Objection: 1 Corinthians 12:10 Says That Today Only SOME Receive Dunamis (Power)

The objector knows enough Greek to get himself into trouble but not back out again.  The “rational” reasoning could be, “Because the word dunamis is translated power, and 1 Corinthians 12:10 says that to ANOTHER is given dunamis, it must be mean that only some, not all, receive dunamis as the Spirit wills.”

The weak Greek argument comes from not actually checking out the usage of the word dunamis in the New Testament.  It CAN be translated as power, and it is so translated about 2/3 of the times when it appears.  But it is also translated “mighty deeds” or something similar quite a bit also.  1 Corinthians 12:10 does not say that to another is given dunamis (power).  It says that to another is given the working of miracles, where the dunamis is the word translated miracles.  The word translated working of (energema) means “operation” – it is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 12:6 that is translated operations.  So 1 Corinthians 12:10 does not mean that only some people receive dunamis – it means that some people have a special grace given as a gift, operated as the Spirit wills, to perform special miracles – to “operate” miracles.

However, Jesus made it clear in Acts 1:8, where the word dunamis is translated power, that any believer who receives the baptism with the Holy Spirit receives power (dunamis).  This is available not just for some, but for all – “even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).  While there will be some operations distinctive to certain individuals, ANYONE can receive dunamis.

It is true that only SOME receive it, but not for the reason the objector claims.  It is just that many Christians never receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, so they live powerless lives when they could be walking in the same power that flowed through Jesus during His earthly ministry.

At least this objection is an improvement over many objections that claim that NO ONE has dunamis (power) anymore!