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Spiritual warfare is the Christian version of the concept of taking a stand against preternatural evil forces. The foundation for this ideology is having a belief in evil spirits which are able to intervene in human affairs. Various Christian groups have adopted practices to repel such forces, as based on their doctrine of Christian demonology. Prayer is a common form of spiritual warfare among Christians. Other practices may include exorcisms, laying-on of hands, fasting, or anointing with oil. == Doctrines of demonology == Jewish demonology escalated with the rise of Jewish pseudepigraphic writings of the 1st Century BCE, in particular with Enochic apocrypha. Jewish apocrypha initially influenced post-New Testament writings of the early fathers, which further defined Christian demonology. Thus followed literary works such as The Didache, The Shepherd of Hermas, Ignatius's epistle to the Ephesians, and Origen's ''Contra Celsum''. Mainstream Christianity typically acknowledge a belief in the reality (or ontological existence) of demons, fallen angels, the Devil in Christianity and Satan. In Christian evangelism, doctrines of demonology are influenced by interpretations of the New Testament, namely with the Gospels, in that dealing with spirits became a customary activity of Jesus' ministry. Mark states that "he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons" (Mark 1:39).〔Arnold, 1997, p. 20〕 Exorcisms may be promoted by evangelists referring to Jesus comment, "If I drive out demons by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is upon you" (Matt.12:28; Luke 11:20).〔 Evangelical Christian traditions believe that Satan and his minions exercise significant influence over this world and its power structures. A hostile realm in conflict with the kingdom of God is recorded in the Bible by the Apostle John, "the whole world is under the control of the evil one" (1 John 5:19) and by Jesus who referred to Satan as "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), which may point to the concept of Territorial Spirits.〔 Paul elaborates on demonic hierarchy in Ephesians 6〔(Eph. 6:12 KJV )〕 where he also mentions, by way of metaphor, those qualities needed for defense against them.〔(Full Armor of God in Ephesians, KJV )〕 Two of those articles, the helmet of Salvation and the breastplate of Righteousness, were lifted from the book of Isaiah.〔(Isa. 59:17 KJV )〕 It is also believed that Satan occupies a temporal existence when the Apostle Paul refers to him as "the god of this age" (2 Cor.4:4). Further, Paul's epistles focus on the Victory of Christ over principalities and powers. Evangelical interpretation has history divided into two eras: the ''present evil age'' and the ''age to come'' which supports the concept of the Second coming of Christ.〔 Imagery of spiritual warfare is displayed in the Book of Revelation when after the War in Heaven (Rev.12:7), the beasts and kings of the earth wage war against God's people (Rev.19:19), and a final battle ensues with Satan and the nations of the earth against God himself (Rev.20:8).〔Arnold, 1997, p. 23〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Spiritual warfare」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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