Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Malachi151 · 12-14-2006, 01:51 PM

If someone here has this reference, can they please provide a quote of their definition of archons?

Thanks

Peter Kirby · 12-14-2006, 02:25 PM

Here it is.

Quote:

ἄρχων.*
The ἄρχων has a prominent position in which he exercises authority; he is thus in the first instance a “high official.” Most civic constitutions distinguish ἄρχοντες, βουλή and δῆμος (Jos.Ant., 16, 172 of Ephesus; 14, 190 of Sidon).1 It is also used for consul and praefectus.
In religious usage the word is comparatively rare; Diels, I, 318, 7: ἔστι γὰρ … ἄρχων ἀπάντωυ θεός (cf. Corp. Herm., XI, 7: πάσης τάξεως ἄρχοντος). More important is the fact that in a myth of Plato (Leg., X, 903b) we meet archontes who exercise a divinely willed oversight over individual parts of creation. These are cosmic rulers with specific spheres of authority: τούτοις δ᾽ εἰσὶν ἄρχοντες προστεταγμ�*νοι ἑκάστοις … τ�*λος ἀπειργασμ�*νοι; they are thus given a positive value. Cf. also Iamblichus Myst., II, 3.
In the LXX, too, the ἄρχων is one who exercises authoritative influence; the term is used for the national, local or tribal leader from Gn. to 2 Ch. In the historical books it is used for a general, though sometimes we also read of the ἄρχοντες τῶν ἱερ�*ων (Neh. 12:7). In the later books it more often denotes officials of the overlord of Palestine (ἄρχων τοῦ βασιλ�*ως, Da. 2:15).
In Da. Θ 10:13, 20f. cf. 12:1 (also Da. LXX: 10:13) it denotes the celestial beings which guard and represent earthly states (popularly identified with the corresponding peoples), and on the rank and power (→ ἀρχή) of which in the spirit world the position of these states depends. The ἄρχων of Israel has the name of Michael. His victory (or that of the One like a man) over the ἄρχοντες of the Persians and Greeks leads to the dominion of the Jews over these peoples.2 To a large extent the ἄρχοντες are opponents of the people of God who are resisted by the One like a man (later the Messiah) and His allies, and who will be defeated in the last days. In its conflict with earthly enemies the people of God is really engaged with these celestial powers. The same concept is found in Pesikt. Kah., 23 (150b–151a): שרי אמות העולם ἄρχοντες ἐθνῶν τοῦ κόσμου, of Babylon, Greece etc. Cf. also M. Ex., 15, 1 (36b, 6 f., Friedm.): In the future world God will call the princes (שריהם) of the kingdoms to account before He calls the kingdoms themselves.
In the NT ἄρχων 1. denotes Roman and Jewish officials of all kinds, often without specifying the particular office. In Jn. and Lk. the ἄρχοντες are groups in the Jewish people, distinguished by Lk. from the πρεσβύτεροι, γραμματεῖς, ἀρχιεπεῖς, and by Jn. from the Pharisees (and sometimes even opposed to them, 12:42), though they may be fellow-members of religious ἀρχαί. Occasionally ἄρχων may simply mean “respected.” There is a transition to a more religious sense in relation to Moses in Ac. 7:35.
2. It is used doxologically of the exalted Christ in Rev. 1:5: ἄρχων τῶν βασιλ�*ων τῆς γῆς (the only application to Christ).
3. It denotes those who have at their command supernatural and ungodly powers. In the Synoptists the Pharisees try to counteract the impression of Jesus’ healings of demoniacs by arguing that they are accomplished in the name of the ἄρχων of demons (→ Βεελζεβούλ in Mt. 12:24 and Lk. 11:15); the suggestion in Mk. 3:22 is that Beelzebub himself is active in Jesus.3 Here we see already that for the NT the work of Jesus is a conflict with supernatural powers. In Jn. the tension is carried to the point of almost a transitory dualism. The whole κόσμος is ruled by this ἄρχων.4 But the Father is with Jesus in the struggle, and his power is already broken (12:31).5 Judgment is already accomplished on him (16:11). For he tries to put forth his power on the sinless One (14:30) and to engulf Him like a sinner in the destiny of death, his sphere of dominion.6 Paul speaks of several ἄρχοντες7 in 1 C. 2:6, 8. They have been rendered inoperative by treating the Lord of δόξα as their prey in ignorance of the divine plan of salvation.8,9 The πνεῦμα of the ἄρχων (Eph. 2:2) works irresistibly in non-Christians; only Christians, through the life given them by God (Eph. 2:5), have the power to withstand it. The chief of these personified powers is the ἄρχων of the power(s) of the air10 (Eph. 2:2; → καταργ�*ω, ἀρχή).
Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964-c1976. Vols. 5-9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) . Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, MI

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Peter Kirby

jgibson000 · 12-14-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malachi151

If someone here has this reference, can they please provide a quote of their definition of archons?

Thanks

I'd be grateful if you and everyone who posts on this topic would note not only that there is no Greek word ARXONS (archons), but that the nominative plural of ARXWN is ARXONTES .

JG

Malachi151 · 12-14-2006, 03:38 PM

Thanks Peter!

Toto · 12-14-2006, 04:00 PM

What is the standard method of referring to the plural of archon when writing in English? Archons - (seems to be common - see for example wikipedia.) Archontes is the name of a Russian metal band) - or Arxontes?

jgibson000 · 12-14-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

What is the standard method of referring to the plural of archon when writing in English? Archons - (seems to be common - see for example wikipedia.)

Common does not mean correct, especially since this spelling seems to be derived not from a familiariity with the Greek word allegedly being transliterated, but from an episode of Star Trek where the script writer apparently wanted to use a fancy word for "rulers".

Quote:

Archontes is the name of a Russian metal band) - or Arxontes?

It depends on the transliteration scheme one uses. If you use that at Perseus

the Chi is transliterated with "ch".

But whatever one's preference in this matter, the fact remains that there is no Greek word, let alone the plural of ARXWN (or, to use the B-Greek scheme, ARCWN), that was spelled alpha rho chi omicron nu sigma.

JG

12-14-2006, 01:51 PM	#1
Malachi151 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 8,674	Archons in Kittel's Unabridged Theological Dictionary of the New Testament? If someone here has this reference, can they please provide a quote of their definition of archons? Thanks

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12-14-2006, 03:38 PM	#4
Malachi151 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 8,674	Thanks Peter!

12-14-2006, 04:00 PM	#5
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	What is the standard method of referring to the plural of archon when writing in English? Archons - (seems to be common - see for example wikipedia.) Archontes is the name of a Russian metal band) - or Arxontes?

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