Ephesians 6:12 (YLT)

Passage

because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;

Nearby Context

Ephesians 6:10 As to the rest, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might;

Ephesians 6:11 put on the whole armour of God, for your being able to stand against the wiles of the devil,

Ephesians 6:12 because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;

Ephesians 6:13 because of this take ye up the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the day of the evil, and all things having done--to stand.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about in truth, and having put on the breastplate of the righteousness,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "world", "darkness", "wrestling", "blood", "flesh", "principalities", and "authorities". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "world", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "put on the whole armour of God..." into verse 13's "because of this take ye up the...", so "Spirit" and "world" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "world" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.