wonders in the heaven above

οὐρανός, οῦ, ὁ 24:31 (Hom.+; ‘heaven’ in various senses)

① the portion or portions of the universe gener. distinguished from planet earth, heaven (so mostly in the sing.; s. B-D-F §141, 1)

ⓐ mentioned w. the earth

α. forming a unity w. it as the totality of creation (Pla., Euthyd. 296d οὐρανὸς καὶ γῆ; Gen 1:1; 14:19, 22; Tob 7:17 BA; Jdth 9:12; Bel 5; 1 Macc 2:37 al.; PsSol 8:7; ParJer 5:32; Just., D. 74, 1; PGM 13, 784 ὁ βασιλεύων τῶν οὐρανῶν κ. τῆς γῆς κ. πάντων τῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐνδιατριβόντων; Orig., C. Cels. 6, 59, 6; Theoph. Ant. 1, 4 [p. 64, 13]) ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ Mt 5:18; 11:25; 24:35; Mk 13:31; Lk 10:21; 16:17; 21:33; Ac 4:24; 14:15; 17:24 (on the absence of the art. s. B-D-F §253, 3); Rv 14:7; 20:11; Dg 3:4; AcPlCor 2:9; 19.

β. standing independently beside the earth or contrasted w. it: Mt 5:34f; Ac 7:49 (cp. on both Is 66:1). ἐν (τῷ) οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ (τῆς) γῆς Mt 6:10; 28:18; Lk 11:2 v.l.; Rv 5:13.—1 Cor 8:5; Rv 5:3; ISm 11:2. τὸ πρόσωπον τ. γῆς καὶ τ. οὐρανοῦ Lk 12:56. Cp. Hb 12:26 (Hg 2:6); Js 5:12.—τὰ ἔσχατα τ. γῆς as extreme contrast to heaven 1 Cl 28:3. By God’s creative word the heaven was fixed and the earth founded on the waters Hv 1, 3, 4. Neither heaven nor earth can be comprehended by human measure 16:2 (Is 40:12). On ἀπʼ ἄκρου γῆς ἕως ἄκρου οὐρανοῦ Mk 13:27 s. under ἄκρον. ὁ πρῶτος οὐρ. καὶ ἡ πρώτη γῆ will give way in the last times to the οὐρ. καινός and the γῆ καινή Rv 21:1 (cp. Is 65:17; 66:22).

ⓑ as firmament or sky over the earth; out of reach for humans Hm 11:18. Hence ἕως οὐρανοῦ (ApcEsdr 4:32) Mt 11:23; Lk 10:15 or εἰς τὸν οὐρ. Hv 4, 1, 5 as an expr. denoting a great height. Likew. ἀπὸ τ. γῆς ἕως τ. οὐρανοῦ 1 Cl 8:3 (scripture quot. of unknown origin); GPt 10:40 (for a transcendent being who walks on the earth and whose head touches the sky, s. Il. 4, 443). Since the heaven extends over the whole earth, ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρ. under (the) heaven = on earth, throughout the earth (Pla., Tim. 23c, Ep. 7, 326c; UPZ 106, 14 [99 B.C.]; Eccl 1:13; 3:1; Just., A II, 5, 2) Ac 2:5; 4:12; Col 1:23; Hs 9, 17, 4; m 12, 4, 2. ὑποκάτωθεν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ throughout the earth 1 Cl 53:3 (Dt 9:14). ἐκ τῆς (i.e. χώρας) ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρ. εἰς τὴν ὑπʼ οὐρανόν from one place on earth to another Lk 17:24 (cp. Dt 29:19; Bar 5:3; 2 Macc 2:18 ἐκ τῆς ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρ. εἰς τὸν ἅγιον τόπον).—In the last days there will appear τέρατα ἐν τ. οὐρανῷ ἄνω wonders in the heaven above Ac 2:19 (Jo 3:3 v.l.). σημεῖον ἐν τῷ οὐρ. Rv 12:1, 3 (cp. Diod S 2, 30, 1 τὰ ἐν οὐρανῷ γινόμενα=what takes place in the heavens; Ael. Aristid. 50, 56 K.=26 p. 519 D., where the statue of Asclepius from Pergamum appears ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ). The sky can even be rolled up; s. ἑλίσσω.—Rain falls fr. heaven (X., An. 4, 2, 2) and heaven is closed to bring about a drought Lk 4:25.—Rv 11:6; Js 5:18 (cp. 2 Ch 6:26; 7:13; Sir 48:3). Lightning also comes fr. heaven (Bacchylides 17, 55f ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ … ἀστραπάν [=Attic-ήν]) Lk 10:18. Likew. of other things that come down like rain to punish sinners: fire Lk 9:54 (cp. 4 Km 1:10; TestAbr A 10 p. 88, 14 [Stone p. 24]); Rv 20:9; fire and brimstone Lk 17:29 (cp. Gen 19:24); apocalyptic hail Rv 16:21; AcPl Ha 5, 7.

ⓒ as starry heaven IEph 19:2. τὰ ἄστρα τοῦ οὐρ. (cp. ἄστρον and s. Eur., Phoen. 1; Diod S 6, 2, 2 ἥλιον κ. σελήνην κ. τὰ ἄλλα ἄστρα τὰ κατʼ οὐρανόν; Ael. Aristid. 43, 13 K.=1 p. 5 D.; TestAbr A 1 p. 78, 1 [Stone p. 4]; JosAs 2:11) Hb 11:12. οἱ ἀστέρες τοῦ οὐρ. 1 Cl 32:2 (Gen 22:17); cp. 10:6 (Gen 15:5). In the time of tribulation at the end of the world the stars will fall fr. heaven Mt 24:29a; Mk 13:25a; Rv 6:13; 12:4. Cp. 8:10; 9:1. ἡ στρατιὰ τοῦ οὐρ. (s. οὐράνιος) the host of heaven, of the stars, which some Israelites illicitly worshipped Ac 7:42 (worship of the στρατιὰ τοῦ οὐρ. in enmity to Yahweh also Jer 7:18; 19:13; Zeph 1:5; 2 Ch 33:3, 5). These are also meant by the δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν Mt 24:29b; Lk 21:26; cp. Mk 13:25b (cp. δύναμις 4).

ⓓ as place of atmosphere (cp. TestAbr A 9 p. 87, 15 [Stone p. 22] εἰς τὴν αἰθέρα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ); clouds hover in it, the νεφέλαι τοῦ οὐρ. (s. νεφέλη) Mt 24:30b; 26:64; Mk 14:62; D 16:8. Likew. the birds, τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (Gen 1:26; Ps 8:9; Jdth 11:7; ParJer 7:3; cp. Bar 3:17) Mt 6:26; 8:20; 13:32; Mk 4:32; Lk 8:5; 9:58; Ac 10:12; 11:6; 6:12 (Gen 1:26), 18; Hs 9, 24, 1; GJs 3:2 codd.; 18:2 codd.—πυρράζει ὁ οὐρανός Mt 16:2, 3.—In connection w. τὸν σατανᾶν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ πεσόντα Lk 10:18 the atmosphere may well be thought of as an abode of evil spirits. On Satan as the ἄρχων τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ ἀέρος, s. ἀήρ. Cp. also the λεγόμενοι θεοὶ εἴτε ἐν οὐρ. εἴτε ἐπὶ γῆς 1 Cor 8:5. In any case Rv 12:7f speaks of the dragon and his angels as being in heaven.

ⓔ The concept of more than one heaven (the idea is Semitic; but s. FTorm, ZNW 33, ’34, 48–50, who refers to Anaximander and Aristot. Also Ps.-Apollod. 1, 6, 1, 2 ms. and Achilles Tat. 2, 36, 4 and 37, 2 ms. have οὐρανοί; Himerius, Or. 66 [=Or. 20], 4 οὐρανοί as the abode of the gods; also Hesychius Miles. [VI A.D.] c. 66 JFlach of the ‘godless heathen’ Tribonian.—Schlatter, Mt² p. 58 on 3:2: ‘The pl. οὐρανοί is found neither in Philo nor Joseph.’ Cp. PKatz, Philo’s Bible ’50, 141–46; Mussies 84) is also found in our lit. (s. 1aα; Theoph. Ant. 1, 4 [p. 64, 15]), but it is not always possible to decide with certainty just where the idea is really alive and where it simply survives in a formula (in J’s Gospel the pl. is entirely absent; Rv has it only 12:12 [fr. LXX]. Eph always has the pl. In others the sing. and pl. are interchanged for no apparent reason [cp. Hb 9:23 w. 24 or Hv 1, 1, 4 w. 1, 2, 1; also GPt 10:40f; Ps. 113:11 lines 1 and 2; TestAbr, TestJob, Just., Tat.]): the third heaven (cp. Ps.-Lucian, Philopatris 12 ἐς τρίτον οὐρανὸν ἀεροβατήσας [s. on ἀνακαινίζω and πνεῦμα 8]; PSI 29, 2ff [IV A.D.?] ἐπικαλοῦμαί σε τὸν καθήμενον ἐν τῷ πρώτῳ οὐρανῷ … ἐν τῷ β´ οὐρ. … ἐν τῷ γ´ οὐρ.; Simplicius, In Epict. p. 100, 13 Düb. ὀκτὼ οὐρανοί; TestLevi 3:3; GrBar 11:1 εἰς πέμπτον οὐ. Combination of the third heaven and paradise, GrBar 10:1ff; ApcMos 37. S. τρίτος 1a) 2 Cor 12:2 (s. JohJeremias, Der Gottesberg 1919, 41ff; Ltzm., Hdb.⁴ ’49, exc. on 2 Cor 12:3f [lit.]). ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν Eph 4:10. τ. πάντα ἐν τ. οὐρανοῖς κ. ἐπὶ τ. γῆς Col 1:16; cp. vs. 20. ἔργα τ. χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρ. Hb 1:10 (Ps 101:26).—4:14; 7:26; 2 Pt 3:5, 7, 10, 12f (of the heavens, their destruction in the final conflagration, and their replacement by the καινοὶ οὐρ.); 1 Cl 20:1; 33:3. τακήσονταί τινες τῶν οὐρανῶν 2 Cl 16:3.—S. also Lampe s.v. 2.—From the concept of various celestial levels a transition is readily made to

② transcendent abode, heaven (the pl. is preferred for this mng.: B-D-F §141, 1; Rob. 408)

ⓐ as the dwelling-place (or throne) of God (Sappho, Fgm. 56 D.² [=Campbell 54] of Eros; Solon 1, 22 D.³ of Zeus; Hom. Hymn to Aphrodite 291 [all three οὐρ. in the sing. as the seat of the gods]; Pla., Phdr. 246e ὁ μέγας ἐν οὐρανῷ Ζεύς; Ps.-Aristot., De Mundo 2, 2; 3, 4 ὁ οὐρ. as οἰκητήριον θεοῦ or θεῶν; Dio Chrys. 19[36], 22 θεῶν μακάρων κατʼ οὐρανόν; Artem. 2, 68 p. 159, 13 ὁ οὐρανὸς θεῶν ἐστὶν οἶκος; Ael. Aristid. 43, 14 K.=1 p. 5 D.; Maximus Tyr. 11, 11b; ins from Saïtaï in Lydia [δύναμις 5]; IAndrosIsis, Cyrene 8 p. 129.—On the OT: GWestphal, Jahwes Wohnstätten 1908, 214–73) Mt 23:22; Ac 7:55f; Hb 8:1; 16:2b (Is 66:1); Dg 10:7. ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρ. Hv 1, 1, 6 (cp. Tob 5:17 S). ὁ θεὸς τοῦ οὐρ. (Gen 24:3) Rv 11:13; 16:11. ὁ κύριος ἐν οὐρανοῖς Eph 6:9; cp. Col 4:1. ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν (μου, ἡμῶν) ὁ ἐν (τοῖς) οὐρ. (silver tablet fr. Amisos: ARW 12, 1909, 25 ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ μέγας ὁ ἐν οὐρανῷ καθήμενος) Mt 5:16, 45; 6:1, 9; 7:11, 21b; 10:33; 12:50; 16:17; 18:10b, 14, 19; Mk 11:25f; Lk 11:2 v.l.; D 8:2 (here the sing. ὁ ἐν τῷ οὐρ. Cp. PGM 12, 261 τῷ ἐν οὐρανῷ θεῷ). ὁ πατὴρ ὁ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ the Father who (gives) from heaven Lk 11:13 (Jos., Ant. 9, 73 ἐκχέαι τὸν θεὸν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ). God dwells in τὰ ὕψη τῶν οὐρ. 1 Cl 36:2. Therefore the one who prays looks up toward heaven: ἀναβλέπειν εἰς τὸν οὐρ. (s. ἀναβλέπω 1) Mt 14:19; Mk 6:41; 7:34; Lk 9:16; MPol 9:2; 14:1. ἀτενίσας εἰς τὸν οὐρ. εἶδεν δόξαν θεοῦ Ac 7:55; ἐπάρας τ. ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρ. J 17:1.—The Spirit of God comes fr. (the open) heaven Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:21; J 1:32; Ac 2:2(–4); 1 Pt 1:12; AcPlCor 2:5. The voice of God resounds fr. it (Maximus Tyr. 35, 7b Διὸς ἐξ οὐρανοῦ μέγα βοῶντος, the words follow) Mt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22; J 12:28; Ac 11:9; MPol 9:1 (cp. Just., D. 88, 8), and it is gener. the place where divine pronouncements originate Ac 11:5 and their end vs. 10. The ὀργὴ θεοῦ reveals itself fr. heaven Ro 1:18 (s. Jos., Bell. 1, 630 τὸν ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ δικαστήν). Also, a σημεῖον ἐκ (ἀπὸ) τοῦ οὐρ. is a sign given by God Mt 16:1; Mk 8:11; Lk 11:16; cp. 21:11.—Lampe s.v. 4.

ⓑ Christ is ἐξ οὐρανοῦ from heaven, of a heavenly nature 1 Cor 15:47 (s. ἄνθρωπος 1d. On this HKennedy, St. Paul and the Conception of the ‘Heavenly Man’: Exp. 8th ser., 7, 1913, 97–110; EGraham, CQR 113, ’32, 226) and has come down from heaven J 3:13b, 31; 6:38, 42, 50 (Ar. 15, 1 ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς; Mel., P. 66, 467 ἀφικόμενος ἐξ οὐρανῶν), as ὁ ἄρτος ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (s. ἄρτος 2). Cp. Ro 10:6. He returned to heaven (τὴν ἔνσαρκον εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺ ἀνάληψιν Iren. 1, 10, 1 [Harv. I 91, 2]; on the ascension s. CHönn, Studien zur Geschichte der Hf. im klass. Altertum: Progr. Mannheim 1910; EPfister, Der Reliquienkult im Altertum II 1912, 480ff; HDiels, Himmels u. Höllenfahrten v. Homer bis Dante: NJklA 49, 1922, 239–53; RHolland, Zur Typik der Himmelfahrt: ARW 23, 1925, 207–20; JKroll, Gott u. Hölle ’32, 533 [ind.: Ascensus]; WMichaelis, Zur Überl. der Hf.s-geschichte: ThBl 4, 1925, 101–9; AFridrichsen, D. Hf. bei Lk: ibid. 6, 1927, 337–41; GBertram, Die Hf. Jesu vom Kreuz: Deissmann Festschr. 1927, 187–217 [UHolzmeister, ZKT 55, ’31, 44–82]; HSchlier, Christus u. d. Kirche im Eph 1930, 1ff; VLarrañaga, L’Ascension de Notre-Seigneur dans le NT ’38 [fr. Spanish]. S. also at ἀνάστασις 2 end, and διά A 2a) to live there in glory: Mk 16:19; Lk 24:51; Ac 1:10f (AZwiep, The Ascension of the Messiah in Lukan Christology ’97); 2:34; 7:55f; 9:3; 22:6; 1 Pt 3:22; 15:9. Christians await his return fr. heaven: Ac 1:11; Phil 3:20; 1 Th 1:10; 4:16; 2 Th 1:7 (Just., A I, 51, 8 al.).—When Messianic woes have come to an end, τότε φανήσεται τὸ σημεῖον τοῦ υἱοῦ τ. ἀνθρώπου ἐν οὐρανῷ then the sign of the Human One (who is) in heaven will appear; acc. to the context, the sign consists in this, that he appears visibly in heavenly glory Mt 24:30.—Lampe s.v. 10b.

ⓒ as the abode of angels (Gen 21:17; 22:11; Ps.-Clem., Hom. 8, 12; TestAbr A 4 p. 80, 34 [Stone p. 8]; ParJer 3:2; ApcMos 38; Just., D. 57, 2) Mt 18:10a; 22:30; 24:36; 28:2; Mk 12:25; 13:32; Lk 2:15; 22:43; J 1:51; Gal 1:8; Rv 10:1; 18:1; 19:14; 20:1. Cp. Eph 3:15.—Lampe s.v. 7.

ⓓ Christians who have died also dwell in heaven (cp. Dio Chrys. 23 [40], 35 οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ θείων κ. μακαρίων αἰώνιον τάξιν; Libanius, Or. 21 p. 459, 9 F. πόρρω τοῦ τὸν οὐρανὸν οἰκοῦντος χοροῦ; Oenomaus in Eus., PE 5, 33, 5; 12; Artem. 2, 68 p. 160, 25 τὰς ψυχὰς ἀπαλλαγείσας τῶν σωμάτων εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνιέναι τάχει χρωμένας ὑπερβάλλοντι; Himerius, Or. 8 [=23], 23: the daemon of the dead holds the σῶμα of the dead person, τὴν ψυχὴν ὁ οὐρανός; Quintus Smyrn. 7, 88; TestAbr A 20 p. 103, 26 [Stone p. 54]; TestJob 39:13; ApcEsdr 7:3). Their life, τὸ ἀληθῶς ἐν οὐρανῷ ζῆν, stands in strong contrast to the ὄντως θάνατος, that leads to the everlasting fire Dg 10:7b. Rhoda, who greets Hermas from heaven Hv 1, 1, 4, need not have died (s. MDibelius, Hdb. ad loc.), and still she shows us that heaven is open to the devout. Furthermore, the true citizenship of Christians is in heaven (Tat. 16, 1 τὴν ἐν οὐρανοῖς πορείαν; s. πολίτευμα) Phil 3:20; cp. Dg 5:9. Their names are enrolled in heaven (s. βίβλος 2) Lk 10:20; Hb 12:23. In heaven there await them their glorified body 2 Cor 5:1f, their reward Mt 5:12; Lk 6:23, their treasure Mt 6:20; Lk 12:33, the things they hoped for Col 1:5, their inheritance 1 Pt 1:4. It is a place of peace Lk 19:38.—ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ the New Jerusalem (s. Ἱεροσόλυμα 2) will come down to earth Rv 3:12; 21:2, 10.

ⓔ The concept of a heaven in which God, attendant spirits of God, and the righteous dead abide, makes it easy to understand the taking over of certain OT expressions in which heaven is personified εὐφραίνεσθε οἱ οὐρανοί (cp. Is 44:23; 49:13; Mel., P. 98, 747) Rv 12:12; cp. 18:20; 9:3 (Is 1:2); 11:2 (Jer 2:12); 1 Cl 27:7 (Ps 18:2).

③ an indirect reference to God, God fig. ext. of 2 (s. βασιλεία 1b.—A common Hebrew practice, but not unknown among polytheists: Philippides Com. [IV/III B.C.] 27 νὴ τὸν οὐρανόν. Acc. to Clem. Al., Protr. 5, 66, 4 Θεόφραστος πῇ μὲν οὐρανὸν, πῇ δὲ πνεῦμα τὸν θεὸν ὑπονοεῖ=Theophrastus at one time thinks of God as heaven and at another time as spirit; Appian, Hann. 56 §233 σημεῖα ἐκ Διός [ln. 14 Viereck-R.]=ἐξ οὐρανοῦ [ln. 16]; JosAs 19:2; SEG XXVIII, 1251, 3 [III/IV A.D.; s. New Docs 3, 49f]). ἁμαρτάνειν εἰς τὸν οὐρ. sin against God Lk 15:18, 21. ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων Mt 21:25; Mk 11:30f; Lk 20:4f. βασιλεία τῶν οὐρ. (GrBar 11:2) in Mt=βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ 3:2; 4:17; 5:3, 10, 19f; 7:21; 8:11; 10:7; 11:11f; 13:11, 24, 31, 33, 44f, 47, 52; 16:19; 18:1, 3f, 23; 19:12, 14, 23; 20:1; 22:2; 23:13; 25:1: J 3:5 v.l.; AcPl Ha 8, 31 (restored)=BMM verso 3.—B. 53; 1484. DELG. M-M. DLNT 439–43. EDNT. TW. Sv.

σημεῖον, ου, τό (s. prec. entry; Aeschyl., Hdt.+; ins, pap, LXX, pseudepigr., Philo, Joseph., apolog.; loanw. in rabb.; Hippol., Ref. 6, 27, 4; Did., Gen. 115, 9 ‘symbol’; gener. ‘sign’)

① a sign or distinguishing mark whereby someth. is known, sign, token, indication (Diod S 3, 66, 3=evidences τῆς παρουσίας τοῦ θεοῦ; Cornutus 16 p. 21, 9.—Arrian, Anab. 6, 26, 4 of marks in the landscape showing direction; ParJer 5:11 τὰ ς. τῆς πόλεως; Just., A I, 55, 6 al.; Iren. 1, 14, 8 [Harv. I 143, 10]; Orig., C. Cels. 3, 43, 36 ς. τῆς μετὰ θάνατον ἐπιφανείας αὐτοῦ [sc. Ἰησοῦ]; 2, 59, 6 of the scars of the resurrected Lord τὰ ς. τῆς κολάσεως). τοῦτο ὑμῖν σημεῖον this (will be) a sign for you Lk 2:12 (cp. Is 37:30). ὅ ἐστιν ς. ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιστολῇ this is the mark of genuineness in every letter 2 Th 3:17 (Ps.-Pla., Ep. 13, 360a has at its beginning the words σύμβολον ὅτι παρʼ ἐμοῦ ἐστιν). Of a signal previously agreed upon δοῦναί τινι σημεῖον (PFay 128, 7 ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν σημεῖον ‘he gave us a signal’; Jos., Ant. 12, 404) Mt 26:48; 1 Cl 12:7.— A sign of things to come (PsSol 15:9 τὸ … σημεῖον ἀπωλείας ἐπὶ τοῦ μετώπου αὐτῶν; Did., Gen. 191, 6; Philo, Op. M. 58 σημεῖα μελλόντων; Jos., Bell. 6, 285; 296; 297) Mk 13:4; Lk 21:7. The event to be expected is added in the gen. τί τὸ ς. τῆς σῆς παρουσίας; Mt 24:3. τὸ ς. τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου the sign by which one can mark the coming of the Human One (Son of Man) vs. 30 (TGlasson, JTS 15, ’64, 299f [a military metaphor, ‘standard’; cp. Is 18:3; 1QM 3f]). τὰ σημεῖα τῶν καιρῶν the signs of the (end)times (καιρός 3b) Mt 16:3.— A sign of warning (Plut., Caes. 737 [63, 1]; SibOr 3, 457; Mel., P. 14, 90) 1 Cl 11:2. Prob. in like manner αἱ γλῶσσαι εἰς σημεῖόν εἰσιν τοῖς ἀπίστοις the tongues (γλῶσσα 3) serve as a (warning) sign to the unbelievers 1 Cor 14:22. Likew. the sign of Jonah (s. Ἰωνᾶς 1) in Luke: Lk 11:29, 30. Here the Human One is to be a sign to his generation, as Jonah was to the Ninevites; cp. οὗτος κεῖται εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον (s. ἀντιλέγω 2) 2:34 (cp. Is 11:12).—W-S. §30, 10d.—GRunze, Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes u. der Doppelsinn des Jonazeichens 1897 (against him PSchmiedel, Lit. Centralblatt 48, 1897, 513–15; Runze again, ZWT 41, 1898, 171–85; finally PSchm. ibid. 514–25); PAsmussen, Protestantenblatt 37, 1904, 375–8; STyson, Bibl. World 33,1909, 96–101; CBowen, AJT 20, 1916, 414–21; JMichael, JTS 21, 1920, 146–59; JBonsirven, RSR 24, ’34, 450–55; HGale, JBL 60, ’41, 255–60; PSeidelin, Das Jonaszeichen, StTh 5, ’51, 119–31; AVögtle, Wikenhauser Festschr. ’53, 230–77; OGlombitza, D. Zeichen des Jona, NTS 8, ’62, 359–66.—In the OT circumcision is σημεῖον διαθήκης=a sign or token of belonging to the covenant (Gen 17:11). For Paul this sign becomes a mark, or seal (so σημεῖον: PRev 26, 5 [III B.C.]; PRein 9 introd. [II B.C.]; 35, 3; BGU 1064, 18) σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς σφραγῖδα he got the mark of circumcision as a seal Ro 4:11. In the difficult pass. B 12:5 ἐν σημείῳ is prob. best taken as by a sign; but it is poss. that the text is defective (s. Windisch, Hdb. ad loc.; RKraft, Did. and Barnabas ’65, 119 note: ‘standard, norm’).—τὰ σημεῖα τοῦ ἀποστόλου 2 Cor 12:12a belongs rather to the next category; the signs of the (true) apostle (cp. SIG 831, 14 [117 A.D.] ἡγούμην σημεῖα ἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν) are, as is shown by the verb κατειργάσθη and what follows, the wonders or miracles performed by him.

② an event that is an indication or confirmation of intervention by transcendent powers, miracle, portent

ⓐ miracle

α. a miracle of divine origin, performed by God himself, by Christ, or by men of God (cp. Diod S 5, 70, 4 πολλὰ ς. of the young Zeus; 16, 27, 2 ἐγένετο αὐτῷ σημεῖον ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος; Strabo 16, 2, 35 παρὰ τ. θεοῦ ς.; Appian, Ital. 8 §1 σημείων γενομένων ἐκ Διός, Hann. 56 §233; SIG 709, 25 [c. 107 B.C.] διὰ τῶν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ γενομένων σαμείων; PGM 1, 65; 74; Jos., Ant. 2, 274; 280; Mel., P. 78, 568): Mt 12:38f; 16:1 (ς. ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ), 4; Mk 8:11 (ς. ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, as Synes., Prov. 1, 7; s. OLinton, The Demand for a Sign from Heaven, StTh 19, ’65, 112–29; JGibson, JSNT 38, ’90, 37–66, a phenomenon suggesting divine deliverance), 12; 16:17, 20; Lk 11:16 (ς. ἐξ οὐρανοῦ), 29 (s. 1 above); 23:8; J 2:11, 18, 23; 3:2; 4:54; 6:2, 14, 26, 30; 7:31; 9:16; 10:41; 11:47; 12:18, 37; 20:30 (on σημ. as a designation of Jesus’ miracles in J s. Hdb. on J 2:11 and 6:26; JBernard, ICC John 1929, I introd. 176–86; CBarrett, The Gosp. acc. to St. John, ’55, 62–65); Ac 4:16, 22 (τὸ ς. τῆς ἰάσεως the miracle of healing); 8:6; 1 Cor 1:22; Agr 9. τί εἴδετε σημεῖον ἐπὶ τὸν γεννηθέντα βασιλέα; what kind of sign did you see over the newborn king? GJs 21:2 (codd.). τὸ σημεῖον τὸ ἐνάρετον the marvelous sign AcPl Ha 3,16.—σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα (Polyb. 3, 112, 8 σημείων δὲ καὶ τεράτων πᾶν μὲν ἱερόν, πᾶσα δʼ ἦν οἰκία πλήρης; Plut., Alex. 706 [75, 1 sing.]; Appian, Bell. Civ. 2, 36 §144 τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα οὐράνια; 4, 4 §14; Aelian, VH 12, 57; Philo, Mos. 1, 95, Aet. M. 2; Jos., Bell. 1, 28, Ant. 20, 168. Oft. in LXX: Ex 7:3; Dt 4:34; 6:22; 7:19 al.; Is 8:18; 20:3; Jer 39:21; Wsd 8:8; 10:16) J 4:48; Ac 2:43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 14:3; 15:12; Ro 15:19; Hb 2:4; 1 Cl 51:5; B 4:14; 5:8. δυνάμεις καὶ τέρατα κ. σημεῖα Ac 2:22; 2 Cor 12:12b (SSchreiber, Paulus als Wundertäter: BZNW 79, ’96) σημεῖα καὶ δυνάμεις Ac 8:13.—1 Cl 25:1; 2 Cl 15:4. SMc-Casland, JBL 76, ’57, 149–52; MWhittaker, Studia Evangelica 5, ’68, 155–58.

β. worked by Satan or his agents to mislead God’s people (s. Iren. 5, 28, 2 [Harv. V 401, 32]) Rv 13:13f; 16:14; 19:20. σημεῖα κ. τέρατα Mt 24:24; Mk 13:22 (GBeasley-Murray, A Commentary on Mk 13, ’57; EGrässer, D. Problem der Parusie-verzögerung, ’57, 152–70); 2 Th 2:9; D 16:4.

ⓑ portent terrifying appearances in the heavens, never before seen, as portents of the last days Lk 21:11, 25 (Appian, Bell. Civ. 4, 4 §14 σημεῖα πολλά around the sun; AscIs 3, 20); Ac 2:19 (cp. Jo 3:3); s. D 16:6. Of that which the seer of the Apocalypse sees ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ Rv 12:1, 3; 15:1. Of the portentous signs in heaven and earth at the death of Jesus GPt 8:28 (cp. Da 6:28 Theod. σημεῖα κ. τέρατα ἐν οὐρανῷ κ. ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς; Diod S 38 + 39 Fgm. 5: at the end of each one of the eight ages ordained by God there is a σημεῖον ἐκ γῆς ἢ οὐρανοῦ θαυμάσιον).—On miracles s. SIG 1168–73; RLembert, Das Wunder bei Römern u. Griechen I 1905; RReitzenstein, Hellenist. Wundererzählungen 1906, OWeinreich, Antike Heilungswunder 1909, Gebet u. Wunder: WSchmid Festschr. 1929, 169ff; PWendland, De Fabellis Antiquis earumque ad Christianos Propagatione 1911; FKutsch, Attische Heilgötter u. Heilheroen 1913; WJayne, The Healing Gods of Ancient Civilizations 1925; RHerzog, D. Wunderheilungen v. Epidaurus ’31; PFiebig, Jüdische Wundergeschichten des ntl. Zeitalters 1911; ASchlatter, Das Wunder in d. Synagoge 1912.—RLehmann, Naturwissenschaft u. bibl. Wunderfrage 1930; GNaumann, Die Wertschätzung des Wunders im NT 1903; GTraub, Das Wunder im NT² 1907; KBeth, Die Wunder Jesu 1908; JThompson, Miracles in the NT 1911; LFonck, Die Wunder des Herrn im Ev.² 1907; LFillion, Les miracles de Jésus-Christ 1909/1910; PDausch, Die Wunder Jesu 1912; SEitrem, Nordisk Tidskrift for Filologie 5, 1919, 30–36; RBultmann, Die Gesch. der synopt. Tradition² ’31, 223–60; RJelke, Die Wunder Jesu 1922; GShafto, The Wonders of the Kingdom 1924; JBest, The Miracles of Christ in the Light of our Present Day Knowledge ’37; TTorrance, Expository Studies in St. John’s Miracles ’38; ARichardson, The Miracle Stories of the Gospels ’41; AFridrichsen, Le Problème du Miracle dans le Christianisme primitif: Études d’ Hist. et de Phil. rel. XII 1925; HSchlingensiepen, Die Wunder des NT ’33; OPerels, D. Wunderüberlieferung der Synoptiker ’34; PSaintyves, Essais de folklore biblique 1923; GMarquardt, D. Wunderproblem in d. deutschen prot. Theologie der Gegenwart ’33; GDelling, D. Verständnis des Wunders im NT, ZST 24, ’55, 265–80, Zur Beurteilung des Wunders durch d. Antike: Studien zum NT ’70, 53–71; SMcCasland, Signs and Wonders, JBL 76, ’57, 149–52; CBarrett, The Gosp. Acc. to John ’55, 62–65; JCharlier, La notion de signe (sêmeion) dans J: RSPT 43, ’59, 434–48; PRiga, Signs of Glory (J): Int 17, ’63, 402–24; HvanderLoos, The Miracles of Jesus ’65; WNicol, The Semeia in the Fourth Gosp. ’72; for Acts s. FNeirynck, the Miracle Stories in the Acts of the Apostles, An Introduction, in Les Actes des Apôtres, ed. JKremer ’79, 169–213.—Esp. on the healing of demoniacs JWeiss, RE IV 408ff; JJaeger, Ist Jesus Christus ein Suggestionstherapeut gewesen? 1918; KKnur, M.D., Christus medicus? 1905; KDusberger, Bibel u. Kirche ’51, 114–17 (foretoken).—RGrant, Miracle and Natural Law in Graeco-Roman and Early Christian Thought ’52. S. also the lit. s.v. δαιμόνιον 2.—See further MWestermann, ed. ΠΑΡΑΔΟΞΑΓΡΑΦΟΙ, Scriptores Rerum Mirabilium Graeci, 1839.—B. 914. DELG s.v. σῆμα. M-M. DBS XII 1281–1330. EDNT. ABD IV 869 (lit.). TW. Spicq. Sv.

δύναμις, εως, ἡ (Hom.+; loanw. in rabb.) gener. ‘capability’, with emphasis on function.

① potential for functioning in some way, power, might, strength, force, capability

ⓐ general, λαμβάνειν δ. receive power Ac 1:8 (cp. Epict. 1, 6, 28; 4, 1, 109; Tat. 16, 1 δραστικωτέρας δ.); ἰδίᾳ δ. by one’s own capability 3:12. Of kings τὴν δύναμιν καὶ ἐξουσίαν αὐτῶν τῷ θηρίῳ διδόασιν Rv 17:13 (cp. Just., A I, 17, 3 βασιλικῆς δ.).—Of God’s power (Nicol. Dam.: 90 Fgm. 66, 33 Jac. θεῶν δ., Diod S 1, 20, 6 τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δύναμιν of Osiris’ function as benefactor to humanity; 5, 71, 6; 27, 12, 1; 34 + 35 Fgm. 28, 3; Dio Chrys. 11 [12], 70, 75; 84; 23 [40], 36; Herm. Wr. 14, 9 ὁ θεὸς …, ἡ [ᾧ v.l.] πᾶσα δύναμις τοῦ ποιεῖν πάντα; PGM 4, 641; 7, 582; 12, 250; LXX; Aristobulus in Eus., PE 13, 12, 4; 7 [Fgm. 4, ln. 22 p. 164; ln. 84 p. 172]; EpArist; Jos., Ant. 8, 109; 9, 15; SibOr 3, 72; Just., A I, 32, 11 al.) Mt 22:29; Mk 12:24; Lk 22:69; Ro 1:16, 20 (Jos., C. Ap. 2, 167 God is known through his δ.); 9:17 (Ex 9:16); 1 Cor 1:18, 24; 2:5; 6:14; 2 Cor 4:7; 6:7; 13:4; Eph 3:7; 2 Ti 1:8; 1 Pt 1:5; Rv 1:16; 11:17; 12:10; 15:8; cp. 2 Cor 12:9a; Rv 5:12; 1 Cl 11:2; 33:3; Dg 7:9; 9:1f; δ. ὑψίστου Lk 1:35. In doxology (1 Ch 29:11f; on the doxol. in the Lord’s Prayer HSchumaker, Cath. World 160, ’45, 342–49) Mt 6:13 v.l.; D 8:2; 9:4; 10:5. Cp. Rv 4:11; 7:12; 19:1.—IMg 3:1; ISm 1:1; Hv 3, 3, 5; m 5, 2, 1; PtK 2. Hence God is actually called δ. (Philo, Mos. 1, 111, Mut. Nom. 29; Ath. 16, 2) Mt 26:64; Mk 14:62 (cp. Wsd 1:3; 5:23 and Dalman, Worte 164f). Christ possesses a θεία δ. (this expr. in Aristot., Pol. 4 [7], 4, 1326a 32; PGM 12, 302 al.; s. Orig., C. Cels. 3, 40, 20 al.; Did., Gen. 60, 8; s. θεῖος 1a) 2 Pt 1:3; cp. 1:16 and 1 Cor 5:4; of Christ’s potential to achieve someth. through Paul 2 Cor 12:9b (cp. SEG XXXIV, 1308, 5f [50 B.C.–50 A.D.]). In Hs 9, 26, 8, the potential associated with the women in black leads to destruction. δ. leaves Christ at his death GPt 5:19 (s. LVaganay, L’Évangile de Pierre 1930, 108; 254ff). ἐν τῇ τοῦ κυρίου δ. AcPlCor 2:39.— Power of the Holy Spirit (Jos., Ant. 8, 408; Just., D. 87, 4f al.) Lk 4:14; Ac 1:8; Ro 15:13, 19 (ἐν δ. πν. [θεοῦ]); Hm 11:2, 5. ἐν ἀποδείξει πνεύματος καὶ δυνάμεως 1 Cor 2:4; cp. ἐγείρεται ἐν δ. 15:43, foll. by σῶμα πνευμάτικον. δυνάμει κραταιωθῆναι be strengthened in power (i.e. with ability to function) by the Spirit Eph 3:16. Hence the Spirit given the Christian can be called πνεῦμα δυνάμεως, i.e. in contrast to an unenterprising spirit, πνεῦμα δειλίας, God offers one that functions aggressively, 2 Ti 1:7; cp. 1 Pt 4:14 v.l.; AcPl Ha 8, 25/BMM 32f/Ox 1602, 39. The believers are ἐν πάσῃ δ. δυναμούμενοι equipped w. all power Col 1:11; cp. Eph 1:19; 3:20 (for Eph 1:19 cp. 1QH 14:23; 11:29 al.; for Eph 3:16, 6:10 cp. 1QH 7:17, 19; 12:35; 1QM 10:5; see KKuhn, NTS 7, ’61, 336); esp. the apostles and other people of God Lk 24:49; Ac 4:33; 6:8; cp. AcPl Ha 6, 21. ἐν πνεύματι καὶ δ. Ἠλίου Lk 1:17.—Of the devil’s destructive capability Lk 10:19; cp. Rv 13:2. ἡ δύναμις τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ νόμος what gives sin its power to function is the law 1 Cor 15:56.

ⓑ specif., the power that works wonders (SEG VIII, 551, 39 [I B.C.]; POxy 1381, 206ff; PGM 4, 2449; 12, 260ff; Just., D. 49, 8 κρυφία δ.; s. JZingerle, Heiliges Recht 1926, 10f; JRöhr, D. okkulte Kraftbegriff im Altertum 1923, 14f) Mt 14:2; Mk 6:14; Hv 1, 3, 4. ἔχρισεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεός δυνάμει (God endowed him to perform miracles) Ac 10:38 (Dio Chrys. 66 [16], 10 of Jason: χρισάμενος δυνάμει τινί, λαβὼν παρὰ τῆς Μηδείας; Diod S 4, 51, 1 τ. τρίχας δυνάμεσί τισι χρίσασα=she anointed her hair with certain potions; 4, 51, 4; 17, 103, 4 ὁ σίδηρος κεχριμένος ἦν φαρμάκου δυνάμει=with a poisonous potion. Diod S 1, 97, 7 a powerful medium=φάρμακον; s. ἐξουσία 7; also RAC II 415–58). τὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ δ. ἐξελθοῦσαν potency emanated from him Mk 5:30; cp. Lk 8:46; δ. παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐξήρχετο 6:19; cp. 5:17; perh. also (but s. 3 below) Gal 3:5; 1 Cor 12:28f (on the pl. δυνάμεις s. X., Cyr. 8, 8, 14; Herm. Wr. 13, 8 al.; on this ADieterich, E. Mithraslit. 1903, 46f; cp. PKöhn VI, 245, 18 Athena; for parallels and lit. s. Ptocheia [=ASP 31] ’91, 55). ἐν δ. with power, powerful(ly) (TestJob 47:9; Synes., Ep. 90 p. 230d τοὺς ἐν δ.) Mk 9:1; Ro 1:4; Col 1:29; 2 Th 1:11; μετὰ δυνάμεως Mt 24:30; Mk 13:26; Lk 21:27.—κατὰ δύναμιν w. gen. (Lucian, Imag. 3) by the power of Hb 7:16. Hebraist.=δυνατός (but readily understood in the Greek world as a defining gen., e.g. λόγου ἄνοια=vocal frenzy Soph. Antig. 603; s. Judg 3:29; 20:46 [ἄνδρες δυνάμεως B =ἄνδρες δυνατοί A]; Wsd 5:23): τῷ ῥήματι τῆς δ. αὐτοῦ by his powerful word 1:3; μετʼ ἀγγέλων δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ w. messengers of his power i.e. angels who exercise Jesus’ power 2 Th 1:7 (unless this is to be rendered with KJV et al. his mighty angels) (cp. En 20:1; GrBar 1:8; 2:6); μὴ ἔχων δ. powerless Hv 3, 11, 2; m 9:12. ἰσχυρὰν δ. ἔχειν be very powerful m 5, 2, 3; cp. 9:11; ἐν ποίᾳ δ.; by what power? (s. under 5) Ac 4:7. ὕψος δυνάμεως pride in (one’s) power B 20:1.—Effectiveness in contrast to mere word or appearance 1 Cor 4:19f; 1 Th 1:5. ἔχοντες μόρφωσιν εὐσεβείας, τὴν δὲ δύναμιν αὐτῆς ἠρνημένοι they have the outward appearance of piety, but deny its function 2 Ti 3:5 (cp. Jos., Ant. 13, 409 τὸ ὄνομα τ. βασιλείας εἶχεν, τ. δὲ δύναμιν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι=[Alexandra] bore the title queen, but the Pharisees were in control). δ. πίστεως the power of faith in contrast to verbal profession IEph 14:2. Sim. δ. w. ἐξουσία (Dio Chrys. 11 [12], 65) potent authority i.e. the word of Jesus is not only authoritative but functions effectively ἐν ἐξουσίᾳ, for the unclean spirits depart Lk 4:36; 9:1.—W. ἰσχύς 2 Pt 2:11 (Ath. 24, 2); w. ἐνέργεια Hm 6, 1, 1 (cp. Galen X, 635); τὴν δ. τῆς ἀναστάσεως the effectiveness of his (Christ’s) resurrection, which brings about the resurrection of the believers Phil 3:10.—Of the peculiar power inherent in a thing (of the healing power of medicines since Hippocr.; cp. Diod S 1, 20, 4; 1, 97, 7; 17, 103, 4; Plut., Mor. 157d al.; Dio Chrys. 25 [42], 3; Galen, Comp. Med. XIII 707 K.). δ. πυρός Hb 11:34 (Diod S 15, 50, 3 δ. τοῦ φωτός=the intensity of the light).

② ability to carry out someth., ability, capability (cp. Democrit, Fgm. B 234; Pla., Philb. 58d; cp. Aristot., Metaph. 4, 12, 1019a 26; Epict. 2, 23, 34; 4 Km 18:20; Ruth 3:11; Jos., Ant. 10, 54; Just., D. 4, 1) δύναμιν εἰς καταβολὴν σπέρματος Hb 11:11 (s. entry καταβολή). κατὰ δύναμιν according to ability (Diod S 14, 81, 6 v.l.; SIG 695, 9; 44 [129 B.C.]; PGM 4, 650; POxy 1273, 24; BGU 1050, 14; Sir 29:20; Jos., Ant. 3, 102; Just., A II, 13, 6; also ὅση δ. A I, 13, 1; 55, 8 al.; ὡς δ. μου D. 80, 5) 2 Cor 8:3a; ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὴν ἰδίαν δ. to each according to his special capability (cp. SIG 695, 55) Mt 25:15; AcPl Ha 7, 17. Opp. beyond one’s ability ὑπὲρ δύναμιν (Demosth. 18, 193; Appian, Bell. Civ. 2, 1 §3; 2, 13 §49; POxy 282, 8; Sir 8:13) 2 Cor 1:8 or παρὰ δ. (Thu. 3, 54, 4; PPetr II, 3b, 2 [III B.C.]; POxy 1418, 3; Jos., Ant. 14, 378) 8:3b.

③ a deed that exhibits ability to function powerfully, deed of power, miracle, wonder (Ael. Aristid. 40, 12 K.=5 p. 59 D.: δυνάμεις ἐμφανεῖς; 42, 4 K.=6 p. 64 D. al.; Eutecnius 4 p. 41, 13; POxy 1381, 42; 90f τ. δυνάμεις ἀπαγγέλλειν; Steinleitner, nos. 3, 7f and 17; 8, 10 [restored] al.; Ps 117:15; Just., A I, 26, 22 al.) w. σημεῖα 2 Th 2:9; also in pl. Ac 2:22; 2 Cor 12:12; Hb 2:4; in this sense δ. stands mostly in pl. δυνάμεις Mt 7:22; 11:20f, 23; 13:54, 58; Mk 6:2; 9:39; Lk 10:13; 19:37; Ac 8:13; 19:11; 1 Cor 12:10, 28f; Gal 3:5 (on the two last pass. s. 1b above); Hb 6:5. Sg. Mk 6:5.

④ someth. that serves as an adjunct of power, resource μικρὰν ἔχειν δ. have few resources Rv 3:8. Also wealth (X., An. 7, 7, 36, Cyr. 8, 4, 34; Dt 8:17f) ἐκ τῆς δ. τοῦ στρήνους fr. the excessive wealth Rv 18:3. Esp. of military forces (Hdt. et al. very oft.; cp. OGI ind. VIII; LXX; Jos., Ant. 18, 262; Just., D 131, 3), even of the heavenly bodies thought of as armies δ. τῶν οὐρανῶν the armies of heaven (Is 34:4 v.l.; 4 Km 17:16; Da 8:10 Theod.; En 18:14) Mt 24:29; Lk 21:26; cp. Mk 13:25.

⑤ an entity or being, whether human or transcendent, that functions in a remarkable manner, power as a personal transcendent spirit or heavenly agent/angel ([cp. Pla., Crat. 438c] Aristot., Met. 4, 12, 1019a, 26 divinities δυνάμεις [likewise TestAbr A 14 p. 94, 21=Stone p. 36] λέγονται; Eth. Epic. col. 9, 16, w. θεοι; Porphyr., Abst. 2, 2 p. 133 Nauck δαίμοσιν ἢ θεοῖς ἤ τισι δυνάμεσιν θῦσαι; Sallust. 15 p. 28, 15 αἱ ἄνω δυνάμεις; Herm. Wr. 1, 26; 13, 15; Synes., Ep. 57 p. 191b; PGM 4, 3051; 4 Macc 5:13; Philo, Conf. Lingu. 171, Mut. Nom. 59) Ro 8:38; 1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:21; 1 Pt 3:22; αἱ δ. τοῦ σατανᾶ IEph 13:1. (Cp. αἱ πονηραὶ δ., διάβολος καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ Did., Gen. 45, 4.) θεὸς ἀγγέλων καὶ δ. MPol 14:1 (cp. the ins in FCumont, Étud. syr. 1917, p. 321, 5 ὁ θεὸς τ. δυνάμεων=BCH 26, 1902, 176; Just., D. 85, 6 ἄγγελοι … καὶ δ.)—Desig. of a personal divine being as a power (i.e. an effective intermediary or expression; s. DDD 509–16) of the most high God (Ael. Aristid. 37, 28 K.=2 p. 27 D.: Athena as δ. τοῦ Διός; Just., A I, 14, 5 δ. θεοῦ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ ἦν; cp. 23, 2; Tat. 5, 1) οὗτός ἐστιν ἡ δύναμις τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ καλουμένη μεγάλη this man is what is called the Great Power of God Ac 8:10 (cp. ins of Saïttaï in Lydia εἷς θεὸς ἐν οὐρανοῖς μέγας Μὴν οὐράνιος, μεγάλη δύναμις τοῦ ἀθανάτου θεοῦ: ILydiaKP 110; PGM 4, 1275ff ἐπικαλοῦμαί σε τὴν μεγίστην δύναμιν τὴν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὑπὸ κυρίου θεοῦ τεταγμένην. S. New Docs 1, 107. Cp. HKippenberg, Garizim u. Synagoge: RVV ’71, 122–24.—GWetter, ‘D. Sohn Gottes’ 1916, 8f; WSpiegelberg, Die ägypt. Gottheit der ‘Gotteskraft’: Ztschr. f. äg. Sprache 57, 1922, 145ff; FPreisigke, D. Gotteskraft der frühchristl. Zeit 1922).

⑥ the capacity to convey thought, meaning (Pla., Crat. 394b; Polyb. 20, 9, 11; Dionys. Hal. 1, 68; Dio Chrys. 19 [36], 19; Cass. Dio 55, 3; Philo, Congr. Erud. Gr. 125; Just., D. 125, 1 ἡ δ. τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ὀνόματος; 138, 1 ὀγδόης ἡμέρας … δυνάμει … πρώτης) of language 1 Cor 14:11; of stones Hv 3, 4, 3; cp. 3, 8, 6f.—OSchmitz, D. Begriff δ. bei Pls: ADeissmann Festschr. 1927, 139–67; WGrundmann, D. Begriff d. Kraft in d. ntl. Gedankenwelt ’32; Dodd 16–20; EFascher, Dynamis Theou: ZTK n. s. 19, ’38, 82–108; LBieler, Δύναμις u. ἐξουσία: Wiener Studien 55, ’38, 182–90; AForster, The Mng. of Power for St. Paul, ATR 32, ’50, 177–85; MBarré, CBQ 42, ’80, 216–27 (contrast w. ‘weakness’ in Qumran lit.)—DELG. Lampe s.v. δύναμις VI B and VII. RAC IV 441–51. EDNT. M-M. TW.