An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

Question 325: How do you resist evil?

Question 325: How do you resist evil?

I resist evil by submitting to God, standing firm in faith, and living in obedience to His Word. I resist the devil through prayer, repentance, Scripture, and the power of the Holy Spirit. I put on the armor of God, reject the lies of the enemy, and walk in the light of Christ. In resisting evil, I flee temptation, oppose injustice, speak the truth, and overcome evil with good. (James 4:7, Ephesians 6:11–13, 1 Peter 5:8–9, Romans 12:21, Matthew 4:1–11)

Full Scripture References​

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7 (BSB)

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness… Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground.” – Ephesians 6:11–13 (BSB)

“Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith…” – 1 Peter 5:8–9 (BSB)

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21 (BSB)

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil… But Jesus said to him, ‘Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.” – Matthew 4:1, 10–11 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

Resisting evil begins with submitting to God. We cannot stand against darkness unless we are rooted in the light. Fr. Isaac Rehberg (ACNA, All Saints San Antonio, TX) explains, “Resistance to evil is not about inner strength but divine dependence. You resist by kneeling—by clinging to Christ and trusting His Word.” (Spiritual Warfare and the Anglican Soul, 2021)

The Christian resists evil through active spiritual discipline: prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, confession, and worship. Bishop Dan Gifford (ANiC, Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska) writes, “The armor of God is not metaphorical poetry—it is the daily habit of holiness. Without it, we are exposed; with it, we are protected.” (Standing Firm in the Evil Day, 2022)

We also resist evil by renouncing sin in all its forms and fleeing temptation. Fr. Caleb Evans (Anglican Orthodox Church, St. Stephen’s Mission, GA) teaches, “Resistance means saying no when it’s hard, turning off what corrupts, walking away from compromise, and choosing what is good even when no one sees.” (The Hidden Battle, 2020)

Jesus Christ resisted the devil with Scripture and faithfulness, giving us the pattern for our own resistance. Fr. Thomas Buchan (Anglican Union, St. Mark’s Anglican Church, VA) writes, “Christ’s victory in the wilderness is our hope in temptation. We do not fight alone—we fight in His name, with His words, by His power.” (Victory in the Wilderness, 2021)

Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) adds, “Resisting evil also means confronting injustice and lies in the world—not by hatred, but by truth and love. Christians resist not only defensively but redemptively—overcoming evil with good.” (Recovering Anglican Piety, 2019)

Early Church Fathers On Catechism Question

“Resist the devil by clinging to Christ. Let His Word be your sword, and His cross your shield.” – Augustine of Hippo, Sermon on the Spiritual Battle, c. 400 AD

“Evil flees the soul that is watchful in prayer. Be vigilant, and the enemy will not prevail.” – Basil the Great, Homily on Vigilance, c. 370 AD

“To resist evil, one must first flee pride. For Satan is cast down when humility is lifted up.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on Matthew 4, c. 390 AD

“Let us fight evil with the weapons of the Spirit—with truth, purity, and steadfast love. These are the victories of the saints.” – Cyprian of Carthage, Exhortation to Martyrs, c. 250 AD

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

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