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Bible Dictionaries
Authority
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or This word, which occurs much more frequently in Revised Version than in Authorized Version , in most cases represents the Gr. ἐξουσία. It is used of delegated authority in Acts 9:14; Acts 26:10; Acts 26:12; of the authority of an apostle in 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:10 (Revised Version ); of earthly rulers (‘authorities’) in Titus 3:1 (Revised Version ), cf. Luke 12:11; and in Revised Version of Apocalypse is substituted frequently for Authorized Version ‘power’; cf. Revelation 6:8; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 13:4-12; Revelation 17:12 (in Revelation 17:13 it replaces Authorized Version ‘strength’). Yet in many places Revised Version still retains ‘power’ as the translation of ἐξουσία; cf. Acts 8:19, Colossians 1:13, Romans 13:1-3, Revelation 9:10; Revelation 11:6 etc. In 1 Corinthians 11:10 ἐξουσία is used in a peculiar sense (‘for this cause ought the woman to have ἐξουσίαν 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 ἐξουσία is used to designate a created being superior to man, a spiritual potentate, viz. 1 Corinthians 15:24, Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 2:10, and, in the plural, Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:15, 1 Peter 3:22. In 1 Corinthians 15:24 and 1 Peter 3:22, Authorized Version and Revised Version render ‘authority’ and Revised Version also in Ephesians 1:21, the reason probably being that δύναμις also occurs in these verses for which the word ‘power’ was needed. In the other references the translation is ‘power’ or ‘powers.’ Seeing that ἐξουσίαι appear to be a class of angelic beings distinct from δυνάμεις, it would have been conducive to clearness if the word ‘authority’ had been used in all these passages. In Ephesians 6:12 evil principles are obviously referred to (cf. Ephesians 2:2); in 1 Corinthians 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. Acts 8:27 Authorized Version , Revised Version , ‘a eunuch of great authority’ (δυνάστης); 1 Timothy 2:2 Authorized Version ‘for kings and for all that are in authority’ (ἐν ὑπεροχῇ), Revised Version ‘in high place’; 1 Timothy 2:12 Authorized Version ‘I suffer not a woman … to usurp authority over the man’ (αὐθεντεῖν ἀνδρός), Revised Version ‘to have dominion over’; Titus 2:15 ‘rebuke (Authorized Version reprove) with all authority’ (ἐπιταγῆς).
W. H. Dundas.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Authority'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/a/authority.html. 1906-1918.
