Bible Dictionaries
Reign

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"to reign," is used (I) literally, (a) of God, Revelation 11:17; 19:6 , in each of which the aorist tense (in the latter, translated "reigneth") is "ingressive," stressing the point of entrance; (b) of Christ, Luke 1:33; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Revelation 11:15; as rejected by the Jews, Luke 19:14,27; (c) of the saints, hereafter, 1 Corinthians 4:8 (2nd part), where the Apostle, casting a reflection upon the untimely exercise of authority on the part of the church at Corinth, anticipates the due time for it in the future (see No. 2); Revelation 5:10; 20:4 , where the aorist tense is not simply of a "point" character, but "constative," that is, regarding a whole action as having occurred, without distinguishing any steps in its progress (in this instance the aspect is future); Revelation 20:6; 22:5 , (d) of earthly potentates, Matthew 2:22; 1 Timothy 6:15 , where "kings" is, lit., "them that reign;" (II) metaphorically, (a) of believers, Romans 5:17 , where "shall reign in life" indicates the activity of life in fellowship with Christ in His sovereign power, reaching its fullness hereafter; 1 Corinthians 4:8 (1st part), of the carnal pride that laid claim to a power not to be exercised until hereafter; (b) of Divine grace, Romans 5:21; (c) of sin, Romans 5:21; 6:12; (d) of death, Romans 5:14,17 .

"to reign together with" (sun, "with," and No. 1), is used of the future "reign" of believers together and with Christ in the kingdom of God in manifestation, 1 Corinthians 4:8 (3rd part); of those who endure 2 Timothy 2:12 , cp. Revelation 20:6 .

Notes: (1) In Romans 15:12 , AV, archo, "to rule" (RV, is translated "to reign." (2) In Revelation 17:18 , echo, "to have," with basileia, "a kingdom," is translated "reigneth," lit., "hath a kingdom," suggestive of a distinction between the sovereignty of mystic Babylon and that of ordinary sovereigns. (3) In Luke 3:1 , hegemonia, "rule," is rendered "reign."