Exousia
In the fifth century B.C. writings of Thucydides Exousia is used by Antiphon Orator meaning “an ability to do something” if there were no hindrances (Kittel, 2:562). The word generally denotes the right to act according to moral standards. It can be used in an official sense to describe the authority of a king but before king it was the natural choice to do or not do something by right.
The word appear 4 times in reference to an adversarial jurisdiction, 12 times in reference to a right, 11 times concerning conflicts of justice and 51 times in reference to Jesus.
In Romans 13 we see the phrase "ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις" and later the word "ἐξουσία".
ἐξουσίαις - noun: dative, plural, feminine
- power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
- a. leave or permission
We also see ἐξουσίαις in reference to heavens rights not the government of men:
- Ephesians 3:10 noun: dative, plural, feminine
- GRK: καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς
- NAS: to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly
- KJV: and powers in
- INT: and the authorities in the
And gain ἐξουσίαις appears in Titus 3:1 speaking to early Christians not engaged in covetous practices but living by fervent charity in the practice of pure Religion warning them to be cooperative and not a brawler but certainly not excusing praying or applying to the Fathers upon the earth or those who claim to be benefactors but exercise authority one over the other.
- noun: dative, plural, feminine
- GRK: αὐτοὺς ἀρχαῖς ἐξουσίαις ὑποτάσσεσθαι πειθαρχεῖν
- NAS: to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient,
- KJV: and powers, to obey magistrates, [This is not the word normally translated magistrate]
- INT: them to rulers to authorities to be subject to be obedient
So who is the king and who should a real Christian be obeying?[1]
ὑπερεχούσαις - verb: present, active, participle, dative, plural, feminine
- to have or hold over one
The words "governing authorities" is really a paraphrase and novel interpretation of "ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις" which may match many modern eschatological but not necessarily what Christians were doing in the early Church.
- In Romans 13:1 ὑπερεχούσαις is translated "higher".
- In Philippians 2:3 ὑπερεχούσαις is translated "better than" .
- In Philippians 3:8 ὑπερεχούσαις is translated "the excellency" of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
- In Philippians 4:7 ὑπερεχούσαις is translated "passeth" in refference to "... the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
- In 1 Peter 2:13 ὑπερεχούσαις is translated "supreme" in reference to the king by the same man who said there is another king one Jesus and did contrary to the decrees of Caesar.[2]
| declension | of | εξουσία |
| singular | plural | |
| nominative | εξουσία • | εξουσίες • |
| genitive | εξουσίας • | εξουσιών • |
| accusative | εξουσία • | εξουσίες • |
| vocative | εξουσία • | εξουσίες • |
Footnotes
- ↑ Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
- Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
- Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
- 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel
- Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
- Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
- Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
- 1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
- ↑ Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, [one] Jesus.