the prince of the kingdom of Persia; v.13 = The use of the title "prince" in The Old Testament is synonymous with that in The New Testament. If this prince is indeed an angelic personality, very possibly he is one of the chief angels of whom Apostle Paul identified as a "principality".
In the New Testament, the Greek noun (pronounced "ar-KAY") occurs in English Biblical translations as "principality" or "- ies". Apostle Paul is the primary New Testament writer who used "arche" to refer to living entities.
The term "principalities" identify individuals occupying the highest, supreme rank, and possessing power and authority equal to that rank.
While Paul may have referred to the Roman emperor and other political rulers of his day in certain contexts (e.g. Rom. 8:38; Tit. 3:1), he most certainly included the spirits of the angelic realm as well (cp. Eph. 3:10; 6:12; Col. 2:15), even Satan whose titles include "the prince of the power of the air" ( Eph. 2:2), and "the god of this world" ( 2Cor. 4:4).
No doubt, Paul also considered the eschatological Antichrist of the Tribulation Period, of whom "the dragon (Satan) gave him (the Antichrist) his power, and his seat {throne}, and great authority" ( Rev. 13:2). Paul even wrote about this Satan possessed "man of sin" (2Thes. 2:3-4).
Depraved man desires to replace worshiping JEHOVAH GOD with worshiping angels (e.g. Deu. 32:17; 1Cor. 10:20; 1Tim. 4:1).
The New Testament often refers to the angelic realm as "principality(-ies)" linking them with:
+ angels ( Rom. 8:38);
+ "powers in heavenly places" ( Eph. 3:10);
+ "the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" ( Eph. 6:12);
+ "all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible (? angels?)" ( Col. 1:16).
All other New Testament usages of the noun "beginning" (arche) describe the first position in initiation, commencement, or sequence.
In the New Testament, the Greek noun (pronounced "ar-KAY") occurs in English Biblical translations as "principality" or "- ies". Apostle Paul is the primary New Testament writer who used "arche" to refer to living entities.
The term "principalities" identify individuals occupying the highest, supreme rank, and possessing power and authority equal to that rank.
While Paul may have referred to the Roman emperor and other political rulers of his day in certain contexts (e.g. Rom. 8:38; Tit. 3:1), he most certainly included the spirits of the angelic realm as well (cp. Eph. 3:10; 6:12; Col. 2:15), even Satan whose titles include "the prince of the power of the air" ( Eph. 2:2), and "the god of this world" ( 2Cor. 4:4).
No doubt, Paul also considered the eschatological Antichrist of the Tribulation Period, of whom "the dragon (Satan) gave him (the Antichrist) his power, and his seat {throne}, and great authority" ( Rev. 13:2). Paul even wrote about this Satan possessed "man of sin" (2Thes. 2:3-4).
Depraved man desires to replace worshiping JEHOVAH GOD with worshiping angels (e.g. Deu. 32:17; 1Cor. 10:20; 1Tim. 4:1).
The New Testament often refers to the angelic realm as "principality(-ies)" linking them with:
+ angels ( Rom. 8:38);
+ "powers in heavenly places" ( Eph. 3:10);
+ "the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" ( Eph. 6:12);
+ "all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible (? angels?)" ( Col. 1:16).
All other New Testament usages of the noun "beginning" (arche) describe the first position in initiation, commencement, or sequence.
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