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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJames Hastings Dictionary of the NT: Authority
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This word, which occurs much more frequently in Revised Version than in Authorized Version , in most cases represents the Gr. ἐîïõóßá . It is used of delegated authority in Act_9:14; Act_26:10; Act_26:12; of the authority of an apostle in 2Co_10:8; 2Co_13:10 (Revised Version ); of earthly rulers (‘authorities’) in Tit_3:1 (Revised Version ), cf. Luk_12:11; and in Revised Version of Apocalypse is substituted frequently for Authorized Version ‘power’; cf. Rev_6:8; Rev_12:10; Rev_13:4-12; Rev_17:12 (in Rev_17:13 it replaces Authorized Version ‘strength’). Yet in many places Revised Version still retains ‘power’ as the translation of ἐîïõóßá ; cf. Act_8:19, Col_1:13, Rom_13:1-3, Rev_9:10; Rev_11:6 etc. In 1Co_11:10 ἐîïõóßá is used in a peculiar sense (‘for this cause ought the woman to have ἐîïõóßáí on her head, because of the angels’), where a veil appears to be meant. Here Authorized Version gives ‘power,’ Revised Version ‘a sign of authority,’ with ‘have authority over’ in the margin.
In several passages ἐîïõóßá is used to designate a created being superior to man, a spiritual potentate, viz. 1Co_15:24, Eph_1:21, Col_2:10, and, in the plural, Eph_3:10; Eph_6:12, Col_1:16; Col_2:15, 1Pe_3:22. In 1Co_15:24 and 1Pe_3:22, Authorized Version and Revised Version render ‘authority’ and Revised Version also in Eph_1:21, the reason probably being that äýíáìéò also occurs in these verses for which the word ‘power’ was needed. In the other references the translation is ‘power’ or ‘powers.’ Seeing that ἐîïõóßáé appear to be a class of angelic beings distinct from äõíÜìåéò , it would have been conducive to clearness if the word ‘authority’ had been used in all these passages. In Eph_6:12 evil principles are obviously referred to (cf. Eph_2:2); in 1Co_15:24 both good and evil angels may be included (Lightfoot, Col.3 1879, p. 154). See, further, under Principality, and cf. the preceding article.
In a few places ‘authority’ in Authorized Version represents other Gr. words, viz. Act_8:27 Authorized Version , Revised Version , ‘a eunuch of great authority’ ( äõíÜóôçò ); 1Ti_2:2 Authorized Version ‘for kings and for all that are in authority’ ( ἐí ὑðåñï÷ῇ ), Revised Version ‘in high place’; 1Ti_2:12 Authorized Version ‘I suffer not a woman … to usurp authority over the man’ ( áὐèåíôåῖí ἀíäñüò ), Revised Version ‘to have dominion over’; Tit_2:15 ‘rebuke (Authorized Version reprove) with all authority’ ( ἐðéôáãῆò ).
W. H. Dundas.