Intercession of Believers in Spiritual Conflict and Warfare
The intercession of believers in spiritual conflict and warfare involves Christians supporting one another through prayer and practical aid, recognizing that the Christian life is often likened to a battle. This concept is rooted in biblical imagery and developed through theological reflection across various traditions.
The Apostle Paul frequently employs military metaphors to describe the Christian life, particularly in Ephesians 6:14-17, where he details the "armor of God." This armor, consisting of elements like the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shield of faith, is primarily for defense, enabling believers to "stand their ground" against spiritual adversaries [3]. The "weapons of our warfare" are not carnal but spiritual, powerful through God for the pulling down of strongholds, as described in 2 Corinthians 10:4 [5]. This warfare is not only individual but also communal, requiring mutual support among believers.
Early Christian thinkers emphasized the communal aspect of this spiritual struggle. John Chrysostom, for instance, taught that believers should assist one another "as in war," standing by and succoring those in danger. He argued that those who help others in affliction not only benefit the distressed but also make themselves "partakers of the crowns due to them" [2]. This mutual assistance extends to practical care, such as remembering those in prison by providing comfort, food, prayer, and other necessities, especially for those imprisoned due to their faith [8].
Intercession, particularly through prayer, is a key component of this spiritual warfare. The people of Israel, for example, sought Moses' intercession, which brought an end to God's judgment [7]. The Psalms also contain expressions of a believer's prayer in times of deep distress, mingling cries for help with expressions of confidence in God [6]. This highlights the role of prayer as a means of engaging with God's power in difficult circumstances.
The concept of spiritual warfare also involves striving against sin, which Matthew Henry describes as a "good cause" for conflict [4]. This struggle against sin is not solitary; believers are united in the Lord and his Spirit, and God gives diverse spiritual gifts to different people to enable them to fulfill various kinds of service to the same Lord [9]. This distribution of gifts underscores the necessity of collective effort and intercession in the ongoing spiritual battle. The division of spoils after a battle, as seen in Numbers 31:27, where the prey was divided between soldiers and the entire congregation, can be seen as an ancient parallel to the communal sharing in the outcomes of spiritual conflict [1].
Sources
- Numbers “Numbers 31:27 (Geneva1599) — And deuide the praye betweene the souldiers that went to the warre, and all the Congregation.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.” Such ought the faithful to be. Neither fear, nor threats, nor disgrace, should deter them from assisting one another, standing by them and succoring them as in war. For they do not so much benefit those who are in danger, as themselves, by the service they render to them, making themselves partakers of the crowns due to them. For example, is any one of those who are devoted to God visited with affliction and distress, ”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 6:14: 6:14-17 Paul uses the physical armor worn by Roman soldiers as imagery for spiritual armor used by believers. Most of this equipment is to defend, not to attack. Paul’s focus is not on the precise functions of each piece but on God’s gifts. Grounding in Christ and Scripture provides protection and ability to stand your ground (cp. Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8-9). 6:14 God’s righteousness: Either the righteousness God credits to those who believe in Christ, or the righteous way of life brought about by the transforming work of the Spirit of God in believers’ lives. The on”
- Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 12:4: Here the apostle presses the exhortation to patience and perseverance by an argument taken from the gentle measure and gracious nature of those sufferings which the believing Hebrews endured in their Christian course. I. From the gentle and moderate degree and measure of their sufferings: You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin, Heb 12:4. Observe, 1. He owns that they had suffered much, they had been striving to an agony against sin. Here, (1.) The cause of the conflict was sin, and to be engaged against sin is to fight in a good cause, for sin”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:4: For the weapons of our warfare,.... By "warfare" is here meant, not that which is common to all believers, who are enlisted as volunteers under the captain of their salvation, and fight his battles, and are more than conquerors through him; but what is peculiar to the ministers of the Gospel; and designs the ministerial function, or office, and the discharge of it. So the Levitical function, or the ministerial service of the Levites, is called "the warfare of the service", Num 8:25. The ministry of the word is so styled, because that as war is waged in defence ”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 31 (introduction): The prayer of a believer in time of deep distress. In the first part, cries for help are mingled with expressions of confidence. Then the detail of griefs engrosses his attention, till, in the assurance of strong but submissive faith, he rises to the language of unmingled joyful trust and exhorts others to like love and confidence towards God. (Psa. 31:1-24) Expresses the general tone of feeling of the Psalm.”
- Numbers (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Numbers 11:2: 11:2-3 The people sought Moses’ intercession again (cp. Exod 15:25; 32:11-14), which brought an end to the fire of God’s judgment. • Taberah: Cp. Num 11:34-35; see Deut 9:22.”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 13:3: 13:3 Remember those in prison: Prisoners often depended on family members and friends for their most basic needs. Christians were challenged to provide comfort, food, prayer, and other necessities for those imprisoned because of their faith (13:18-19; Matt 25:36; Col 4:18; 2 Tim 1:16).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:4: 12:4-11 Though believers are united in the Lord and his Spirit, God gives different kinds of spiritual gifts to different people so that they can fulfill different kinds of service to the same Lord (see also 7:7; 12:7-11, 28-31; Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11).”