Lexical Summary dunamis: Power, strength, ability, might, miracle Original Word: δύναμις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ability, power, strength From dunamai; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself) -- ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work. see GREEK dunamai HELPS Word-studies 1411 dýnamis (from 1410 /dýnamai, "able, having ability") – properly, "ability to perform" (L-N); for the believer, power to achieve by applying the Lord's inherent abilities. "Power through God's ability" (1411 /dýnamis) is needed in every scene of life to really grow in sanctification and prepare for heaven (glorification). 1411 (dýnamis) is a very important term, used 120 times in the NT. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dunamai Definition (miraculous) power, might, strength NASB Translation ability (4), meaning (1), mightily (1), mighty (1), miracle (2), miracles (17), miraculous powers (3), power (83), powers (6), strength (2), wealth (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1411: δύναμιςδύναμις, δυνάμεως, ἡ; (from Homer down); the Sept. for חַיִל, גְּבוּרָה, עֹז, כֹּחַ, צָבָא (an army, a host); strength, ability, power; a. universally, "inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth": Luke 1:17; Acts 4:7; 1 Corinthians 4:20; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ἡ δύναμις ἐν ἀσθένεια τελεῖται (R G τελειοῦται)); b. specifically, the power of performing miracles: Acts 6:8; πᾶσα δύναμις, every kind of power of working miracles (with the addition of καί σημείοις καί τέρασι), 2 Thessalonians 2:9; plural: (Matthew 13:54; Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:14); 1 Corinthians 12:28; Galatians 3:5; ἐνεργήματα δυνάμεων, 1 Corinthians 12:10; by metonymy, of the cause for the effect, a mighty work (cf. Winers Grammar, 32; Trench, § xci.): δύναμιν ποιεῖν, Mark 6:5; Mark 9:39; so in the plural, Mark 6:2 Luke 19:37; joined with σημεῖα, Acts 8:13; with σημεῖα καί τέρατα, Acts 2:22; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:4 (?); ποιεῖν δυνάμεις, Matthew 7:22; ( c. moral power and excellence of soul: 1 Corinthians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Ephesians 3:16; Colossians 1:11. d. the power and influence which belong to riches; (pecuniary ability), wealth: τοῦ στρήνους, 'riches ministering to luxury' (Grotius), Revelation 18:3; κατά δύναμιν καί ὑπέρ (others, δύναμιν, according to their means, yea, beyond their means, 2 Corinthians 8:3; (in this sense, for חַיִל, the Sept. Deuteronomy 8:17; Ruth 4:11; not infrequent Greek writings, as Xenophon, Cyril 8, 4, 34; an. 7, 7, 21 (36)). e. power and resources arising from numbers: Revelation 3:8. f. power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts, (so, both in singular and in plural, often in Greek writings from Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, on; in the Sept. and in Apocrypha); hence, δυνάμεις τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, the host of heaven, Hebraistically the stars: Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:26; and δυνάμεις ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, Mark 13:25; equivalent to הַשָּׁמַיִם צְבָא, 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 23:4; Isaiah 34:4; Jeremiah 8:2; Daniel 8:10, etc. (cf. σαβαώθ). g. Like the Latinvis andpotestas, equivalent to the (force i. e.) meaning of a word or expression: 1 Corinthians 14:11; (Plato, Crat., p. 394 h.; Polybius 20, 9, 11; Dionysius Halicarnassus 1, 68; Dio Cuss. 55, 3; others). δύναμις foremost reveals the limitless ability of God. Romans 1:20 teaches that “His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,” anchoring omnipotence in creation itself. Revelation 4:11 extols the same truth: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things.” Every later use of δύναμις rests on this foundational display of God’s ability to call the universe into existence and sustain it by “the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). Messianic Power in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ The Gospels repeatedly pair Jesus with δύναμις. Luke 4:14 records that He returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit,” while Luke 5:17 notes that “the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.” His miracles are “mighty works” (Matthew 11:20-23; Mark 6:2). Even the hemorrhaging woman felt power flow from Him (Mark 5:30). The transfiguration promise—“some standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1)—looks ahead to resurrection and Pentecost, confirming Him as the power-bearing Messiah. Power Displayed in Miracles and Signs Acts opens with the pledge, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8), and continues by depicting healing at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:12), extraordinary miracles through Paul (Acts 19:11), and the apostles’ testimony given “with great power” (Acts 4:33). Such signs authenticate the gospel, never standing alone, but always pointing to Christ’s lordship. The Gospel as the Power of God for Salvation Paul’s theology centers on δύναμις. Romans 1:16 declares, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The message, not mere persuasion, carries divine efficacy. 1 Corinthians 1:18 affirms that “to us who are being saved it is the power of God,” contrasting human wisdom with supernatural enablement (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). Resurrection and Eschatological Power Jesus “was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). That same power will raise believers’ bodies in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43) and overthrow every opposing authority at His return (1 Corinthians 15:24). Cosmic upheavals are foretold: “the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29), and the Son of Man will appear “with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). Power Bestowed on Believers through the Holy Spirit New-covenant life is Spirit-empowered life. Ephesians 3:16 prays that believers be “strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being.” Colossians 1:11 envisions being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might.” The Spirit’s enabling touches witness (1 Thessalonians 1:5), endurance (2 Timothy 1:7-8), and service (Ephesians 3:20). Spiritual Gifts and “Powers” in the Church δύναμις titles a category of gifts: “to another the working of miracles” (literally “powers,” 1 Corinthians 12:10). God appoints “miracles” in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28-29) to edify the body and advance the mission. Galatians 3:5 reminds the Galatians that God “supplies you with the Spirit and works miracles among you,” grounding charismatic activity in faith, not works of law. Apostolic Authority and Ministry Effectiveness Paul labored “with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29). His ambition was to fulfill his calling “by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God” (Romans 15:19). The kingdom, he asserted, “is not a matter of talk but of power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). Apostolic weakness only magnified Christ’s strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 13:4). Angelic and Demonic Powers δυνάμεις can denote supernatural ranks. Jesus is now “far above all rule and authority and power” (Ephesians 1:21) and has angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him (1 Peter 3:22). Believers wrestle against these unseen forces (implied in Colossians 2:15), but Christ’s triumph guarantees ultimate victory. Counterfeit and Misused Power Scripture warns of deceptive displays: the lawless one’s coming is “in accordance with the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Simon the Samaritan boasted that he was “the Great Power of God” (Acts 8:10) until confronted by apostolic truth. A form of godliness may “deny its power” (2 Timothy 3:5), calling for discernment and separation. Praise and Doxology of Power Heaven responds in worship: “Salvation and glory and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:1). The sevenfold doxology includes “power” (Revelation 5:12; 7:12), culminating in eternal acknowledgment that all might is God’s. Pastoral and Practical Implications 1. Proclamation—Confidence rests not in human eloquence but in the inherent power of the gospel. Thus δύναμις threads through Scripture as the pulsating energy of God’s own life—revealed in creation, embodied in Christ, bestowed by the Spirit, operative in the church, opposed by evil, and destined to triumph in the new heavens and new earth. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:13 Noun-NFSGRK: καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ KJV: and the power, and INT: and the power and the Matthew 7:22 N-AFP Matthew 11:20 N-NFP Matthew 11:21 N-NFP Matthew 11:23 N-NFP Matthew 13:54 N-NFP Matthew 13:58 N-AFP Matthew 14:2 N-NFP Matthew 22:29 N-AFS Matthew 24:29 N-NFP Matthew 24:30 N-GFS Matthew 25:15 N-AFS Matthew 26:64 N-GFS Mark 5:30 N-AFS Mark 6:2 N-NFP Mark 6:5 N-AFS Mark 6:14 N-NFP Mark 9:1 N-DFS Mark 9:39 N-AFS Mark 12:24 N-AFS Mark 13:25 N-NFP Mark 13:26 N-GFS Mark 14:62 N-GFS Luke 1:17 N-DFS Luke 1:35 N-NFS Strong's Greek 1411 |
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