Energeo describes activity that produces an effect, from divine action to forces, faith, and prayer operating in their setting.

The verb most often depicts an agent acting so as to bring about an effect, especially God or the Spirit acting in people and events. It also describes forces or realities as operative within a person or situation, and it can qualify faith, perseverance, and prayer as active or effective in their expressed outcome.

1. Acting to produce an effect · dominant

   Present active forms identify God or the Spirit as acting: in 1 Corinthians 12:11 the APB renders the clause “the one and the same Spirit activates,” while 1 Corinthians 12:6 speaks of God who “activates all things in all.” In Ephesians 1:20, the perfect active form refers to what God “worked in Christ” in raising and seating him; Galatians 2:8 likewise names work through Peter and through Paul.

   1 Corinthians 12:111 Corinthians 12:6Ephesians 1:11Ephesians 1:20Galatians 2:8Philippians 2:13
2. Being operative within a setting · common

   Present middle forms portray an identified reality as operating in its sphere: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 describes the word of God as “at work in you who believe,” whereas 2 Corinthians 4:12 sets death at work in one group and life in another. Romans 7:5 places sinful passions at work in the members, and 2 Thessalonians 2:7 says the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.

   1 Thessalonians 2:132 Corinthians 4:122 Thessalonians 2:7Colossians 1:29Ephesians 3:20Romans 7:5
3. Active or effective as a quality · occasional

   Present middle participles qualify realities by their active expression. In 2 Corinthians 1:6 the APB describes encouragement as “active in the perseverance” of shared sufferings; Galatians 5:6 speaks of “faith working through love,” and James 5:16 calls the righteous person’s petition “effective” and powerful.

   2 Corinthians 1:6Galatians 5:6James 5:16

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB variously uses “activates,” “worked,” “works,” “at work,” “active,” “working,” and “effective.” Because the APB is a whole-verse translation, these expressions show the verses’ presentation of the activity without fixing a separate English equivalent in every clause.