Word Studies — pvj-18: Government Submission¶

G1849: exousia (authority/power)¶

Definition: From ex (in sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control, delegated influence
KJV translations: "power" (53x), "authority" (25x), "powers" (7x), "right" (2x)
Key occurrences in this study:
Romans 13:1 (2x): "the higher powers" / "there is no power but of God"
Romans 13:2: "resisteth the power"
Romans 13:3: "afraid of the power"
John 19:10 (2x): "power to crucify thee... power to release thee"
John 19:11: "no power at all against me except... given thee from above"
1 Corinthians 15:24: "put down all rule and all authority and power"
Ephesians 6:12: "against principalities, against powers"
Luke 4:6: Satan says "All this power will I give thee"
Matthew 28:18: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth"
Note: Same word used by both Jesus (John 19:11) and Paul (Romans 13:1) for governmental authority. Both attribute its source to God.

Definition: From huper and echo; to hold oneself above, i.e. (figuratively) to excel; to be superior
KJV: "unto the higher" (1x), "supreme" (1x), "excellency" (1x), "better" (1x), "passeth" (1x)
All 5 NT occurrences:
Romans 13:1: "the higher powers" (huperechousais exousiais)
Philippians 2:3: "let each esteem other better than themselves"
Philippians 3:8: "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ"
Philippians 4:7: "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding"
1 Peter 2:13: "whether it be to the king, as supreme"
Note: Peter uses the same word (huperecho) in 1 Pet 2:13 that Paul uses in Rom 13:1, suggesting shared vocabulary on government submission.

Definition: From hupo and tasso; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey
KJV: "be subject" (4x), "submit yourselves" (4x), "subject" (3x), "are subject" (3x), "put under" (4x)
Key occurrences:
Romans 13:1: "Let every soul be subject" (hupotassestho)
Romans 13:5: "ye must needs be subject"
Romans 8:7: "is not subject to the law of God"
Romans 10:3: "have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God"
Titus 3:1: "to be subject to principalities and powers"
1 Peter 2:13: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man"
1 Peter 2:18: "Servants, be subject to your masters"
Ephesians 5:21-22: "Submitting yourselves one to another... Wives, submit"
Luke 2:51: Jesus "was subject unto them" (his parents)
Luke 10:17: "even the devils are subject unto us"
James 4:7: "Submit yourselves therefore to God"
Note: The verb is used for submission across multiple relationships (to God, government, employers, spouses, parents). It does not inherently mean unconditional obedience — context determines the scope.

Definition: Present participle of archo; a first (in rank or power): chief ruler, magistrate, prince
KJV: "rulers" (11x), "prince" (6x), "chief" (2x)
Key occurrences for this study:
Romans 13:3: "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil"
1 Corinthians 2:6: "nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought"
1 Corinthians 2:8: "Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory"
John 12:31: "now shall the prince of this world be cast out"
John 14:30: "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me"
John 16:11: "the prince of this world is judged"
Ephesians 2:2: "the prince of the power of the air"
Acts 3:17: "I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers"
Acts 4:5: "their rulers, and elders, and scribes"
Acts 4:26: "The rulers were gathered together against the Lord"
Acts 13:27: "they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers"
Critical observation: Paul uses archon in Rom 13:3 for civil rulers (positive function) AND in 1 Cor 2:6,8 for rulers who crucified Christ (negative outcome). John uses archon for "prince of this world" (Satan/spiritual ruler) in John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11.

Concept detected: LIFE (G5590 psyche = "soul")
The tool focused on "every soul" rather than authority/power concepts
Same-book results: Rom 2:9 "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil"
Same-author: 1 Tim 2:2 "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life"
Key finding: Paul uses "every soul" (pasa psyche) in Rom 13:1 in the same universal way he uses it in Rom 2:9 — meaning every person without exception.

Concept detected: GLORY (G1391 doxa = "of glory")
Same-chapter: 1 Cor 2:7 — "which God ordained before the world unto our glory"
Same-author: 2 Cor 4:4 "the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ...should shine unto them"
Key finding: Paul's "Lord of glory" in 1 Cor 2:8 connects to his broader doxa theology where Christ is the image and glory of God (2 Cor 4:4,6), making the rulers' crucifixion of Christ an act of ignorance, not a statement about government legitimacy per se.

Concept detected: WORD (G3004 lego = "say/speak")
Tool focused on speaking/word usage rather than government concepts
Matthew context: Jesus's various pronouncements in Matt 22 (parables, Sadducees, Pharisees)

Research phase: 2026-03-03