Definition:
The biblical conjunction of God’s revealed public norm—His Word, rule, and standard—and His divine agency that actualizes and empowers that norm by the Spirit. These are not rival authorities, but ordered and complementary realities proceeding from the one undivided divine source.
Three Diagnostic Criteria
- Does one side primarily establish boundaries, truth criteria, and public accountability (norm)?
- Does the other side primarily provide life, power, fulfillment, and application (power/agency)?
- Does Scripture require both adherence to the norm and dependence on genuine divine operation?
Norm & Power Tension Pairs:
- Word ↔ Spirit
- Truth ↔ Life
- Law ↔ Grace-empowered obedience
- Form ↔ Power
- Doctrine ↔ Anointing