378 EPHESIANS,

Our conflict is not with man, but against princi- palities, against powers, against the rulers of the dark- ness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The signification of the terms here used, the context, and the analogy of Scripture, render it certain that the reference is to evil spirits. They are called in Scripture δαιμόνια, demons, who are declared to be fallen angels, 2 Pet. 2,4; Jude 6, and are now subject to Satan their prince. They are called ἀρχαί, princes, those who are first or high in rank; and ἐξουσίαι, poten- tates, those invested with authority. These terms have probably reference to the relation of the spirits among themselves. The designation κοσμοκράτορες, rulers of the world, expresses the power or authority which they exercise over the world. The κόσμος, i. 6. mankind, is subject to them; comp. 2 Cor. 4,4; John 16, 11. The word is properly used only of those rulers whose dominion was universal. And in this sense the Jews called the angel of death κοσμοκράτωρ. In the follow- ing clause tod σκότους τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, of the dark- ness of this world ; the words τοῦ αἰῶνος, on the authority of the best manuscripts, are generally omit- ted. The sense is substantially the same whichever reading be adopted. ‘These evil spirits are the rulers of this darkness. The meaning either is, that they reign over the existing state of ignorance and aliena- tion from God; i. e. the world in its apostasy is sub- ject to their control; or this darkness is equivalent to kingdom of darkness. Rulers of the kingdom of dark- ness, which includes in it, according to the scriptural