dunamis denotes effective ability or force, seen in divine action, mighty deeds, authority, and human capacity.

The attested usage most often concerns effective divine action—working, guarding, raising, or strengthening—while plural forms frequently identify extraordinary deeds. Other contexts present an operative or ruling force, including that of sin, heavenly powers, or Satan, and a smaller group concerns available capacity or the force of a spoken voice.

1. Effective divine action and enablement · dominant

   Singular forms describe efficacy associated with God, Christ, or the Spirit: in 1 Corinthians 1:18 the nominative form stands in the clause the APB renders as the cross being God's "power," while 1 Peter 1:5 describes people being guarded by God's power. In Acts 1:8, recipients receive δύναμιν when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and in Ephesians 3:20 δύναμιν is the power at work in believers.

   1 Corinthians 1:181 Corinthians 2:5Acts 1:81 Peter 1:5Ephesians 3:202 Corinthians 12:9
2. Extraordinary deeds or manifestations · common

   Plural forms occur among signs, healings, and other public acts. In 1 Corinthians 12:10 the genitive plural appears in a list that the APB renders "workings of powers," and 1 Corinthians 12:28 places the accusative plural after teachers in a list rendered "miracles." Acts 19:11 and Luke 10:13 likewise present the plural in clauses about extraordinary miracles or mighty works.

   1 Corinthians 12:101 Corinthians 12:281 Corinthians 12:29Acts 19:11Acts 8:13Luke 10:13
3. Operative or ruling force · common

   The term can name a force set beside rule and authority, as in 1 Corinthians 15:24, or an operative force belonging to another agent, as in the APB clause "the power of sin" in 1 Corinthians 15:56. Plural nominative forms in Mark 13:25 and Luke 21:26 name the powers in the heavens that will be shaken; 2 Thessalonians 2:9 places the dative singular with signs and false wonders in connection with Satan's activity.

   1 Corinthians 15:241 Corinthians 15:562 Peter 2:112 Thessalonians 2:9Mark 13:25Luke 21:26
4. Available capacity or force · occasional

   Accusative singular forms can concern the capacity available to people: 2 Corinthians 1:8 says the speakers were burdened beyond δύναμιν, and 2 Corinthians 8:3 contrasts giving according to and beyond their ability. Hebrews 11:11 says Sarah received δύναμιν to conceive; in 1 Corinthians 14:11, the APB renders the clause about the voice's δύναμιν as its "meaning," so the specific English contribution there is less certain.

   2 Corinthians 1:82 Corinthians 8:3Hebrews 11:11Hebrews 11:341 Corinthians 14:11

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses "power" or "powers," but in contexts of visible acts it renders surrounding clauses with "miracles" or "mighty works," and in capacity contexts with "ability." These renderings show the verse-level presentation rather than fixed English equivalents.