Lexical Summary energeó: To work, to be active, to be effective Original Word: ἐνεργέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance do, be effectual, be mighty in. From energes; to be active, efficient -- do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in). see GREEK energes HELPS Word-studies 1754 energéō (from 1722 /en, "engaged in," which intensifies 2041 /érgon, "work") – properly, energize, working in a situation which brings it from one stage (point) to the next, like an electrical current energizing a wire, bringing it to a shining light bulb. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom energés Definition to be at work, to work, to do NASB Translation accomplish (1), brought about (1), effective (2), effectually worked (2), performs...work (1), work (6), working (2), works (7). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1754: ἐνεργέωἐνεργέω, ἐνέργω; 1 aorist ἐνήργησα; perfect ἐνήργηκα (Ephesians 1:20 L T WH text Tr marginal reading); (ἐνεργός (see ἐνεργής)); 1. intransitive, to be operative, be at work, put forth power: followed by ἐν with the dative of person, Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:14; Ephesians 2:2; followed by the dative of advantage (dative commodi; (cf. Lightfoot on Galatians, as below)), to work for one, aid one, εἰς τί, unto (the accomplishing of) something (Winer's Grammar, 397 (371)): εἰς ἀποστολήν, unto the assumption (or discharge) of the apostolic office; εἰς τά ἔθνη, equivalent to εἰς ἀποστολήν (cf. Winers Grammar, § 66, 2 d.; Buttmann, § 147, 8) τῶν ἐθνῶν, Galatians 2:8. 2. transitive, to effect: τί, 1 Corinthians 12:11; (Ephesians 1:11); ἐνεργεῖν ἐνέργειαν, Ephesians 1:19f; τί ἐν τίνι, the dative of person, 1 Corinthians 12:6 (Buttmann, 124 (109)); Galatians 3:5; Philippians 2:13. 3. Middle, present ἐνεργοῦμαι; (imperfect ἐνηργουμην); (not found in the O. T. or in secular auth, and in the N. T. used only by Paul and James (cf. Lightfoot on Galatians, as below)); it is used only of things (cf. Winers Grammar, § 38, 6 at the end; (Buttmann, 193 (167))), to display one's activity, show oneself operative: (2 Thessalonians 2:7 (see μυστήριον, 2 at the end)); followed by ἐν with the dative of the thing, where, Romans 7:5; ἐν with the dative of the condition, 2 Corinthians 1:6; ἐν with the dative of person in whose mind a thing shows itself active, 2 Corinthians 4:12; Ephesians 3:20; Colossians 1:29; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; followed by διά with the genitive of thing, Galatians 5:6. In James 5:16 ἐνεργουμένη does not have the force of an adjective, but gives the reason why the δέησις of a righteous man has outward success, viz. as due to the fact that it exhibits its activity (works) (inwardly), i. e. is solemn and earnest. (The active (and passive) in Greek writings from Aristotle down.) (On this word cf. (besides Lightfoot on Galatians 2:8; Galatians 5:6) Fritzsche and Vaughan on Romans 7:5; Ellicott on Galatians, 2:8.) Strong’s 1754 pictures power that is never static. It is energy that moves from intention to accomplishment, whether in God, in human agents, or in hostile spiritual forces. The word group stresses that every effect in the created order has a personal, purposive cause. Scripture therefore never speaks of “blind forces,” but of God (or rebel powers) actively working out their designs within history and within people. Distribution in the New Testament Twenty-one occurrences span the Gospels, Acts-era epistles, and the General Epistles. The contexts fall naturally into four broad spheres: 1. God’s sovereign redemptive action God’s Sovereign Working Ephesians piles up the vocabulary. The Father “exerted” immeasurable power in raising Christ (Ephesians 1:20) and still “works out everything by the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). His “power that is at work within us” enables prayer-answers beyond imagination (Ephesians 3:20). He alone “works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), so any genuine obedience is the fruit of divine energy first implanted. The Ministry of Christ When Herod heard of Jesus, he concluded, “miraculous powers are at work in Him” (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:14). The incarnate Son manifested the same operative power that the Father later displayed in the resurrection (Ephesians 1:20), confirming His divine origin and mission. Apostolic Commissioning Galatians 2:8 traces Peter’s work among the circumcised and Paul’s among the Gentiles to the same operative force: “He who was at work in Peter… was also at work in me.” Ministerial success is therefore not a matter of personality or strategy but of God supplying effective energy. The Holy Spirit in the Assembly 1 Corinthians 12 locates spiritual gifts in the Spirit’s present activity: “One and the same Spirit works all these things” (1 Corinthians 12:11), and “the same God works all things in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12:6). Miracles in Galatians 3:5, endurance in 2 Corinthians 1:6, and mighty preaching in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 are likewise Spirit-energized. Sanctification and Perseverance Philippians 2:13 forms the classic synergy text: believers “work out” salvation (verse 12) precisely because God “works in” them. Faith itself is dynamic—“faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6)—and prayer “is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Colossians 1:29 lets us watch Paul “striving with all His energy working powerfully within me,” a model of grace-driven labor. Negative Energies—Sin and Satan The same verb exposes sinister operations. “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). The ruler of the air “is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). Fleshly passions “were at work in our bodies to bear fruit for death” (Romans 7:5). Scripture thus lays bare an unseen conflict of competing energies, highlighting the believer’s need for divine power. Pastoral and Practical Implications • Dependence: Ministry plans must rest on prayer for God to “work” rather than mere human effort. Historical and Theological Echoes Early church fathers employed the term to describe the inseparable operations of the Trinity (e.g., Athanasius) and the Spirit’s inner ‘energies’ (Cyril of Alexandria). Reformers later emphasized that divine working precedes and enables human response, guarding both God’s sovereignty and genuine human responsibility. Old Testament Parallels Though the Hebrew text lacks an exact lexical twin, the concept appears in verbs such as ʿāśâ (“do, accomplish”) and in the frequent assertion that “the hand of the LORD was upon” prophets and kings, signaling a personal power effecting results in history. Summary Strong’s 1754 showcases purposeful power—never mechanical, always personal. Whether highlighting God’s mighty acts, empowering gospel ministry, nurturing holiness, or exposing the stealth of evil, the term reminds believers that all true effectiveness flows from One who relentlessly “works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Englishman's Concordance Matthew 14:2 V-PIA-3PGRK: αἱ δυνάμεις ἐνεργοῦσιν ἐν αὐτῷ NAS: miraculous powers are at work in him. KJV: mighty works do shew forth themselves in INT: the miraculous powers work in him Mark 6:14 V-PIA-3P Romans 7:5 V-IIM-3S 1 Corinthians 12:6 V-PPA-NMS 1 Corinthians 12:11 V-PIA-3S 2 Corinthians 1:6 V-PPM-GFS 2 Corinthians 4:12 V-PIM-3S Galatians 2:8 V-APA-NMS Galatians 2:8 V-AIA-3S Galatians 3:5 V-PPA-NMS Galatians 5:6 V-PPM-NFS Ephesians 1:11 V-PPA-GMS Ephesians 1:20 V-RIA-3S Ephesians 2:2 V-PPA-GNS Ephesians 3:20 V-PPM-AFS Philippians 2:13 V-PPA-NMS Philippians 2:13 V-PNA Colossians 1:29 V-PPM-AFS 1 Thessalonians 2:13 V-PIM-3S 2 Thessalonians 2:7 V-PIM-3S James 5:16 V-PPM-NFS Strong's Greek 1754 |
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