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| Chapter XIV. How it is that spiritual wickednesses obtained the names of powers or principalities.
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Chapter XIV.
How it is that spiritual wickednesses obtained the names
of powers or principalities.
We can then see clear
reasons, in addition to those ideas which we expounded above, why they
are called principalities or powers; viz., because they rule and
preside over different nations, and at least hold sway over inferior
spirits and demons, of which the gospels give us evidence by their own
confession that there exist legions. For they could not be called lords
unless they had some over whom to exercise the sway of lordship; nor
could they be called powers or principalities, unless there were some
over whom they could claim power: and this we find pointed out very
clearly in the gospel by the Pharisees in their blasphemy: “He
casteth out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the
devils,”1539
for we find that
they are also called “rulers of darkness,”1540
and that one of them is styled “the
prince of this world.”1541
But the blessed
Apostle declares that hereafter, when all things shall be subdued to
Christ, these orders shall be destroyed, saying: “When He shall
have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father, when He shall
have destroyed all principalities and powers and
dominions.”1542
And this
certainly can only take place if they are removed from the sway of
those over whom we know that powers and dominions and principalities
take charge in this world.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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