The word palh implies the athletic exercises in the Olympic and other national games; and palaistra was the place in which the contenders exercised. Here it signifies warfare in general.

Against principalities] arcav? Chief rulers; beings of the first rank and order in their own kingdom.

Powers] exousiav, Authorities, derived from, and constituted by the above.

The rulers of the darkness of this world] touv kosmokratorav tou skotouv tou aiwnov toutou? The rulers of the world; the emperors of the darkness of this state of things.

Spiritual wickedness] ta pneumatika thv ponhriav? The spiritual things of wickedness; or, the spiritualities of wickedness; highly refined and sublimed evil; disguised falsehood in the garb of truth; Antinomianism in the guise of religion.

In high places.] ev toiv epouranioiv? In the most sublime stations.

But who are these of whom the apostle speaks? Schoettgen contends that the rabbins and Jewish rulers are intended. This he thinks proved by the words tou aiwnov toutou, of this world, which are often used to designate the Old Testament, and the Jewish system; and the words en toiv epouranioiv, in heavenly places, which are not unfrequently used to signify the time of the NEW TESTAMENT, and the Gospel system.

By the spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, he thinks false teachers, who endeavoured to corrupt Christianity, are meant; such as those mentioned by St. John, 1 John ii. 19: They went out from us, but they were not of us, &c. And he thinks the meaning may be extended to all corrupters of Christianity in all succeeding ages. He shows also that the Jews called their own city �lw[ l� r� sar shel olam, kosmokratwr, the ruler of the world; and proves that David's words, Psa. ii. 2, The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, are applied by the apostles, Acts iv. 26, to the Jewish rulers, arcontev, who persecuted Peter and John for preaching Christ crucified. But commentators in general are not of this mind, but think that by principalities, &c., we are to understand different orders of evil spirits, who are all employed under the devil, their great head, to prevent the spread of the Gospel in the world, and to destroy the souls of mankind.

The spiritual wickedness are supposed to be the angels which kept not their first estate; who fell from the heavenly places but are ever longing after and striving to regain them; and which have their station in the regions of the air. "Perhaps," says Mr. Wesley, "the principalities and powers remain mostly in the citadel of their kingdom of darkness; but there are other spirits which range abroad, to whom the provinces of the world are committed; the darkness is chiefly spiritual darkness which prevails during the present state of things, and the wicked spirits are those which continually oppose faith, love, and holiness, either by force or fraud; and labour to infuse unbelief, pride, idolatry, malice, envy, anger, and hatred." Some translate the words en toiv epouranioiv, about heavenly things; that is: We contend with these fallen spirits for the heavenly things which are promised to us; and we strive against them, that we may not be deprived of those we have.

John Gill's Bible Commentary

Greek Textus Receptus

Flesh and blood. The Greek reverses the order.

Principalities and powers. See on Col. i. 16.

Rulers of the darkness of this world (kosmokratorav tou skotouv toutou). Rev., more correctly, world-rulers of this darkness.

World-Rulers only here. Compare John xiv. 30; xvi. 11; 1 John v. 19; 2 Corinthians iv. 4.

Spiritual wickedness (ta pneumatika thv ponhriav) Lit., the spiritual things of wickedness. Rev., spiritual hosts of wickedness. The phrase is collective, of the evil powers viewed as a body. Wickedness is active evil, mischief. Hence Satan is called oJ ponhrov the wicked one. See on Luke iii. 19; vii. 21; 1 John ii. 13.

In high places (en toiv epouranioiv). Rev., more literally, in the heavenly places. Used in the general sense of the sky or air. See on ch. ii. 2.

Robertson's NT Word Studies