exousia
Definition
Exousia (Greek: ἐξουσία) means “authority,” “jurisdiction,” or “right.” In the New Testament exousia is used for the authority delegated to men (Matt. 8:9), but ultimately belongs to God. In Free Will Versus Ownership Jones explains that exousia is the right to govern, while dunamis is the power to act:
“The Greek text uses two different words: dunamis is power (Acts 1:16). Exousia is authority (Matt. 8:9). These terms are relative: a man under authority looks up to a higher ‘power.‘”
[Jones, Free Will Versus Ownership, ch. 2]
Man has exousia over his body and possessions (Gen. 1:26 — “dominion”), but God retains the ultimate exousia as Owner of all (Lev. 25:23).
Uses per Author
Stephen Jones
Jones applies exousia to the legal structure of authority and liability. The degree of exousia determines the degree of accountability (Luke 12:48):
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be required. To whom they entrusted much, from him they will ask all the more. Man has authority, but God has sovereignty.”
[Jones, Free Will Versus Ownership, ch. 2; Luke 12:47-48]
Jones contrasts this with earthly kings who think God gave them absolute power. God retained sovereignty; man was given authority subordinate to His will:
“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes (Prov. 21:1).”
[Jones, Free Will Versus Ownership, ch. 2; Ex. 7:2-5]
Watchman Nee / Witness Lee
Nee/Lee see exousia as the authority of Christ given to the church (Eph. 1:20-22). The believer has exousia to bind and loose (Matt. 16:19), but always under the authority of Christ.
E.W. Bullinger
Bullinger emphasizes that all exousia comes from God (Rom. 13:1). No man has authority except it is given from above.