The Greek word exousia is translated into English as “authority” or “power” and appears over 100 times in the New Testament. Understanding the meaning and usage of exousia in the Bible provides insight into how God delegates and exercises His authority, how Jesus operated in God’s authority, and how believers are called to walk in spiritual authority for advancing God’s kingdom. Let’s explore what the Bible teaches about exousia.
The Authority of God
Throughout Scripture, exousia refers to God’s supreme authority over all things as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. As Lord of all, God possesses absolute sovereignty, power, and dominion. Several verses point to God’s exousia:
Matthew 28:18 – “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'”
Revelation 19:1 – “After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.'”
1 Chronicles 29:11-12 – “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all.”
God’s supreme authority establishes His right to rule and act as He perfectly wills. All exousia originates from Him, and He delegates authority according to His divine purposes.
The Authority of Jesus
The New Testament liberally applies exousia to Jesus Christ, affirming His divinity and authority as the Son of God. During His earthly ministry, Jesus astonished people because He taught, healed, and delivered with authority unparalleled by the scribes (Matthew 7:29, Mark 1:22). When the seventy-two disciples returned to Jesus from being sent out, they marveled, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17). Jesus operated in the Father’s authority through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:9-10 declares that God has “highly exalted [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” All authority in heaven and earth was given to Jesus after the resurrection (Matthew 28:18). Currently reigning in heaven, Jesus possesses “all rule and authority and power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:20-22). As Lord of lords, Jesus holds preeminence and supreme authority over all creation.
Believers must submit to Christ’s lordship, recognizing the exousia of His name and His right to govern our lives. We obey and serve Jesus because He holds the highest authority.
Spiritual Authority for Believers
For advancing God’s kingdom, Jesus gives believers a measure of delegated spiritual authority to overcome the powers of darkness. Luke 9:1 states, “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.” The seventy-two disciples also exercised Jesus’ authority to cast out demons and heal the sick (Luke 10:17,19).
In Christ’s authority, believers have power over the enemy and power to carry out the work of ministry on earth. Ephesians 1:20-23 teaches that God “raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion…And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” As members of Christ’s body, we share in His supreme authority.
Through faith in the exalted Christ, Christians can powerfully advance God’s Kingdom and manifest His glory on earth. The authority believers walk in comes through abiding in Jesus Christ and obeying His commands (John 15:7-8). We must pray and act according to His authority, not our own wisdom or desires. Surrendered to the lordship of Christ, believers gain authority to be witnesses and make disciples (Acts 1:8), minister in the power of the Spirit (Acts 6:8), exercise spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:11), enforce victory over satanic powers (Luke 10:19), practice church discipline when necessary (Matthew 16:19, 18:18), and destroy spiritual strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
However, Scripture warns against rebelling against human authority structures instituted by God, such as government, parents, employers, church leaders, and husbands (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-6:9; Hebrews 13:17). Respecting governing authorities reflects our submission to Christ’s authority. We overcome evil with good rather than forcefully asserting our authority (Romans 12:21).
Angelic Authorities
The Bible also mentions angelic beings who possess a measure of delegated authority under God’s supreme authority. Daniel 10 depicts heavenly messengers exercising authority in the spiritual realm on behalf of God’s kingdom. Elsewhere, angels carry out wondrous acts according to God’s authoritative commands (Psalm 103:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:7). Scripture refers to rankings of angelic authorities including thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 1:21). As servants of the Most High God, angels exercise authority within God’s purposes.
Demonic Usurpers of Authority
In contrast, the devil and demons operate illegitimately outside their designated realm by usurping authority not belonging to them. These fallen angels resist and subvert the Kingdom of God. Ephesians 6:12 calls them “rulers,” “authorities,” and “cosmic powers over this present darkness.”
2 Corinthians 4:4 describes Satan as “the god of this world” who blinds unbelievers from the gospel. Jesus called the devil “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). Demons currently have influence, yet one day their usurped authority will be utterly destroyed when Christ returns to establish His rightful universal reign (1 Corinthians 15:24).
Believers can resist demonic authorities through the power of God and authority of Christ (James 4:7; Luke 10:19). But we must avoid binding territorial spirits outside of our delegated authority. Scripture nowhere encourages believers to directly address, bind, rebuke or command evil powers. Our authority comes through proclaiming the gospel, not confronting demons.
Governing Authorities
Human government also operates under delegated authority from God (Romans 13:1). Leaders must be submitted to as servants of God. However, when governing authorities overstep and command things contradicting God’s Word, “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Scripture commends those who resist ungodly decrees and suffer injustice, like Daniel and his friends resisting idolatry (Daniel 3 & 6), and the apostles continuing to preach Christ despite authorities forbidding it (Acts 5:40-42). We stand firm in obedience to the highest authority.
Authority Through God’s Word
The Bible itself carries divine authority as God’s inspired Word. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The voice of the Lord is powerful and authoritative (Psalm 29:4). God’s Word is equated with His authoritative presence and action, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose” (Isaiah 55:11). Standing on the authority of God’s Word brings breakthrough.
Authority Misused
While delegated authority serves God’s kingdom purposes, Scripture often reveals the devastating effects of authority exploited or misused.
In the Old Testament, many kings abused their God-given authority by leading people into idolatry and sin. Even righteous King David misused authority by committing adultery with Bathsheba and abusing his power to have her husband killed (2 Samuel 11). The prophet Samuel’s sons Joel and Abijah perverted justice and exploited their authority as judges for dishonest gain (1 Samuel 8:3).
Among the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, the scribes and Pharisees clung to traditional authority at the expense of obeying God’s Word properly (Mark 7:8-9, 13). Jesus confronted the teachers of the law who weighed people down with “heavy burdens hard to bear” while not practicing what they preached (Matthew 23:4).
Jesus warned His disciples against mimicking the hypocritical religious authorities in lording power over others like Gentile rulers (Matthew 20:25-26). Leadership must emulate the servant heart of Jesus, who models the proper use of authority to serve others in humility.
In the early church, some Corinthian believers misused spiritual gifts, trying to speak authoritatively beyond what the Spirit gifting empowered them to say (1 Corinthians 14:32). God’s gifts must be exercised in loving order under His authority, or else confusion and misuse results.
Authority Requires Humility and Obedience
In contrast to misuse of authority through pride or sin, Scriptures shows the beauty of authority coupled with humility and wholehearted obedience to God.
Jesus perfectly modeled this. Although possessing all authority, Christ humbled himself to serve, obey the Father, and submit to unjust crucifixion death (Philippians 2:5-8). He fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant who delivers salvation gently and humbly (Isaiah 42:1-3). Despite his high authority, Jesus washed his disciples feet as an example of servanthood (John 13:15).
Centurion leaders exemplified humble obedience under authority. A centurion in Capernaum amazed Jesus by demonstrating faith that Christ merely speak a word to heal his servant, recognizing Jesus’ authority (Matthew 8:5-13). At the crucifixion, a centurion observing Christ’s death glorified God saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Luke 23:47)
The early church exercised authority not through top-down control but through empowering Spirit-led elders who taught God’s Word (Acts 20:28-32) and equipped all believers for works of service (Ephesians 4:11-16). Servant leadership that raises up and cares for others reflects the heart of Christ in authority.
Authority in Prayer
For exercising authority in God’s kingdom, prayer is essential along with comprehending Christ’s authority given to believers. 1 John 5:14 says “this is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” Praying according to God’s will unleashes His power and authority to answer. Matthew 21:22 connects prayer and faith saying, “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Believers gain authority in prayer through abiding in Christ, the true vine (John 15:7). As we remain in intimate fellowship with Jesus, our prayers carry authority to prevail over darkness.
Conclusion
The Bible contains a theology of authority that helps us understand God’s sovereign reign, Christ’s supremacy, the dominion of angels, the rebellion of demons, the responsibility of human government, the power of God’s Word, the potential for authority abused or exploited, and believers’ delegated authority to advance God’s Kingdom in the world through prayer, preaching the gospel, making disciples, and walking in humility. Grasping what Scripture teaches about exousia ultimately points us to revering God’s transcendent authority and submitting our lives to Christ as Lord of all.