to angels cannot be historically traced. The names themselves suggest the reason of their use. Angels are called principalities, powers and dominions, either be- cause of their exalted nature; or because through them God exercises his power and dominion; or because of their relation to each other. It is possible indeed that Paul had a polemic object in the use of these terms. This epistle and especially that to the Colossians, con- tain many intimations that the emanation theory, which afterwards assumed the form of Gnosticism, had already made its appearance in Asia Minor. And as the advo- cates of that theory used these terms to designate the different effluxes from the central Being, Paul may have borrowed their phraseology in order to refute their doctrine. Be this as it may, the obvious meaning of the passage is that Christ is exalted above all created beings.
And every name, i. e., as the connection shows, every name of excellence or honour, that is named. That is, above every creature bearing such name as prince, potentate, ruler, or whatever other title there may be.
Not only in this world, but also in that which ἐδ to COME, EV τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι. That is, not only in this age, but in the age ἴο come. The words may have the general sense of, here or hereafter ; as in Matt. 12, 32. According to Jewish usage, they de- signate the period before and the period after the advent of the Messiah. To this, however, there is no refer- ence in the context. As in Matthew these words are used to express in the strongest terms that the sm