Power
In Scripture, power commonly refers to the ability and authority to act. It is seen supremely in God’s sovereign works and is also displayed through Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the strengthening of believers according to God’s will.
At a Glance
In Scripture, power commonly refers to the ability and authority to act. It is seen supremely in God’s sovereign works and is also displayed through Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the strengthening of believers according to God’s will.
Description
Power in the Bible refers broadly to the ability, might, or authority to accomplish what one wills, and it belongs to God uniquely and supremely. Scripture presents God’s power in creation, in ruling over history, in delivering his people, in judging evil, and especially in the saving work of Jesus Christ, whose resurrection displays divine power decisively. The New Testament also speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit in empowering witness, holiness, endurance, and ministry, while making clear that such power is derived from God and exercised under his authority rather than as an independent human capacity. Depending on the passage, “power” may refer to omnipotence, delegated authority, miraculous works, spiritual strength, or even hostile powers opposed to God; therefore the term should be defined by context, with the safest conclusion being that biblical power is fundamentally God’s effective might and rightful rule, manifested in his works and shared with his people only by grace.