δύναμις

might, power, marvelous works

Definition

The Greek word δύναμις (dynamis) fundamentally means 'power' or 'ability,' but in the New Testament, it carries rich, overlapping meanings. Primarily, it denotes inherent power or capability, such as the power of God (Romans 1:20) or the power given to Christ (Matthew 28:18). A major usage refers to 'miraculous power' or 'mighty works,' specifically the miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles, which demonstrate divine authority (Matthew 11:20-23). It can also describe spiritual power granted to believers, as seen in Acts 1:8, and even angelic or supernatural powers (Romans 8:38). In some contexts, it simply means 'ability' or 'resource' (2 Corinthians 8:3).

Biblical Usage

Δύναμις is used 116 times across the New Testament, most frequently in the Gospels (especially Matthew and Luke), Acts, and Paul's letters. In the Gospels and Acts, it overwhelmingly refers to the miraculous works of Jesus and the apostles (e.g., Matthew 13:54; Acts 2:22). Paul uses it extensively to describe the power of God in salvation (Romans 1:16), the resurrection (Philippians 3:10), and the spiritual power available to the church (Ephesians 1:19-21). The plural form (δυνάμεις) often specifically means 'miracles' or 'mighty deeds.'

Etymology

Derived from the verb δύναμαι (dynamai), meaning 'to be able' or 'to have power.' It is the root of the English words 'dynamic,' 'dynamite,' and 'dynamo.' The core concept is inherent capacity, force, or ability to produce an effect.

Semantic Range

This is a theologically central word for understanding God's nature and activity. It highlights that God's reign (kingdom) comes with power (Mark 9:1), that the gospel itself is the 'power of God' for salvation (Romans 1:16), and that Christ's resurrection was an act of supreme divine power (Ephesians 1:19-20). For believers, it signifies that the Christian life is lived not in human strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:7). Grasping this term moves one from seeing miracles as mere wonders to recognizing them as demonstrations of God's in-breaking authority.

In the Greco-Roman world, δύναμις was a common term for natural ability, military force, or the potency of a deity. The New Testament's use, especially for miracles, directly challenged the cultural view of power. It presented a God whose ultimate power was displayed not in raw force but in the 'weakness' of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18) and in transformative acts of healing and restoration, offering a counter-narrative to imperial and pagan concepts of dominance.

ἐξουσία (exousia, G1849) — authority, the right or permission to use power; ἰσχύς (ischys, G2479) — strength, often physical or inherent force; ἐνέργεια (energeia, G1753) — working, operative energy, the active exercise of power.

Word Details

Scripture References