Read Luke 10 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
Luke 9:43-10:24 Chiastic Structure:
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name.” And He said to them, “I beheld Satan fallen from heaven as lightning. Behold, I give to you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luk 10:17-20
Authority is in Greek, Strong’s G1849, ἐξουσία exousia, “authority;” used by the Hebrew translators of the Septuagint for Strong’s H4910, משל mashal, a primary verb meaning, “to rule, to have dominion.” The ancient pictographs are mem + shin + lamed.
mem מ, ם = water, thus chaos, mighty, blood
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
lamed ל = shepherd’s staff, thus teach, yoke, to, bind
The parable the Hebrew Root Word is telling, is of mighty (mem) pressure (shin) or coercion to bring under authority (lamed).
Power is in Greek, Strong’s G1411, δύναμις dunamis, “power;” working back from the Septuagint for Strong’s H3581, כח koach, an abstract concept meaning “strength, power,” from an unused verbal root, which Gesenius identifies as כחח kachach, meaning, “to exert strength.” The ancient pictographs are kaph + chet + chet.
kaph כ ך = open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
chet ח = wall, thus outside, divide, half
chet ח = wall, thus outside, divide, half
I understood the double chet well enough. A wall (chet) is a secure protection against the elements, or enemies, or an encroaching wilderness. The chet doubled intensifies the action of the wall. It’s a doubly-strong wall of security.
But the kaph kept bothering me. If the idea was to just display power, why not use the aleph, the ox head? Its very picture indicates power or strength. If the idea was to just indicate strength of hand or the ability to accomplish something, why not use the yud, the closed hand? Its picture indicates that. But God never does these things without a purpose.
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Gen 1:28
The Hebraic or biblical concept of dominion is not just to exercise strength, but to exercise strength for its created purpose, which is to bless those under its authority or protection. Adam was given dominion in order to tend the Garden and to keep it, in other words, to tame it (kaph).
The parable being told, then, is of exerting strength to tame or to bless (kaph) those sheltered under that dominion as behind a doubly-secure wall (chet + chet). That is the biblical concept of power. Of course, the power of the enemy is strength which has been usurped for evil ends, exactly the opposite of God’s intention.
Authority is the legal right to issue commands. Power is the ability to carry out those commands. The President as the Commander in Chief has the authority, the exousia, to command the border to be secured. The military, who is under his authority, then uses its power, its dunamis, to carry out the command.
Adam lost his dominion when he bowed his knee to the enemy. The enemy has usurped power to carry out evil ends. But Jesus restored rightful dominion or authority. He has given His disciples the authority to override him. The authority or exousia which Jesus has delegated to His disciples implies the power or dunamis to accomplish what has been commanded. Don’t be afraid to use it!
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
God has given the believer authority – Christine Miller
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