asked the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden’?”

^13 [a]For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is not strange that his ministers also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

⁴ in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.^(A)

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”^(A)