Lexical Summary dunateó: To be able, to have power, to be capable Original Word: δυνατέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be mighty. From dunatos; to be efficient (figuratively) -- be mighty. see GREEK dunatos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1414 dynatéō– to exert overwhelming unstoppable power. See 1411 (dynamis). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dunatos Definition to be able, be powerful NASB Translation able (2), mighty (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1414: δυνατέωδυνατέω, δυνάτω; (δυνατός); to be powerful or mighty; show oneself powerful: 2 Corinthians 13:3 (opposed to ἀσθενῶ); to be able, have power: followed by an infinitive, Romans 14:4 L T Tr WH 2 Corinthians 9:8 L T Tr WH. Not found in secular writings nor in the Sept. Topical Lexicon Meaning and ScopeUsed only three times in the New Testament, the verb highlights the active, effectual power that God exercises and imparts. It focuses less on raw capability and more on a power that accomplishes a specific purpose, whether sustaining a believer, providing for ministry, or manifesting the strength of Christ among His people. Occurrences in the New Testament • Romans 14:4 – “And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” These occurrences form a progression: God upholds the individual (Romans), supplies the church (2 Corinthians 9), and displays the power of Christ in corporate discipline and restoration (2 Corinthians 13). Relation to the Character of God The verb underscores divine omnipotence expressed relationally. God’s power is neither detached nor abstract; it is directed toward His servants’ perseverance, the church’s generosity, and the vindication of Christ’s authority. Each text connects ability with covenant faithfulness—He is “able” because He is committed to His people. Theological Themes 1. Perseverance by Grace – In Romans 14:4, the power ensures a believer’s stability amid disputable matters, reinforcing the doctrine that final standing rests on God’s sustaining grace, not human merit. Pastoral and Practical Implications • Assurance in Weakness: The struggling conscience finds comfort that the Lord, not personal resolve, secures one’s standing. Historical Reflection Early patristic writers echoed these emphases. Chrysostom, commenting on 2 Corinthians 9:8, stressed that divine ability removes every excuse for stinginess; Augustine, reflecting on Romans 14, saw God’s empowering grace as the bulwark against judgmentalism within the body. Throughout the centuries, the church has appealed to this verb to affirm God’s sufficiency in missions, benevolence, and spiritual perseverance. Intertextual Connections The thought world of these passages recalls Old Testament declarations such as “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14) and “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). The Pauline usage gathers these streams into a Christ-centered proclamation: the same power that parted seas and raised Christ now sustains believers and ministries. Contemporary Application 1. Spiritual Formation: Prayerfully entrust areas of weakness to the One who “is able to make you stand.” The verb thus invites modern readers to exchange self-reliance for God-reliance, celebrating a power that not only can act but unfailingly accomplishes His redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations δυνατει δυνατεί δυνατεῖ dunatei dynatei dynateîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 14:4 V-PIA-3SGRK: σταθήσεται δέ δυνατεῖ γὰρ ὁ NAS: for the Lord is able to make him stand. INT: he will be made to stand moreover able is indeed the 2 Corinthians 9:8 V-PIA-3S 2 Corinthians 13:3 V-PIA-3S |
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