³⁸ Yes, I am ·sure [convinced] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ·ruling spirits [or heavenly rulers; or demons; ^Lrulers; ^Tprincipalities], nothing ·now [in the present], nothing in the future, no ·powers [or spiritual powers/authorities],

¹⁰ His purpose was that through the church all the rulers and powers in the heavenly ·world [realm; places; 1:3, 20; 2:6] will now know God’s ·wisdom, which has so many forms [multi-faceted/multi-dimensional wisdom].

¹² [For] Our ·fight [conflict; struggle] is not against ·people on earth [^Lflesh and blood] but against the rulers and authorities and the ·powers [or cosmic powers/rulers] of this ·world’s darkness [^Ldarkness], against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly ·world [realm; places].

¹⁶ ·Through his power [^LIn him; or By him] all things were created [John 1:3; Heb. 1:2]—things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, all ·powers [or heavenly authorities; ^Lthrones], ·authorities [dominions; kingdoms], ·lords [rulers], and ·rulers [authorities; ^Cthese four may refer to angelic hierarchies, or to earthly and heavenly rulers]. All things were created through Christ and for Christ.

¹⁵ ·God [or Christ; ^LHe] ·stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority [^Ldisarmed/despoiled the rulers and authorities]. With the cross, he won the victory and ·showed the world that they were powerless [publicly shamed them; made a public spectacle of them; ^Clike a triumphant general displaying his captives in a victory parade].