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Principalities & Powers in Heavenly Places

P&P in Heavenly Places

The phrase "Principalities and Powers" shows up in the New Testament section of the Holy Bible. The phrase is a grouping of the two Greek words

ἀρχή (archē) and ἐξουσία (exousia)

which are translated as

principalities and powers (ASV, KJV, NKJV, MKJV, RSV)

or

rulers and authorities (ESV, NIV, GNT, CEB, NRSV)

 

The phrase "Principalities and Powers" (archē and exousia) is found nine times in the New Testament. There are six scriptures which appear in two letters from the Apostle Paul to two churches. One letter to the Ephesians and the other to the Colossians. The other three scriptures which have both words together are found in the books of Luke, 1 Corinthians and Titus.

 

References are color coded below as follows:

 

  • Earthly / human principalities and powers are in green
  • Heavenly fallen angle principalities and powers are in red
  • References to both earthly and heavenly principalities and powers are in blue

Keep in mind that there are principalities and powers which are God's good and faithful angels. Angels such as Michael and Gabriel are examples of principality class angels.

Each scripture below are shown twice - one in NKJV and the other in ESV.

 

Principalities (aka Rulers) [archē] and Powers (aka Authorities) [exousia]

 

Colossians

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones [thronos] or dominions [kyriotēs] or principalities [archē] or powers [exousia]. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 (NKJV)

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones [thronos] or dominions [kyriotēs] or rulers [archē] or authorities [exousia] — all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 (ESV)

 

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality [archē] and power [exousia]. Colossians 2:10 (NKJV)

and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule [archē] and authority [exousia]. Colossians 2:10 (ESV)

 

Having disarmed principalities [archē] and powers [exousia], He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it [Jesus on the cross]. Colossians 2:15 (NKJV)

He disarmed the rulers [archē] and authorities [exousia] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him [Jesus]. Colossians 2:15 (ESV)

 

Ephesians

far above all principality [archē] and power [exousia] and might [dynamis] and dominion [kyriotēs], and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 1:21 (NKJV)

far above all rule [archē] and authority [exousia] and power [dynamis] and dominion [kyriotēs], and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:21 (ESV)

 

...to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities [archē] and powers [exousia] in the heavenly places Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV)

...so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers [archē] and authorities [exousia] in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:10 (ESV)

 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities [archē], against powers [exousia], against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers [archē], against the authorities [exousia], against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

 

Other books

Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates [archē] and authorities [exousia], do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. Luke 12:11 (NKJV)

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers [archē] and the authorities [exousia], do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, Luke 12:11 (ESV)

 

Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule [archē] and all authority [exousia] and power [dynamis]. 1 Corinthians 15:24 (NKJV)

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule [archē] and every authority [exousia] and power [dynamis]. 1 Corinthians 15:24 (ESV)

 

Remind them to be subject to rulers [archē] and authorities [exousia], to obey, to be ready for every good work, Titus 3:1 (NKJV)

Remind them to be submissive to rulers [archē] and authorities [exousia], to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, Titus 3:1 (ESV)

 

 

Jesus, the Prince of Peace and King of Kings has His own “Principality” (Rulership) over everything!

Colossians 1:15-16
For by him [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers [principalities] or authorities [powers]—all things were created through him and for him.  [Thrones and Dominions did not follow Satan only some, not all, of the Rulers and Authorities followed Satan]

Jesus Christ sits on the Highest Throne with God the Father!  And we will be seated with Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-7
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!— 6 and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 3:21
I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Jesus is the ultimate Prince over ALL peoples, especially those who belong to God by faith in Jesus and His blood shed for their salvation.

Revelation 5:9
They were singing a new song: “You [Jesus] are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

Revelation 7:9
After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb [Jesus] dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands.