This word study is on ἄρχοντα within Ephesians 2:2. There are eight steps to formulate a conclusion that ἄρχοντα translates to “ruler.” While ἄρχοντα is the word within Ephesians 2:2, ἄρχων is the lemma, and αρχω is the root. ἄρχοντα is a noun that has a case of Accusative, a gender that is Masculine, and number that is Singular.[1] Research will be on the lemma, ἄρχων, and the word, ἄρχοντα, depending on the resources.
The context of the word within the passage is important. The author is using this noun to describe a spirit that has control over a person’s offenses and sins and is working against the obedience of God. “in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the ἄρχοντα of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:2, New American Standard Bible 2020, modified). In context involving an evil spirit in a ruling capacity, ἄρχων, means ruler, lord, prince.[2]
When reviewing the semantic range of ἄρχων, there is an analysis on diachronic usage, throughout time, and synchronic usage, at the same time. For diachronic analysis, the Septuagint has many instances of ἄρχοντα within the old testament, and NASB2020 has them translated as either ruler, leader, king, crown of the head, commander, chief, an official, governor, princes, and a peg. When reviewing the range within Greek Classics, specifically Laws by Plato,[3] the English translation for ἄρχοντα is commander.[4] The Perseus Classics collection has the translation as ruler and commander. Louw and Nida define ἄρχων as, “one who rules or governs—‘ruler, governor.’”[5]
Analyzing synchronic usage within the New Testament, ἄρχων G807 (archōn), ruler, prince states, “In addition, the term ἄρχων is applied to evil spirits… In Eph 2:2 he is described as ‘the ruler of the kingdom of the air.’”[6] Another analysis within the New Testament using Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament 28th edition, and NASB2020 reveal Luke 12:58 as magistrate, Acts 7:27, 7:35, and 23:5 as ruler, and this passage of Ephesians 2:2 as prince.[7] Delling states, “The ἄρχων has a prominent position in which he exercises authority; he is thus in the first instance a ‘high official.’”[8]
In conclusion, the root word, αρχω, means to rule, begin. The lemma, ἄρχων, means ruler, leader, and official. The specific word ἄρχοντα, has many words that were described earlier but the one that best fits for today’s translation in Ephesians 2:2 is “ruler”. The New King James Version, NASB2020, and the English Standard Version use “prince”. This does not translate well in 2024 where many young adults do not relate the title “prince” to ruling over something. This is mainly because princes are not in the United States and the only ones in the news are the sons of the King and Queen. They do not have any oversight or power like the word “prince” did in past times. The word “ruler” is unmistakable and cannot be misunderstood easily.
Bibliography
Aland, Kurt, Barbara Aland, Johannes Karavidopoulos, Carlo M. Martini, and Bruce M. Metzger. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th Edition. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.
Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
Interlinear Bible: Greek-English Interlinear New Testament (WORDsearch). Bellingham, WA: WORDsearch, 2014.
Kittel, Gerhard, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, eds. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–.
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
Plato. “Platonis Opera, Ed. John Burnet.” Medford, MA: Oxford University Press, 1903.
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes & 11 Translated by R.G. Bury. Vol. 10. Medford, MA: Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1967 & 1968.
Silva, Moises. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Zondervan, 2014.
[1] Interlinear Bible: Greek-English Interlinear New Testament (Bellingham, WA: WORDsearch, 2014), Eph 2:2.
[2] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 140.
[3] Plato, “Platonis Opera, Ed. John Burnet” (Medford, MA: Oxford University Press, 1903).
[4] Plato, Plato in Twelve Volumes & 11 Translated by R.G. Bury., vol. 10 (Medford, MA: Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1967 & 1968).
[5] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 477.
[6] Moises Silva, New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (Zondervan, 2014), Volume 1, Alpha (A).
[7] Kurt Aland et al., Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th Edition. (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012), Eph 2:2.
[8] Gerhard Delling, “Ἄρχω, Ἀρχή, Ἀπαρχή, Ἀρχαῖος, Ἀρχηγός, Ἄρχων,” ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 488.