What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare?

The struggle

Grounded in God's rightful claim to rule his creation (Psalm 24:1) in opposition to the rebellion of Satan and his angels (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6), spiritual warfare includes the struggle against personal forces of evil (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12), the corrupt world system (James 4:1-4), and our own sinful nature (Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11). Although physically embodied in the holy warfare of the Old Testament, the present struggle "is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

• Galatians 5:17, our sinful nature
• Ephesians 6:12, personal forces of evil
• James 4:1-4, corrupt world system
• 1 Peter 2:1, our sinful nature
• 1 Peter 5:8, personal forces of evil
• 2 Peter 2:4, creation in rebellion of Satan and his angels
• Jude 6,creation in rebellion of Satan and his angels

• Mark 1, exorcisms
• Luke 10:17-20, proclamation of the kingdom
• Revelation 12:13-17, victory over evil

• Ephesians 6:10-17, armor of God
• Ephesians 6:18, prayer
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, power of God
• 1 Peter 5:8, life of faith
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6, calling for vigilance