DOMINION. The tr. of a number of words implying “mastery” and “sovereign authority,” of which the most frequently used are the following: (1) מָשַׁל֮, H5440, “to rule”; (2) רָדָה֒, H8097, “to tread down”; (3) שִׁלְטﯴן, H8950, “to have power over”; (4) מֶמְשָׁלָה, H4939, “to rule”; (5) κράτος, G3197, “strength, power”—used only in doxologies; (6) κυριεύω, G3259, “to exercise lordship”; (7) κυριότης, G3262, “lordship.”

The following forms of dominion have special Biblical and theological significance: (1) God’s rule over the universe (Ps 22:28); (2) man’s dominion over nature given to him by God (Gen 1:26; Ps 8:6); (3) Christ’s eschatological rule (1 Cor 15:24-28; 2 Thess 2:8); (4) the saints’ eschatological rule with Christ (2 Tim 2:12; Rev 3:21); (5) the believer’s freedom from the dominion of sin (Rom 6:9, 14; 7:1).

The word κυριότης, G3262, is found in four passages: Ephesians 1:21 (KJV, RSV “dominion”), Colossians 1:16 (pl.; KJV, RSV “dominions”), Jude 8 (KJV “dominion”; RSV “authority”), 2 Peter 2:10 (KJV “government”; RSV “authority”). The context shows that in Ephesians and Colossians a rank or order of angels is meant. There is no necessary reference to evil angels, but a comparison of these passages with Ephesians 2:2; 6:12 shows that they need not be excluded. The meaning of κυριότης, G3262, in Jude and 2 Peter is perplexing and has been much disputed. The answer prob. lies in one of the following suggested interpretations: (1) Angels are referred to in both passages, or only in Peter but not in Jude. (2) The reference is to the power and majesty of God, or the Lordship of Christ. (3) The reference is to legitimate authorities in the Church or to the lordship of civil rulers, who are despised and spoken against by evil men in the Church.

Bibliography H. Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek (1892), 385; J. B. Lightfoot, St. Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians and Philemon (1892), 152-154; G. Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, III (1965), 1096, 1097.