Principalities and Powers* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Phrase familiarized by the KJB, occurring several times in Paul’s writings, and expressed by means of three Greek synonyms. The concept of principalities is signified by exousia and archai, while powers is represented by dunamis. In the NT, exousia describes the power inherent in authority as something confirmed by or derived from a position of prominence. There is nothing evil about this kind of authority; on the contrary, it is essentially right both morally and spiritually (Mt 21:23). It thus applies most appropriately to the authority of the Messiah (Mt 9:6; Mk 2:10), of the apostles (2 Cor 10:8; 13:10), and of human government (cf. Mt 8:9; Lk 20:20). Archai has several meanings but occurs 12 times in the sense of “command,” “rule,” or “sovereignty,” 9 of which (Rom 8:38; 1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Col 1:16; 2:10, 15 OET COL 2:10 · OET COL 2:15; Ti 3:1) appear in Paul’s letters. Finally dunamis, a common word for power, denotes the ability or strength to achieve an impressive goal (Mt 25:15; Acts 3:12).

Show passage in OET: MAT 21:23

OET-RV MAT 21:23

23 When Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) went back into the temple and started teaching the people, the chief priests and the Jewish elders came and challenged him, asking, “What authority do you have to do these things?”

OET-LV MAT 21:23

23 And with _him having _come into the temple teaching, the chief _priests and the elders of _the people approached to _him saying:
By what authority are _you _doing these things?
And who gave the this authority to _you?

Show passage in OET: MAT 9:6

OET-RV MAT 9:6

6 But so that you’ll know that the son of humanity has the authority here on earth to forgive sins,” he said, “stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

OET-LV MAT 9:6

6 But in _order _that you _all _may _have _known that the son of_ the _man is _having authority on the earth to _be _forgiving sins (then he _is _saying to _the paralytic):
Having _been _raised, take _up the bed of _you and be _going to the house of _you.

Show passage in OET: MRK 2:10

OET-RV MRK 2:10

10 But so you all can see that the son of humanity does have authority here on the earth to forgive sins,” he turned and said to the paralysed man,

OET-LV MRK 2:10

10 But in _order _that you _all _may _have _known that the son of_ the _man is _having authority on the earth to _be _forgiving sins, (he _is _saying to _the paralytic),

Show passage in OET: CO2 10:8

OET-RV CO2 10:8

8 So if I boast too often about our authority (which the master gave us for building you up rather than for tearing you down), I won’t be ashamed of it

OET-LV CO2 10:8

8 And For/Because if more _abundantly something I _may _boast concerning the authority of _us, which gave the master for building you and not for tearing _down of _you _all, not I _will _be _being _ashamed,

Show passage in OET: CO2 13:10

OET-RV CO2 13:10

10 I’m writing these things while I’m absent, so that when I’m present I won’t have to treat you all severely according to the authority that the master gave me for building and not for tearing down.

OET-LV CO2 13:10

10 Because _of this these things being _absent I _am _writing, in _order _that being _present not severely I _may _give _treatment, according _to the authority that the master gave to _me for building and not for tearing _down.

Show passage in OET: MAT 8:9

OET-RV MAT 8:9

9 because I’m also a man given a position under authority, with soldiers under me, and I tell this one, ‘Come here,’ and he comes, and tell my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.

OET-LV MAT 8:9

9 For/Because I also am a_man being _appointed under authority, having soldiers under myself, and I _am _saying to _this one:
Be _gone, and he _is _going, and to _another:
Be _coming, and he _is _coming, and to _the slave of _me:
Do this, and he _is _doing it.

Show passage in OET: LUK 20:20

OET-RV LUK 20:20

20 So after watching Yeshua closely, they sent agents who pretended to be genuine inquirers so that they could catch him out on some careless statement, and then they could hand him over to the rule and authority of the Romaios governor.

OET-LV LUK 20:20

20 And having _watched _closely, they _sent _out spies pretending themselves to _be righteous, in _order _that they _may _catch of _him a_statement, so _that to _give_ him _over to _the rule and the authority of _the governor.

Show passage in OET: ROM 8:38

OET-RV ROM 8:38

38 Yes, I’ve been persuaded that neither death or life, angels or rulers, present or future events, powers,

OET-LV ROM 8:38

38 For/Because I _have _been _persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor messengers, nor rulers, nor having _presented things, nor coming things, nor powers,

Show passage in OET: CO1 15:24

OET-RV CO1 15:24

24 Then the end will come when he hands over the kingship to God the Father after he’s destroyed all rule, and all authority and power,

OET-LV CO1 15:24

24 thereafter the end, when he _may _be _giving _over the kingdom the to_god even the_father, when he _may _nullify all beginning, and all authority, and power.

Show passage in OET: EPH 1:21

OET-RV EPH 1:21

21 giving him authority over every law and government, and over every powerful group and organisation, and over every earthly title, not only in the present age but also in the age to come.

OET-LV EPH 1:21

21 above every rule, and authority, and power, and mastership, and every name being _named, not only in the this age, but also in the one coming,

Show passage in OET: EPH 3:10

OET-RV EPH 3:10

10 so that the wide-ranging wisdom of God could be revealed now through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

OET-LV EPH 3:10

10 in _order _that may _be _made _known now to _the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms through the assembly, the manifold wisdom of_ the _god,

Show passage in OET: EPH 6:12

OET-RV EPH 6:12

12 Our struggle isn’t against people, but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this world’s darkness, and the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.

OET-LV EPH 6:12

12 Because is not to _us the wrestling against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world _rulers of_ the this _darkness, against the spiritual of_ the _wickedness in the heavenly realms.

Show passage in OET: COL 1:16

OET-RV COL 1:16

16 because it was him who created everything in the heavens and on the earth, both visible and invisible, including all authorities such as kingdoms and governments. Yes, everything was created by him and for him.

OET-LV COL 1:16

16 because by him was _created the things all in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or masterships, or rulers, or authorities, all the things has _been _created by him and for him.

Show passage in OET: COL 2:10; COL 2:15

OET-RV COL 2:10

10 and you also have been completed and are in him. He is the head of all rule and authority.

OET-RV COL 2:15

15 He had disarmed the rulers and authorities and publicly exposed them, because he had won the victory over them on the post.

OET-LV COL 2:10

10 and you _all _are having _been _fulfilled in him, who is the head of _all rule and authority,

OET-LV COL 2:15

15 having _disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he _exposed them in public, having _triumphed over _them in him.

Show passage in OET: TIT 3:1

OET-RV TIT 3:1

3 Remind people to conform to their rulers and authorities, being obedient and ready to do anything that’s good.

OET-LV TIT 3:1

3 Be _reminding them to _be _being _subjected to _rulers, to _authorities, to _be _yielding, to _be ready for every good work,

Show passage in OET: MAT 25:15

OET-RV MAT 25:15

15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags to another, and one to the other, according to each slave’s ability, and then he departed.

OET-LV MAT 25:15

15 And on _one _hand he _gave five talantons_of _silver to _one, on _the _other _hand two to _one, on _the _other _hand one to _one, to _each according _to his own ability, and he _travelled immediately.

Show passage in OET: ACT 3:12

OET-RV ACT 3:12

12 But when Kefa saw the crowd, he answered their thoughts, “Fellow Israelis, why are you all puzzled about this, and why are you staring at us as if this man is walking because of our power or closeness to God.”

OET-LV ACT 3:12

12 But the Petros having _seen it, answered to the people:
Men, ones_from _Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl), why you _all _are _wondering at this, or why you _all _are _looking _intently at _us, as _though by_our_own power or devoutness having _made him which to _be _walking?

Jump to OET MAT 21:23 section.

Jump to OET MAT 9:6 section.

Jump to OET MRK 2:10 section.

Jump to OET CO2 10:8 section.

Jump to OET CO2 13:10 section.

Jump to OET MAT 8:9 section.

Jump to OET LUK 20:20 section.

Jump to OET ROM 8:38 section.

Jump to OET CO1 15:24 section.

Jump to OET EPH 1:21 section.

Jump to OET EPH 3:10 section.

Jump to OET EPH 6:12 section.

Jump to OET COL 1:16 section.

Jump to OET COL 2:10 section. · OET COL 2:15 section.

Jump to OET TIT 3:1 section.

Jump to OET MAT 25:15 section.

Jump to OET ACT 3:12 section.

By using the expression “principalities and powers,” Paul was referring to the hierarchy of supernatural agencies, such as angelic beings, who worship and serve the Creator of the universe. Some commentators have divided this hierarchy into five categories, namely thrones, principalities, powers, authorities, and dominions. This categorization, however, can be arrived at only by general inference, since there is nothing in Scripture that points directly to such distinct groups. In using the phrase, Paul was probably expressing the cosmic lordship of Jesus in as colorful and dramatic a manner as possible.

In giving Jesus a name above every other name, Paul was demonstrating the supreme lordship of Christ over all created beings, whether good or bad (Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10). As their Creator, the heavenly hosts were his subjects, acknowledging him as Lord of the universe. This affirmation was important for the Colossians, whose theology had apparently been tainted by unbiblical speculation (Col 2:8). The truth is that in Jesus there resided all the fullness of God, and this is transmitted to believers through the Lord’s Spirit.