Literature. — Titius, Die NT Lehre von der Seligkeit, 1S95, Part i. (esp. p. 72 ff.); H. J. Holtzmann, NT Theologie, vol. i. 181 f. (1897); Loisy, Lc dittcoiirs sxir la montmjnc (1903); also works of a popular or honiiletical character, e.(j. : Dykes, Be- atittides of the Kingdom (1876) ; Gore, Sermon on the Mount (1904) ; Griffith-Jones, Sermon on the Mount (1903) ; Iverach, The Other Side of Greatness (1906 ; cf. ExpT xviii. [1907],
p-H6f.). E. F. Scott.
POWER. — The term indicates the efficient force by -which personal commands and the claims of law receive obedient attention and fulfilment.
In AV of Gospels ' power ' is used with about equal frequency to represent two words in the original, hOvxui; and iiovina.. These words are thus distinguished bj Grinim-Thayer : — ' Siv. power, natural ability, general and inherent ; ilcua: primarily liberty of action, then aiithoriti/ — either as delegated power or as unrestrained, arbitrary power.' Cf. also Crenier, s.vv. In RV, except in the three cases named below, ' authority ' is given as the rendering of i^nuinx, usually in the text, sometimes in the margin. Lk 2253 retains ' power ' without any marginal alternative ; Jn 112 gives ' right' ; Jn IQi* retains ' power,' but has ' right ' in margin.
1. Poioer in the personal life of Christ. — During His earthly ministry, in the impression made both upon His disciples and upon the hostile Pharisees, as well as upon the mass of the j^eople, there is abundant testimony to the transcendent person- ality of Christ. With this accords also the esti- mate concerning Him in the Acts and the Epistles. A vague attempt at assimilation likened Him to one of the prophets (Mt 16^''), and Herod saw in Him the risen John the Baptist (Mk 6'"), but otherwise His life and character were ever recog- nized as unique and beyond comparison (see Awe). In His works of healing, wrought on mind and body, the evidence was open to all (Mk 5^^, Lk 9^^). It was the same with His teaching (Mt 7-^). In dealing with the most venerated religious precepts and traditions. He acts with the ease and free- dom of original authority, noting limitations and supplying enlarged meanings and higher applica- tions (Mt S^^"**). He rejects the otter of world empire (Lk 4*- *), and warns those Avhom He sent forward to tell of His approach not to rejoice even
388
POWER
POWEE
in the exercise of His delegated power (Lk 10'-"). The same qualities of range and originality are recognized in His sympathy with the outcast and suffering (Lk 7^^ 13", Jn ll^^)^ j^ jjj^ knowledge of the heart and its temptations (Lk 5^" 7^^, Jn 4'''), and in His controversies with the Jewish leaders (Mt 22^'^-*^). A still deeper insight into the unique- ness of His character is afforded by what was in- volved in following and serving Him (Lk 1425-35, Jn 14'- 15^). His works were stated by Himself to have been Avrought in God (Jn 14'"), who also had sent Him (9"* 16-^) ; and His day had been foreseen by Abraham (8^6) and Isaiah (61'--), and by the prophets generally (Lk 24-^). His Kingdom was to be coextensive with the world and its nationalities (Mt 8" 2613 28'9, Jn 10"* 17^"). The gift of His life, ottered freely and apart from external constraint, was to be the bond of union among His disciples (Mt 26-8-28, Jii 15'2-i3), and was to be the power that would draw the world unto Him (Jn 3'^ 12^2). The impression thus made upon His disciples be- came in turn the testimony which they gave to the world — ' The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth ' ( Jn 1"). See Authority of Christ.
2. Poxoer in the Kingdom of Christ. — Christ declai'ed of His Kingdom that it was not of this world (Jn IS^"). Those worldly kingdoms were of the sword, established by and for physical dominion. As every created thing must, by the inward neces- sity of that condition, come to an end, so those kingdoms would perish by the sword (Mt 26'-). His Kingdom, on the other hand, did not rise from beneath, but descended from above, having its origin in the eternal thought of God, the Kingdom of heaven. With the first grasp of this meaning, its administration was spoken of as different from the law of a carnal commandment, being ' the power of an endless life ' (He 7'*).
In the prophetic intimation of its advent through the mediation of the sorrows of Zion, the essen- tial character and tendency of this Kingdom, the requirements of its citizen.ship, the extent of its dominion, the motive of its statesmanship, its estimate of heroism, and its rewards of service, were all so new and conflicting, that there seemed to be two Messiahs, one who should reign and deliver, and one who should serve and sutt'er (Is 53. 5916-19 611-3). Only the accomplished fact was able to reveal, and in new areas of its expansion is still revealing, that for such a Kingdom the anointed Head must needs have suffered in order to enter into His glory (Lk 24^8). The new and wonderful element that made its citizenship not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man (Jn 1^3), consisted in this, that whereas in the kingdoms of the world there had been an ever-ascending scale of power, man living unto himself, and governments existing for the sake of the governing classes, so there was in this Kingdom a correspond- ingly descending scale of service in which all those features were precisely reversed. Whereas pre- viously in religion men were the supplicants, and sacrificed unto their deities, and propitiated them by gifts and promises of devotion, in this Kingdom God Himself was the chief sacrificer, offering His only-begotten Son ; and the Almighty sought to reconcile the weak unto Himself (Jn 316.38 1227 1837). With this leading fact of the Kingdom all the others followed in complete agree- ment. He who Avould be accounted greatest must qualify for that distinction by becoming the ser- vant of all (Mt 202«-28). Women are declared to excel in faith (Mt I528), discernment (26'3), and courageous sacrifice (Mk 12*^-**). Little children are regarded with reverence, and the loving trust of a child's heart gives direction to the wise, and ap-