"Power" and "Authority"

Two different Greek words are translated as either "authority" and "power" in the English Bible. There is a clear difference between these words in Greek, but little rhyme or reason to their various English translations. This is one of the many cases, where the English reader reads different English words referring to the same Greek word and the same English word referring to two different Greek words.

Because of this, we cannot study the English Bible and know what Jesus really says about “power” and “authority.” This makes it difficult, for example, to compare Jesus’s ideas with the many academic theories today that analyze all of civilization in terms of “power” structures.”

Exousia

The slightly more common of these Greek words is exousia (ἐξουσίαν). It is translated in all of Greek literature—not just the Bible—variously as "control", "the power of choice", "permission", "the power of authority", "the right of privilege", "abundance of means," and "abuse of power." It is used to describe both Jesus’s power to forgive sins (“let go of mistakes”) and his power over all flesh, that is, all physical reality. It is usually used to refer to the control that we have over others.

For example, in Luke 5:24, Jesus refers to his authority over sin using exousia. This authority is understood in our minds. It is not necessarily visible. Forgiving, that is, “letting go of”, sins, “mistakes” (see this article), cannot be seen. It can be felt. It is an authority over external things that is internally accepted by those involved. It is an authority that expands when more people accept it.

Exousia could be translated as "authority" or more generally as "control." Today, we tend to talk more in terms of who has control over something than who has power over it. Jesus commonly uses exousia to refer to power that is given to someone in authority, the power of kings and the power that the Father has given Jesus. People accept this power because it usually flows from an existing authority, often through lineage, especially in Jesus’s era. Today, it more commonly refers to power given by others on the basis of perceived accomplishment. This is the Greek word that would refer to today’s discussion of “power” structures.” Jesus uses this word in twenty-three verses. It is used in all Gospels. To know what Jesus says about this concept of power, we should study all twenty-one of these verses. But here is a sampling:

Dynamis

The other Greek word is dynamis (δυνάμεις). It is translated in ancient Greek literature as "power", "might", "outward power", "influence", "authority", "elementary force", "faculty", "capacity", "craft", "art", "capable of existing", "capable of acting", "worth," and "value." The verb from the same root is dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities", "to be able," and "to be strong enough." Much of my understanding of dynamis comes from Jesus’s frequent use of this verb. This verb is usually translated in the Bible as the helper verb, "can," but that word has much less of a sense of power. The use of “can” and often disconnects the use of the noun from the verb in related verses. This deflates many verse translations (see this article).

Jesus uses the noun, dynamis, in twenty-one verses. It primarily refers to power from inborn capabilities. This is the Greek root of our words, “dynamic,” “dynasty,” and “dynamite.” Often, these abilities are visibly displayed. Dynamite goes boom. So, while exousia refers to an innate ability that is only felt by others. This ability refers to a display of power from innate capabilities that is seen by others. Authority from lineage is easier to see.

Dynamis doesn't appear in Jesus’s words in John. The verb, dynamai, appears frequently. So does another noun/adjective from the same root, dynatos, which means "strong", "mighty", "possible," and "practicable."

Jesus uses dynamis in twenty-one verses. Often, its abilities are visibly displayed. . Dynamis never refers to this kind of earthly authority over other people that exousia does.

Perhaps in today's English, dymanis could be translated as "capabilities" or, more precisely, "displayed capabilities." This is the difference between forgiving sins, letting go of mistakes, and healing people. In Luke 5:17, the Gospel writer (not Jesus) talked about the power to heal as Christ's dynamis. Dynamis is used when talking about a display of power or ability. Healing is such a display.Think of dynamis as more dramatic. People like to see some dynamis to believe it.

Here is a sampling: