Topic
Principality
13 passages cited, from 2 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Ephesians 6:12Smith · ISBE
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
- Jeremiah 13:18ISBE
Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
- Romans 7:14ISBE
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
- Romans 7:23ISBE
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
- Romans 8:38ISBE
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
- 1 Corinthians 2:6ISBE
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
- Ephesians 1:20ISBE
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
- Ephesians 1:21ISBE
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
- Ephesians 3:10ISBE
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
- Colossians 1:16ISBE
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
- Colossians 2:10ISBE
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
- Colossians 2:15ISBE
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Show 1 more
- Titus 3:1 ISBE
In the reference works
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 1 references
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 17 references
prin-si-pal'-i-ti: In the Old Testament the word occurs but once (Jer 13:18, "your principalities shall come down"). Here the King James Version margin "head tires" is properly preferred by the Revised Version (British and American) for mera'ashoth (from ro'sh, "head"), "head-parts."
In the New Testament "principality" occurs for arche, "rule," generally in the plural, referring
(a) to men in authority (Tit 3:1, "Put them in mind to be subject (the King James Version; "in subjection," the Revised Version (British and American)) to principalities (the King James Version; "rulers," the Revised Version (British and American)), and powers" (the King James Version; "to authorities," the Revised Version (British and American));
(b) to superhuman agencies, angelic or demonic (Ro 8:38; Eph 3:10; 6:12; Col 1:16; 2:10,15). Paul was keenly sensible of the dualism of mind and body and of the law in his members warring against the law of his mind (Ro 7:23), and of the temporary victory of the evil, residing in the flesh, over the good of the spirit (Ro 7:14).
This dualism was objectified in Zoroastrianism, and among the Babylonians the several heavenly bodies were regarded as ruled by spirits, some good, some evil. The same belief, appropriated by the Jews during the captivity, appears also in Greek thought, as e.g. in Plato and later in the Stoics. The higher spheres, which hold the even tenor of their way, were in general regarded as ruled by good spirits; but in the sublunar sphere, to which the earth belongs, ill-regulated motions prevail, which must be due to evil spirits. The perversities of human conduct, in particular, thwarting, as was thought, the simple, intelligible divine plan, were held to be subject to rebellious powers offering defiance to God. While Paul clearly recognized a hierarchy of such powers (Col 1:16, "thrones or dominions or principalities or powers"), it is not certain that he had elaborated a system of eons to serve the purposes of metaphysical theology and ethics, such as appears among the Gnostics, although they evidently believed they were developing his thought. In 1Co 2:6 he repudiates the wisdom of this world (aion) and of the rulers of this world aion), and declares (Eph 6:12) that the Christian has to contend with "the world-rulers of this darkness," and proclaims the triumph of Christ over "the principalities and the powers" in the forgiveness of sins (Col 2:15). The same personification of such agencies or powers appears also in another passage, where the rendering of English Versions of the Bible obscures it (Eph 1:20,21 "when he raised him (Christ) from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all (read "every") rule (Revised Version; "principality," the King James Version), and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this world (aion), but also in that which is to come"). Not the least interesting passage is Eph 3:10, where the church is said to be the means of revealing to "the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places" "the manifold wisdom of God." One naturally inquires what was the purpose of this revelation. Was it to effect a redemption and reconciliation of these demonic powers to God? To this question Paul supplies no answer.
William Arthur Heidel
Texts: Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.