Ruler

1. archon
2. arche
3. kosmokrator
4. politarches
5. architriklinos

archon "a ruler, chief, prince," is translated "rulers," e.g., in 1_Cor_2:6,8, RV (AV, "princes"); "ruler," Rev_1:5 (AV, "prince"). See MAGISTRATE, archon_under_PRINCE.

See also : archon in other topics

arche "a rule, sovereignty," is rendered "rulers" in Luke_12:11, RV (AV, "magistrates"). See BEGINNING.

See also : arche in other topics

kosmokrator denotes "a ruler of this world" (contrast pantokrator, "almighty"). In Greek literature, in Orphic hymns, etc., and in rabbinic writings, it signifies a "ruler" of the whole world, a world lord. In the NT it is used in Eph_6:12, "the world rulers (of this darkness)," RV, AV, "the rulers (of the darkness) of this world." The context ("not against flesh and blood") shows that not earthly potentates are indicated, but spirit powers, who, under the permissive will of God, and in consequence of human sin, exercise satanic and therefore antagonistic authority over the world in its present condition of spiritual darkness and alienation from God. The suggested rendering "the rulers of this dark world" is ambiguous and not phraseologically requisite. Cp. John_12:31; John_14:30; John_16:11; 2_Cor_4:4.

politarches "a ruler of a city" (polis, "a city," archo, "to rule"), "a politarch," is used in Acts_17:6,8, of the magistrates in Thessalonica, before whom the Jews, with a mob of market idlers, dragged Jason and other converts, under the charge of showing hospitality to Paul and Silas, and of treasonable designs against the emperor. Thessalonica was a "free" city and the citizens could choose their own politarchs. The accuracy of Luke has been vindicated by the use of the term, for while classical authors use the terms poliarchos and politarchos of similar "rulers," the form used by Luke is supported by inscriptions discovered at Thessalonica, one of which mentions Sosipater, Secundus, and Gaius among the politarchs, names occurring as those of Paul's companions. Prof. Burton of Chicago, in a paper on "The Politarchs," has recorded 17 inscriptions which attest their existence, thirteen of which belong to Macedonia and five presumably to Thessalonica itself, illustrating the influence of Rome in the municipal organization of the place.

architriklinos denotes "the superintendent of a banquet," whose duty lay in arranging the tables and food (arche, "ruler," triklinos, lit., "a room with three couches"), John_2:8,9.

Notes:
(1) In Mark_13:9; Luke_21:12, AV, hegemon, "a leader, a governor of a province," is translated "ruler" (RV, "governor"). See GOVERNOR, hegemon_under_PRINCE.
(2) For "ruler" of the synagogue, see SYNAGOGUE.
(3) In Matt_24:45, AV, kathistemi, "to appoint," is translated "hath made ruler" (RV, "hath set"); so in Matt_24:47; Matt_25:21,23; Luke_12:42,44.

See also : architriklinos in other topics