June 13, 2018

CHRIST the STRENGTH-SHARER (2 Cor 12:9). There are no less than six Greek synonyms for “power” or “strength” in the New Testament. The concordance gives the definition for dunamis, the word here, as: “inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature.” See the piling on of power in Colossians 1:11, “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” The words “strengthened” and “might” have the same root, and have been rendered, “empowered with all power.” In other words, there is no dimishing of divine power from its source in Christ to it’s use in us. But the words “according to His glorious power” have a different emphasis. Here the word kratos is explained as follows: “manifested power—in the NT chiefly of God.” In other words, the revealed character of God’s power has been manifested in Christ, power to help, to heal, to save. And the results in our lives? Patience, longsuffering and joy!