Powers [miracles]

November 13, 2025

Powers [miracles]

Summary:

It is written in the Bible that someone can have a spiritual gift of "POWERS" (1 Corinthians 12:28), or "WORKINGS (OF) POWERS" (1 Corinthians 12:10), which may also be translated as "miracles".

The word sometimes translated as "miracles" in the Bible is the Greek word which can be translated more literally into "POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:28).

POWER is necessarily present when there is something miraculous happening.

There several examples of POWERS in the Bible, along with HOW they can be worked.

They can be "ORDINARY" or "NOT ORDINARY".

The Bible indicates that GOD IS THE ONE WHO ULTIMATELY WORKS THE POWERS [miracles], but because God can work them by the hands of people, IT CAN ALSO BE SAID THE PEOPLE ARE WORKING THEM.

They can have CONDITIONS to be worked. For this reason, they can FAIL TO HAPPEN if the conditions for them to be worked are not met.

They do NOT NECESSARILY make people to REPENT.

Early Christians authors AFTER THE 1ST CENTURY reported that the gift of powers [miracles] was STILL ACTIVE.

There are ANCIENT NON-CHRISTIAN sources REPORTING that JESUS would have worked POWERS [miracles].

You can find more details below:

Spiritual gift of powers:

This is a spiritual gift among the list of other spiritual gifts available.

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List of spiritual gifts:
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The Greek word for "POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:28) is in the plural, meaning that this is referring to a plurality of powers.

For example, someone can be given:

- "POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] [...] over all the demons" (Luke 9:1)

- "POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] [...] to-cure diseases" (Luke 9:1)

These would be "POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:28) so as to do "WORKINGS (OF) POWERS" (1 Corinthians 12:10) (which can include casting out demons, curing the ones ill with diseases).

The Greek word for "powers":

The word sometimes translated as "miracles" in the Bible is the Greek word which can be translated more literally into "POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 12:28).

The Greek word for "POWERS" [dunamis 1411 in Greek] comes from the Greek word for "to-be-able" [dunamai 1410 in Greek].

It can be the opposite of weakness, as it is written: "It-is-sown in WEAKNESS; it-is-raised in POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 15:43).

The Greek word by itself can describe various things:

- "(the) POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] (of) GOD" (2 Corinthians 6:7).

- "the POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] (of) SIN" (1 Corinthians 15:56).

- "the POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] (of) DEATH" (Hebrews 2:14).

- "(OUR) POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (2 Corinthians 1:8) as HUMANS.

Choosing to translate the Greek word for "POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" in this literal way instead of "miracles" can unlock greater understanding. POWERS are the MEANS by which something is done, MIRACLES would be the RESULTS of something. For example:

Matthew 14:

It is written that "Herod the tetrarch heard the report (about) Jesus and said (to) his servants, “This (One) is John the Baptist. He himself arose from the dead (ones), and for this reason the POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] are-at-work IN HIM”." (Matthew 14:2).

Notice here the POWERS [miracles] are said to be at work "IN HIM”." (Matthew 14:2), which is consistant with the word for "POWERS".

Acts 8:

It is written that "Simon (by) name, was-previously in the city practicing-magic" (Acts 8:9) and people were saying about him that "This (one) is the GREAT POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] (of) God" (Acts 8:10).

But later Simon believed the message given by Phillip and "he-was attaching-himself (to) Philip. He-was-astonished, seeing both signs and GREAT POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] taking-place" (Acts 8:13).

Simon was said to be the "GREAT POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] (of) God" (Acts 8:10) but now he was witnessing "GREAT POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek]" (Acts 8:13) of God taking place, which may explain why Simon was then tempted to acquire spiritual authority from the apostles.

Power is necessarily present when there is something miraculous happening:

POWER is necessarily present when there is something miraculous happening. These would be "WORKINGS (OF) POWERS" (1 Corinthians 12:10).

For example:

Luke 5:

It is written when Jesus was somewhere at some point that "(the) POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] (of the) Lord was (present) TO-HEAL" (Luke 5:17), and as a result Jesus HEALED MIRACULOUSLY someone paralyzed, as it is written that He said to "(one) having-been-paralyzed, “I-say (to) you, arise, and having-picked-up your little-bed, proceed to your house”. And having-stood-up at-once in their presence" (Luke 5:24-25).

Luke 6:

It is written about Jesus that "all the multitude were-seeking to-touch Him because POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] was-going-forth from Him and HEALING everyone" (Luke 6:19). Here POWER was going forth from Jesus, and as a result people were HEALED MIRACULOUSLY.

Mark 5:

When a woman who was ill touched the garment of Jesus, it is written about Jesus that "having-known in Himself the POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] having-gone-forth from Him, having-turned around in the crowd, He-was-saying “Who touched My garments?" (Mark 5:30), and as a result the woman was HEALED MIRACULOUSLY.

Examples of powers:

The Bible describes examples of powers [miracles], for example:

1) Casting demons out of someone:

Someone can have "POWER [miracle] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] [...] OVER all the DEMONS" (Luke 9:1)

It is written: "John said (to) Him, “Teacher, we-saw someone CASTING-OUT DEMONS in your name. And we-were-forbidding him because he-was not following us”. But Jesus said, “Do not be-forbidding him. For there-is no-one who will-do (a) POWER [miracle] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] on (the basis of) My name, and soon be-able to-speak-evil-of Me" (Mark 9:38-39).

Another similar example of POWER [miracle] would be: "And you, CAPERNAUM, will-you-be-exalted-up to heaven? You will-go-down as-far-as Hades. Because if the POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] having-taken-place in you had-been-done in Sodom, it-would-have-remained until today" (Matthew 11:21). One example of POWER [miracle] happening in CAPERNAUM would be that it was written about Jesus that "they-proceed into CAPERNAUM. And immediately, having-entered into the synagogue" (Mark 1:21), "And immediately there-was (A) MAN in their synagogue WITH (AN) UNCLEAN SPIRIT. And (he) cried-out" (Mark 1:23)" "And JESUS REBUKED HIM, saying “Be-silenced and COME-OUT OF HIM”. And THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT, having-convulsed him and called-out (with a) loud voice, CAME-OUT OF HIM" (Mark 1:25-26). And again: "And immediately, having-gone-out of the synagogue, they-came into the house (of) Simon and Andrew, with James and John" (Mark 1:29), "And the whole city was gathered-together at the door. And He-cured many being ill (with) various diseases. And HE-CAST-OUT MANY DEMONS" (Mark 1:33-34).

2) Curing someone being ill with diseases:

Someone can have "POWER [miracle] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] [...] TO-CURE DISEASES" (Luke 9:1).

3) Healing someone being paralysed:

One example of POWER [miracle] happening in CAPERNAUM would be: "He-having-entered into CAPERNAUM, (a) centurion came to Him, appealing-to Him and saying, “Master, my servant has-been-put in the house PARALYSED, being-tormented terribly”. And He-says (to) him, “Having-come, I will-cure him”. And having-responded, the centurion said, “Master, I-am not fit that You-should-come-in under my roof. But ONLY SPEAK (A) WORD AND MY SERVANT WILL-BE-HEALED" (Matthew 8:5-8), "And Jesus said (to) the centurion, “Go. Let it-be-done (for) you as you believed”. And his servant was-healed at that hour" (Matthew 8:13).

Another similar example of POWER [miracle] happening in CAPERNAUM would be: "having-entered again into CAPERNAUM after (some) days, it-was-heard that He-was at home" (Mark 2:1), "And they-come bringing to Him a PARALYTIC being-picked-up by four (men)" (Mark 2:1-3) and "HE-SAYS (TO) THE PARALYTIC, “I-say (to) you, ARISE, pick-up your cot and go to your house”. AND HE-AROSE, and immediately having-picked-up the cot, went-out in-front-of everyone, so-that everyone (was) astonished and glorifying God" (Mark 2:10-12).

4) Healing someone being blind:

Jesus said: "Woe (to) you, BETHSAIDA! Because if the POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] having-taken-place in you had-been-done in Tyre and Sidon, they-would-have-repented long-ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes" (Luke 10:13). One example of POWER [miracle] happening in BETHSAIDA would be: "And they-come to BETHSAIDA. And they-bring Him (A) BLIND (MAN), and are begging Him that He-touch him. And having-taken-hold-of the hand (of) the blind (man), He-brought him outside (of) the village. And having-spit in his eyes, having-laid (His) hands on him, He-was-asking him “Do-you-see anything?” And having-looked-up, he-was-saying “I-am-seeing people, because I-am-looking-at (something) like trees walking around”. Then again He-laid (His) hands on his eyes, and looked-intently, and restored (them). AND HE-WAS-SEEING EVERYTHING CLEARLY" (Mark 8:22-25).

5) Multiplying food:

Jesus said: "Woe (to) you, BETHSAIDA! Because if the POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] having-taken-place in you had-been-done in Tyre and Sidon, they-would-have-repented long-ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes" (Luke 10:13). One example of POWER [miracle] happening in BETHSAIDA would be that it is written about Jesus that "He-retreated privately into a deserted place belonging to (a) city being-called BETHSAIDA" (Luke 9:10), and "There-are not more than five loaves and two fish" (Luke 9:13) but "there-were-about FIVE-THOUSAND MEN. And He-said to His disciples, “Make them lie-down (to eat in) eating-groups, about fifty each”. And they-did so, and made everyone lie-down. And having-taken the FIVE LOAVES AND THE TWO FISHES, having-looked-up to heaven, HE-BLESSED THEM, and broke-(them)-in-pieces, and was-giving (them to) the disciples to-set-before the crowd. AND THEY-ATE AND WERE ALL FILLED-TO-SATISFACTION. And the (amount of) fragments left-over (by) them was-picked-up, twelve baskets" (Luke 9:14-17).

How powers can be worked:

The Bible describes examples of powers [miracles] and how they can be worked. For example:

1) Laying hands:

It is written: "He-was not able to-do any POWER [miracle] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] there, except, HAVING-LAID (HIS) HANDS ON (A) FEW SICK (ONES), HE-CURED (THEM)" (Mark 6:5-6).

2) Speaking a word:

Jesus said: "And you, CAPERNAUM, will-you-be-exalted-up to heaven? You will-go-down as-far-as Hades. Because if the POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] having-taken-place in you had-been-done in Sodom, it-would-have-remained until today" (Matthew 11:21). One example of POWER [miracle] happening in CAPERNAUM would be: "He-having-entered into CAPERNAUM, (a) centurion came to Him, appealing-to Him and saying, “Master, my servant has-been-put in the house PARALYSED, being-tormented terribly”. And He-says (to) him, “Having-come, I will-cure him”. And having-responded, the centurion said, “Master, I-am not fit that You-should-come-in under my roof. But ONLY SPEAK (A) WORD AND MY SERVANT WILL-BE-HEALED" (Matthew 8:5-8), "And Jesus said (to) the centurion, “Go. Let it-be-done (for) you as you believed”. And his servant was-healed at that hour" (Matthew 8:13).

3) Having handkerchiefs or aprons carried forth from the skin of someone:

It is written: "God was-doing not the ordinary POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] by the hands (of) Paul, so-that HANDKERCHIEFS OR APRONS (WERE) EVEN BEING-CARRIED-FORTH FROM HIS SKIN to the (ones) being-sick, and the diseases (were) being-released from them, and the evil spirits (were) going-out" (Acts 19:11-12).

Powers can be worked from a distance:

The Bible describes that powers [miracles] can be worked from a distance. For example:

Jesus said: "And you, CAPERNAUM, will-you-be-exalted-up to heaven? You will-go-down as-far-as Hades. Because if the POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] having-taken-place in you had-been-done in Sodom, it-would-have-remained until today" (Matthew 11:21). One example of POWER [miracle] worked from a distance happening in CAPERNAUM would be: "there-was (a) certain royal (one) whose son was-sick in CAPERNAUM. This (one), having-heard that Jesus had-come from Judea to Galilee, went to Him, and was-asking that He-come-down and heal his son. For he-was-about to-die" (John 4:46-47), and Jesus did not go down there but instead spoke a word from a distance, as it is writtent that "Jesus says (to) him, “Go, your son lives”. The man believed the word which Jesus spoke (to) him, AND WAS-GOING. Now (while) he (was) already going-down, his slaves met him, saying that his boy lives. So he-inquired from them the hour at which he-got better. So they-said (to) him that “The fever left him yesterday (at the) seventh hour”. Then the father knew that (it was) at that hour at which Jesus said (to) him, “Your son lives”. And he-believed, he and his whole household" (John 4:50-53).

Powers can be "ordinary" or "not ordinary":

Powers [miracles] can be "ORDINARY" or "NOT ORDINARY".

Not ordinary:

It is written: "God was-doing NOT THE ORDINARY POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek] by the hands (of) Paul, so-that HANDKERCHIEFS OR APRONS (WERE) EVEN BEING-CARRIED-FORTH FROM HIS SKIN to the (ones) BEING-SICK, and the diseases (were) being-released from them, and the evil spirits (were) going-out" (Acts 19:11-12).

Here "NOT THE ORDINARY POWERS [miracles]" (Acts 19:11) would have been that "HANDKERCHIEFS OR APRONS (WERE) EVEN BEING-CARRIED-FORTH" (Acts 19:12) from the skin of Paul "to the (ones) BEING-SICK, and the diseases (were) being-released from them, and the evil spirits (were) going-out" (Acts 19:12).

Ordinary:

In contrast, merely laying hands on the sick ones and curing them in that way could have been considered as an ordinary power, as it may be implied in the following passage about Jesus where "He-was not able to-do any POWER [dunamis 1411 in Greek] there, EXCEPT, HAVING-LAID (HIS) HANDS ON (A) FEW SICK (ONES), HE-CURED (THEM)" (Mark 6:5). Jesus was recorded elsewhere again doing such power [miracle], as it is written: "all who were-having (ones) BEING-SICK (with) various diseases brought them to Him. And the (One), LAYING (HIS) HANDS ON EACH ONE (OF) THEN, WAS-CURING THEM" (Luke 4:40). People even expected Jesus to cure others like this, as for example someone said to Jesus: "My little-daughter is at-the-point-of-death. (I beg) that having-come, YOU-LAY (YOUR) HANDS ON HER IN-ORDER-THAT SHE-MAY-BE-RESTORED" (Mark 5:23).

The POWER for curing sick ones by specifically LAYING HANDS ON THEM may have been considered as an ordinary power at the time, based on how much time it was witnessed happening, in contrast with powers that may not have been ordinary such as "HANDKERCHIEFS OR APRONS (WERE) EVEN BEING-CARRIED-FORTH" (Acts 19:12) from the skin of Paul "to the (ones) BEING-SICK" (Acts 19:12) to cure them.

Who can be said to work the powers?:

The Bible indicates that GOD IS THE ONE WHO ULTIMATELY WORKS THE POWERS [miracles], but because God can work them by the hands of people, IT CAN ALSO BE SAID THE PEOPLE ARE WORKING THEM.

Regarding God ultimately working the powers [miracles] by the hands of people, it is written: "It is written: "GOD WAS-DOING not the ordinary POWERS [dunamis 1411 in Greek] by the hands (of) Paul" (Acts 19:11).

Regarding people being said to work a power [miracle], it is written: "John said (to) Him, “Teacher, we-saw SOMEONE CASTING-OUT DEMONS in your name. And we-were-forbidding him because he-was not following us”. But Jesus said, “Do not be-forbidding him. For there-is no-ONE WHO WILL-DO (A) POWER [miracle] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] on (the basis of) My name, and soon be-able to-speak-evil-of Me" (Mark 9:38-39).

Powers [miracles] can have conditions to be worked:

Powers [miracles] can have CONDITIONS to be worked.

For example, FAITH can be required from someone for a power to be received:

It is written: "(Did) then the (One) supplying you the Spirit and WORKING POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] among you (do it) because-of works (of the) Law, or BECAUSE-OF (THE) HEARING (OF) FAITH? Just-as Abraham “believed God and it-was-credited (to) him for righteousness”, know then that THE (ONES) OF FAITH, these are (the) sons (of) Abraham" (Galatians 3:5-7). The One "WORKING POWERS [miracles]" (Galatians 3:5) does it "BECAUSE-OF (THE) HEARING (OF) FAITH" (Galatians 3:5) from "THE (ONES) OF FAITH" (Galatians 3:7). The word "BECAUSE-OF" (Galatians 3:5) seems to suggest that it was the reason for why the powers were being worked, and could also imply a requirement for the powers to be worked in that case.

Powers can fail to happen if the conditions for them to be worked are not met:

Powers [miracles] can FAIL TO HAPPEN if the CONDITIONS FOR THEM TO BE WORKED ARE NOT MET.

For example, it is written that Jesus went somewhere and "He-was NOT ABLE TO-DO ANY POWER [miracle] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] THERE, except, having-laid (His) hands on (a) few sick (ones), He-cured (them). And He-was-marveling BECAUSE-OF THEIR UNBELIEF" (Mark 6:5-6).

Jesus was "NOT ABLE TO-DO ANY POWER THERE" (Mark 6:5) and this could have been "BECAUSE-OF THEIR UNBELIEF" (Mark 6:6).

Powers do not necessarily make people to repent:

Powers [miracles] do NOT NECESSARILY make people to REPENT.

For example, it is written about Jesus that "He-began to-reproach THE CITIES IN WHICH MOST-OF HIS POWERS [miracles] [dunamis 1411 in Greek] TOOK-PLACE, because THEY-DID NOT REPENT" (Matthew 11:20).

The gifts of powers reported after the 1st century:

Early Christians authors AFTER THE 1ST CENTURY reported that the gift of powers [miracles] was STILL ACTIVE.

Around the 2nd century AD, a Christian author named Irenaeus wrote:

"Those who are in truth Jesus’ disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform miracles, so as to promote the welfare of other men, according to the gift which each one has received from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe in Christ, and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years"

Early non-Christian sources reporting that Jesus worked powers:

There are ANCIENT NON-CHRISTIAN sources REPORTING that JESUS would have worked POWERS [miracles]. For example:

Flavius Josephus:

Around the 1st century AD, Flavius Josephus (AD 37-100), a Jewish historian, wrote:

"Now around this time lived Jesus, a wise man. For he was A WORKER OF AMAZING DEEDS and was a teacher of people who gladly accept the truth. He won over both many Jews and many Greeks. Pilate, when he heard him accused by the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross, (but) those who had first loved him did not cease (doing so). To this day the tribe of Christians named after him has not disappeared" [emphasis mine].

Babylonian Talmud:

Around the 1st-2nd century AD, in the Babylonian Talmud:

"On the eve of the Passover they hanged Yeshu and the herald went before him for forty days saying [Yeshu] is going forth to be stoned in that he hate PRACTICED SORCERY and beguiled and led astray Israel" (Babylonian Sanhedrin43a-b) [emphasis mine].

Here the source asserted that Jesus worked such powers that they had to account for them, describing them as "SORCERY".

This can be similar to the accusation Jesus received during His ministry of people saying that He was casting out demons by the ruler of demons, as it is written in the Bible: "the Pharisees, having heard it, said, “This One [Jesus] is not casting out the demons except by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!”". (Matthew 12:24). But Jesus told them: "Every kingdom having-been-divided against itself is-desolated, and every city or house having-been-divided against itself will not stand; and if Satan is-casting-out Satan, he-was-divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" (Matthew 12:25-26), and so Jesus clarified that instead: "I am-casting-out the demons by (the) Spirit (of) God" (Matthew 12:28).

Celsus:

Around the 2nd century AD, Celsus, a Greek philosopher, wrote:

"Jesus, on account of his poverty, was hired out to go to Egypt. While there he acquired CERTAIN POWERS which Egyptians pride themselves on possessing. He returned home highly elated at possessing these powers, and on the strength of them gave himself out to be a god."

Here the source asserted at minimum that Jesus had "CERTAIN POWERS", seeking then to account for them by asserting that they were acquired while Jesus would have been in Egypt.

In the Bible it is written that the source of the powers of Jesus was that Jesus had been anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and power, which after after His baptism by John in the Jordan River (which did not take place in Egypt), as Peter said: "AFTER THE BAPTISM which John proclaimed, (as to) JESUS from Nazareth, how GOD ANOINTED HIM (WITH THE) HOLY SPIRIT AND (WITH) POWER; Who went-about doing-good and HEALING all the (ones) being-oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him" (Acts 10:37-38).

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