Power (1753) (energeia from en = in + érgon = work) describes working, efficiency or active, effective power and is exclusively a Pauline word used only to describe superhuman power, whether of God or of the devil; of God. Energeia is found in the classic Greek writings first in Aristotle describing diabolic influences. And so in In Hellenism, as in Philo, the word group energeia/energeo (noun/verb) is used of cosmic or physical forces at work in man or the world around.
New American Commentary notes that in this verse energeia
stresses the inner strength supplied by the Lord. The Greek text actually reads with a double emphasis: “struggling according to his energy which energizes me in power.” Two different words for power are used, and the interpretation above attempts to capture the spirit of the Greek expression.
Energeia - 8x in 8v - Eph 1:19; 3:7; 4:16; Phil 3:21; Col 1:29; 2:12; 2 Thess 2:9, 11 NAS = activity, 1; exertion, 1; influence, 1; working, 4. The KJV translates the word with a slightly different flavor - effectual working, 2; operation, 1; strong, 1; working, 4.
Energeia is not used in the Septuagint (not counting the Apocrypha where there are 8 uses).
Energeia is found in the classic Greek writings first in Aristotle describing diabolic influences. And so in In Hellenism, as in Philo, the word group energeia/energeo (noun/verb) is used of cosmic or physical forces at work in man or the world around.
Energeia, for example, is describes God’s power in raising Christ, Paul instructing the Colossian saints that they have
been buried with Him (Christ) in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the (supernatural) working (energeia) of God, Who raised Him from the dead (Col 2:12- note).
In Php 3:21 (note) our Lord Jesus Christ
will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the (supernatural) exertion (energeia) of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Energeia describes Satan's supernatural power Paul recording that the "Antichrist" or "lawless one"
is the one whose coming is in accord with the (supernatural) activity (energeia) of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved." (2Thes 2:9, 10)
The other uses of energeia in the NT are found in:
Ephesians 1:19 (note) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might." In context energeia here speaks of the energy put forth or effectual power of God that was active in the resurrection of Christ.
Ephesians 3:7 (note) of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
Ephesians 4:16 (note)
from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders...11 And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false,
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http://www.preceptaustin.org/colossians_129.htm#Power
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
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