What is power according to the Bible?

ἀρχή is authority contemplated as the beginning or origin of acts; ἐξουσία one who has a title to act, a right over; δύναμις power (see above) κυριότης from one who is over or rules, lordship; but it purposely takes in all forms, not with the object of distinction but of universality.

To begin with, let us make haste to understand the great importance of the word authority (exousia in Greek) in the scriptures. Its importance can be measured by the fact it occurs over one hundred times in the New Testament. The excellent 'Pau-Vevey' version[1] translates it in various ways: very often as 'power'. very often as 'authority' (both heavenly and earthly authorities, the authority of the governor or magistrate, etc.); on other occasions as 'right', and only rarely as 'freedom or jurisdiction'. This word 'authority' does not simply mean power and might (which is dynamis in Greek), but rather power with the right to exercise it. This is proved by the fact that in certain passages the two Greek words for 'power' and 'authority' are found side by side (Acts 1:7-8; Luke 9:1; 1 Pet. 3:22).

In the King James version the same Greek word translated "authority" (exousia) is also often translated "power." Another Greek word (dunamis) meaning power or ability is also sometimes rendered "power." In English we think of authority as being the right or competency to act and power as being the force or energy that gives one ability to act. But since the same word (exousia) is sometimes translated "authority" and sometimes "power" only the context will enable us to determine what is the shade of meaning intended.

Of Christ it is said that, "He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes" and, "With authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him" (Mark 1:22, 27). In Matthew 9:1-8 Christ heals the man who had palsy, which was an act of power giving evidence of His authority as "Son of man" to forgive sins. He had in sovereign grace taken His place as "Son of man" and so He had in His own Person both the right and competency to act and power by His Spirit to enforce His acts.

In Matthew 10 we read, "And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power (or authority) against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease" (v. 1). Later He sends out the seventy. "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name" (Luke 10:17). The authority and power was through His Name and by His Spirit alone. The same is true in principle with both apostolic and assem­bly authority. Governments have a sword and parents a rod put into their hands to back up their authority with power, but neither the apostles nor the assembly had such power given them to enforce their acts. The assembly's authority to act is derived from the Lord in the midst in whose Name it acts, and the power to back up and enforce its acts of authority resides in the energy of His Spirit's working in the hearts and consciences of the saints.

All power in the church resides in the Spirit of God alone. Any other power is not spiritual power, but the power of the natural man and not of God. Even Christ as a dependent Man acted by the power of the Spirit, according to Scripture, both before and after His resurrection (Acts 1:2; 10:38; Luke 4:14, 18; Matt. 12:28).

The word 'power' occurs in both lists, and this needs to be cleared of any ambiguity. No. 2 is often translated 'power' where some other word would convey the sense better; but there is no single word in the English language that exactly answers to the Greek, and which would suit in all places. A concordance must be consulted for a full list of the occurrences: a few passages only are cited. All 'authority' is given to the Lord Jesus. Matt. 9:6; Matt. 28:18; John 17:2. Satan offered to give to the Lord 'authority' over the kingdoms of the world which had been delivered to him, if the Lord would fall down and worship him. Luke 4:6. To as many as received the Lord, to them gave He 'right ' or 'title' to become the children of God. John 1:12. "There is no 'authority' but of God," No. 2 occurring five times in Rom. 13:1-3. Along with 'principality' occurs No. 2 in Eph. 1:21; Eph. 3:10; Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:16; Col. 2:10, 15; Titus 3:1.

The principal thing to remember is that No. 2 signifies a delegated right or title, with the presumed power or strength to enforce the right; whereas in No. 1 it is strength or power only.

** The Greek word translated 'power' in the AV is exousia, and should be understood in terms of someone having authority, rather than power in itself

"Power" here does not mean "authority" but rather "might" or "force" We have the force but it needs to be controlled by love, and both force and love must be governed by "a sound mind" or "wise discretion" if the energy that we have by the Holy Spirit is to be rightly employed. We are not therefore to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.

Power was in Him whose grace was rejected. Acknowledged by devils, if not by Israel, He expels them by a word. He heals the sick. All the power of the enemy, all the sad outward effects of sin, disappear before Him. He heals, He withdraws; and when entreated to remain (the effect of His works that procured Him that honour from the people which He did not seek), He goes away to labour elsewhere in the testimony committed to Him. He seeks to accomplish His work, and not to be honoured. He preaches everywhere among the people. He casts out the enemy, He removes sufferings, and proclaims the goodness of God to the poor.

Then the Lord exercises His manifested power, as so come as Man, first against Satan's immediate possession of a power over man; then the effects of evil in a violent disease; then as against all manner of sickness, and devils going out of many, as it is expressed by the apostle in the record of this evangelist: "How God anointed" … "Jesus of Nazareth" … "with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." The devils said: "Thou art the Son of God," for they knew that He was the Anointed. They had no divine knowledge that He was the Son of God. It was conclusion from His work and way as the Anointed, as full of the Holy Ghost, the Holy One of God.

Omnipotence is unlimited power. Like God's eternity it is both mysterious and incomprehensible to our minds. "The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth." — And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?" (Rev. 19:6; Dan. 4:35). We cannot have an act without an actor, an effect without a cause, and in the same way a creation without a creator. But how the Creation came into existence, no creature can tell. An article may be made if the material to make it is supplied, but how the universe sprang into being out of nothingness, we cannot know. The wonders of creation may be examined by the microscope, as well as by the telescope, but greatness and littleness, or immensity and intensity, are both alike to omnipotence. The power that creates is the same that upholds, for He upholds all things by the word of His power. However great the thoughts and language of men of science, scripture alone can describe the omnipotence of God. Here again we turn to Isaiah, where Jehovah, when dealing with the responsible creature, speaks of His creatorial power and glory. "Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance" (Isaiah 40:12). Nor is only creating — for the same power is seen at work upholding all. "The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah" (Psalm 75:3). A most comprehensive lesson on this is put before us in Job, chapters 38-42, where God meets His servant, and solves every question in the moral problems of that book, by pointing him to His power and wisdom as seen in the creation.

But, as I have said, it is not by Him, but in Him that all things were created. It was in His own intrinsic power He brought the universe into existence. There is no created thing that does not owe its creation to Him. Whether they be things in heaven, or things on earth; whether they be visible, or invisible, He created them all, and He created them both by Himself, and for Himself; and in His power everything subsists. He holds everything together by the Word of His power.