Principalities and Powers

Principalities and Powers

3 Greek words in 11 Bible Passages

Introduction

This is a Greek word study of three words used to convey the idea of "principalities and powers" a total of 11 times in the New Testament. The reason for 3 Greek words rather that 2 is because there are 2 different types of "power" in the Greek - 1) the power of ability and 2) the power of authority. Both of those words are used in the 11 passages we will look at in this study. Various English words have been used as translations for the 3 Greek words we will study. But, to be more clear for the reader, I will only use 3 descriptive, color-coded English words to match the 3 Greeks words. The words are:

"Principality"
- English: this is a supreme power, such as a nation, kingdom, country dominion, province, city, etc...
- Greek: G746: ἀρχή archḗ , ar-khay' ; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)
- KJV Translation(s):-- beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.
"Authority"
- English: this is a person or persons with a high level of knowledge or skill to enforce the rules of the "Principality".
- Greek: G1849: ἐξουσία exousía , ex-oo-see'-ah ; privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence
- KJV Translation(s):-- authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.
"Power"
- English: this is generally a person or persons with ability to enforce the rules of the Principality working under those who have "Authority" to enforce those rules.
- Greek: G1411
  δύναμις dýnamis , doo'-nam-is ;
  from G1410 ; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)
  KJV Translation(s):-- ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

3 Greek words

Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah (Deut8:3; Matt4:4)

-Sid Nash: 10/30/2025. Latest version: https://sidnash.org/docs/PrincipalityPower.html