Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Parallel translations
- WEB far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.
- BSB far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
- NKJV far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
- NASB far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
- NLT Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Christ is exalted far above every ruler, authority, and power in this age and the age to come. It declares Christ's supremacy over all spiritual and earthly powers.
Overview
Paul stresses the absolute supremacy of the exalted Christ over every conceivable power — 'rule, authority, power, dominion' — terms that include spiritual forces. His lordship spans 'not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.' For readers in a world rife with fear of unseen powers, this is profound assurance of Christ's total dominion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Phil 2:9–11Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
- Col 2:10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
- Col 1:15–16Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
- 1 Pet 3:22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
- Heb 1:4Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
- Dan 7:27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
- Acts 4:12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- Col 2:15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
- Matt 28:18–19And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
- Rev 20:10–15And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
- Eph 3:10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
- Eph 6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
- Heb 4:14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
- Rev 19:12–13His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
- John 5:25–29Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
- Rom 8:38–39For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
- Matt 25:31–36When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
- Matt 12:32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
- Heb 2:5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
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Christ at the center
Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
How Ephesians 1:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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