Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PRINCIPALITY

A class of spiritual being (Gk. archḗ), most often evil (cf. Rom. 8:38; 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Col. 1:16; 2:10, 15). The term always occurs with other similar terms also denoting evil spiritual beings: power (exousía), authority (dýnamis), throne (thrónos), dominion (kyriótēs), world-rulers of this age (kosmokrátōr toú skótous toútou), evil spiritual force in the heavens (pneumatikón tḗs ponērías en toís epouraníois). The use of different terms probably indicates different ranks or types of evil spiritual beings. In Eph. 2:2; 6:11-12 Paul identifies one evil spiritual being to which these others seem to be subject: “the ruler of the power of the air” or “the devil.” In Dan. 7 “dominion” (LXX Gk. archḗ) denotes the earthly power of the fourth beast (vv. 12, 26) hostile to Israel and standing in contrast to the power of God and the one like a son of man (v. 14); that lurking in the background of earthly kingdoms — esp. the fourth kingdom — are evil spiritual beings, is clear from Dan. 10.

The notion of different classes of spiritual beings is not unique to the NT (cf. 1 En. 41:9; 61:10; T. Levi 3:8; T. Sol. 20:15). Similar lists are found in the Greek magical papyri (PGM 1.215; 3.35; 4.1193, 1275, 1599, 2199-99; 22b.2, 4, 7).

In Pauline theology, Christ shall destroy every “principality, power, and authority” at the end, when he hands over to God the kingdom (1 Cor. 15:24). Nevertheless, in the present these evil spiritual beings are subject to Christ, for Christ has been seated at the right hand of God in the heavenlies (Eph. 1:20-21). Because of this, believers can resist the evil influences of these spiritual beings (Eph. 6:10-17; cf. 2:1-5). Colossians stresses the superiority of Christ over all spiritual beings (Col. 1:15-20; 2:10), and attributes the heresy rampant among the recipients of the letter to the influence of the “elemental principles of the world,” a collective name for these evil spiritual beings (2:8). The cross of Christ was the means by which all evil spiritual beings were defeated and rendered ineffectual (Col. 2:15).

Bibliography. C. E. Arnold, Ephesians: Power and Magic. SNTSMS 63 (Cambridge, 1989); G. B. Caird, Principalities and Powers (Oxford, 1956).

Barry D. Smith






Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

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