Quote:
Originally Posted by mizpeh
Did you read the portion I quoted from Boyd's book 'God at War'? There are many scriptures cited in that long quote that would answer your question.
What does Paul have to clarify when he is talking about entities that are not "flesh and blood". Paul cast out demons from people as did the rest of the apostles. It was a daily occurrence when Jesus walked on the earth. The people of that day understood there were unseen spirits, good and evil.
Context is key whether the writer is referring to earthly rulers and governments or spiritual rulers.
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Paul said submit to powers and principalities with no elaboration on " no, I don't mean Satan's demons, I mean civil authorities". You are proceeding under the assumption that powers and principalities are demonic entities, when you read that phrase you assume FIRST it means a certain thing, and only when a verse is pointed out that can't possibly support that meaning you equivocate the definition. I mean that you say "oh, but there it's totally different."
YET, the meaning of the term as demonic hierarchies never did get established. There is no verse which teaches a demonic hierarchy called "powers and principalities". It's just tossed out there by the apostle as if everyone knew what it meant. So what does it mean? Exactly what it says: authorities, and it is used consistently by the apostle.
I already explained this previously. As for Boyd, I'm not debating him, he's not here. And that's all I'll say about him.