This work, first published in 1958 in the series 'Quaestiones Disputatae', deals with the forces and phenomena mentioned in almost all New Testament writings that threaten the world as a whole and humanity in particular as evil, anti-divine powers seeking to claim dominion. As the exegete Heinrich Schlier explains in the first part, these are personal powers that, although originally stemming from God, seek to exert their own power, manifesting themselves in historical life as great powers and power ideologies, producing a 'culture of death' both within and outside the Christian world. In the second part, Schlier develops the idea that this fallen state of all being is broken by Christ's victory over the world: the power of crucified love disempowers all the powers of darkness. Understanding this, reading it through the lens of the fate of Jesus Christ, and applying it in one’s own life is the task assigned to Christians (as outlined in the third part): The Church, the final and particularly besieged field of action of the 'powers and authorities', must strive within its members to defeat these evil spirits and demons 'in faith and obedience, through works of righteousness and truth, and with the gift of discernment of spirits'.