Then comes the end: this is the plain meaning of the text, and the one preferred by recent commentators. The end refers to “the end of the age” or “the end of the world.” One may render this clause as “after that the end of the world comes” or “after that this age will come to an end.”

In the rest of the verse, Revised Standard Version follows the Greek order quite literally, whereas Good News Bible rearranges the events to correspond more closely to their ordering in time. Many languages will find it helpful to follow Good News Bible‘s ordering.

It is impossible to establish clear-cut distinctions between rule, authority, and power. These words overlap considerably in meaning with the word translated kingdom, though kingdom refers in this verse to a power different from the other terms. Paul is referring to angels or spirits (obviously “evil”) that were thought of as controlling the area between heaven and earth (see comment on 8.5).

Good News Bible‘s “spiritual” in “spiritual rulers” is not in the Greek text but is almost certainly implied here. Translators in some languages will have to translate this phrase as “ruling spirits.”

Destroying does not mean that the spiritual powers will be absolutely destroyed, but that they will be made completely ineffective. Good News Bible uses the word “overcome.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .