“The Great Commission” begins with the following words spoken by Jesus to his disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Mat. 28:18) The word, authority, translates the Greek word exousia (ex-oo-si-a), a combination of two words–ex, meaning “out of” and ousia meaning “being.” Together, it literally means “out of being” in the sense of something being “sent out.” Out of being implies the existence of an “origin” or source that possesses the liberty to act as it sees fit, the inherent right to make decisions, the ability to exercise power or rule over something or someone as it would please itself to do so. Importantly, exousia, that is, authority, can be conferred, transferred or delegated from one person (the origin or source) to another.
