B. In Nkw Testament.— The term 'poverty, iTTuxf'". pavpcrtas, inopia, is used only in 2 Co S'-", Rev 2', where it has a general or figurative sense ; but the ' poor,' tt^vt;! (2 Co Q"), jrcvix/'us (Lk 2P), irrax^' (frequently, especially in the Gospels and Ja 2), pauper, etc., are often mentioned. As regards poverty, the NT period did not ditl'er in any essential features from the Greek period. On tlie one hand, the exactions of the Herodian and Roman officials were probably more severe than those of the Greek rulers ; on the other, the duty of almsgiving was more diligently inculcated as a religious duty which would be richly rewarded. In this respect the Christian Church followed in the steps of the sj^nagogue. The Churcli at Jeru- salem made an abortive experiment in comuiuuism (Ac 2*^ 4*^), which ]irobably aggravated its ])Overty ; and gave opportunity for tlie collection for ' the poor saints at Jerusalem ' which St. Paul organ- ized amongst his Gentile converts (Ro 15-", Gal 2'°). The early Christian Churclies followed the example ol the synagogues in holiling it a duty to provide for their poor (Ito 12", 1 Ti G'*, 1 Jn 3'^ etc. ; cf. art. ' Alma' in Smith and Cheetham's Diet, of Christian A utirjuitici). But Ja 2^"' shows that this duty waa often neglected. In later times the Jews have usually set an example to Christendom by their care for their poor co-religionists.
Wliilo we read that ' the common people {6 iroXis iX'Noj, Alk 12'', cf. Jn 12") heard ' Jesus ' gladly,' we are not told that His actual disciples wore poor ; they rather seeiii to have belonged to the lower middle cla.s.s — fi.shermen owning boat-s, tax-collec- tors, etc. The early Churcli included many poor, and few ricli, powerful, or distinguished members (1 Co I-"') ; but Prof. Orr, in his jS'cJilertcd Factors in the Sludij of tlie Earbj Progress of Christianity, maintains that the strength of the Church lay in the middle classes. Cf. Ai,.MS(;iviNo, Family,
GLKANINQ, SAnilATICAL YeAH, TlTllE-S.
W. 11. Bennett.
POWER (chielly S'n, ob, IV ; 5wo;«s, ^foco-ia).*— 1. All the power in the universe is traced in Scrip- ture to a siiiritual source. God created all things by His word ; and the word being the expression ot the will, it is the spiiitual God Himself who is the ground and origin of all tliat is (Gn 1. 2, Ps SS" US-', Pr 8-™-, Is 401-''-, Jer 32i", Jn P- '"). While (iod is the Creator of tlie worhi, and continually rules all the agents in it for His own ends, there is real power maile over to nature. There is no pantheistic identification of nature's power with God's. According to Gn 1, the earth has the function assigned to it of bringing forth grass and herbs, and the trees and all the living creatures bring forth fruit 'after their kind ' : nature follows its own laws (cf. lie G'). Or, again, the sea has a place and power wliich are definitely fixed, indeed, but are thereby proved to be real (Job 38", Pr S-"). In like maiii'ier there is true power, though it is derivative, committed to man. He was made ' in the image of God ' (Gn l'-""-), and so his originjil endowment inchide.s the gift of power like God's. It is proved by his ex- ercising dominion over the other living creatures (!'■'*), and by his possessing freedom of choice (2"'''). The power of man is lost by sin (Gn 2", 1 S 28-"", Ro T'**- etc.). Nevertheless, he is treated in every condition as a rational and moral being ; the wicked are commanded on almost every page of Scripture to bestir themselves, to rejient and turn to God.
2. God continually upholds the world by His power in Providence, i.e. (n) in the preservation, (b) in the government of the crea'aon. (a) The fact of the world's persistence amid change, and while everything in it is cliaracterized by transi- ency, is referred to the direct action of the Divine Will (Gn S^!", Ps 104--"- 139, Jer It--, Ac H''^, He 1" etc.). Then (i) God's government of the world consists in His guiding all its processes for certain predetermined eiuls. Thus He causes grass to grow ' for the cattle,' and herb ' for the service of man' (Ps 104''"-). Human success is due to the favouring presence and power of God, and serves for the fulfilment of the Divine purposes, both as respects the eartlily life (Jos I""-) and the higher life of the soul (Ro 8'*"-, Ph 2"). All the ways of men are justly recompensed by the Almighty (Jer 32"). Wickedness is overruled and brought to naught on the earth, a feature of God's provi- dential action which is naturally emphasized in OT. God fulfils His purpose of love in spite of all ojiposing agents, wluither visible or invisible, angelic or Satanic (Ro 8'""-).
3. Special displays of power made by the Almighty. Israel was often saved by God from its enemies, the signal deliverance from Egyptian bondage which He ell'ected for His people ' oy a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm' being the type of these supernatural interventions (Dt 5'^). The cho.sen people were guided in their career, and kept together as a nation, a remnant at least being preserved. God revealed His laws and ordinances; and these, duly honoured, were cal- culated to realize the highest good to the nation, to impart the lilessing of ' life ' and all that that implies (Dt 28"^- 30'^""-, Ps 19"^-, Pr 3). These inlluential manifestations of the Divine Will lead up to the comi)leted revelation in Christ, who is superior to every world-jiower, and whose gospel is ' tlie power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth' (Ro 1'''). The full manifestation of His power occurs when ' the kingdoms of this world are tiecome the kingdoms of our Lord, and of hia Christ : and he shall reign for ever and ever ' (Rev 11"). The personality of Jesus in the