Is God Omnipotent?
No where in you list of verses is the word "omnipotent" mentioned or "having unlimited power or authority" mentioned.
But let's take your verses one at a time.
"Genesis 1:1-2:1 / John 1:3 / Romans 11:36 / Ephesians 3:9 [and others] - All things were created by God."
Yes, God is the creator. But this says nothing about power. It doesn't follow that God exceeds the power of that which he created any more than humans exceeds the power of an atom bomb or a sling shot for that matter. There is nothing in God's creatorship that implies omnipotence.
""All things are possible with God" Mark 10:27, Matthew 19:26"
You need to read these passages again. The context has to do with the difficulty of a rich man entering heaven. What Jesus is saying that with God rich men can enter heaven.
"Psalm 119:91 - All things serve the Lord"
First, aren't you dipping into poetry? Secondly, can you say that is true? Do abortionists and gas chambers serve the Lord?
"You are the ruler of all things." 1 Chronicles 29:12
Well, I read this verse in the KJV somewhat differently: "Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all." In Daniel's prayer to God, there is again no implication that he is all powerful-- only that he is the ruler of all.
"Lord, you know all things." John 21:17 [Peter speaking to Christ (God in flesh)]
Knowledge is not the same as power.
Christ (God in flesh) is over all things - Hebrews 1:6
You need to be more accurate in your proof texting. Here is the verse as it is written in the KJV: "And again, when hr bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." The context of this chapter makes this a clear reference to Jesus. But nothing is implied about omnipotence-- only that angels will worship him.
Romans 11:36 - all things are directed by God
Here you get into theological interpretation especiually as regards the question of theodicy. If it is your view that God directs your choices and the choices of all people from the dawn of time then I would ask why was there a need for the atonement since no one from Adam on can be held responsible for what God directs-- making God a co-consipirator in every evil than man does. God would basically be a cosmic puppet-master and the entire Bible a play with a pre-ordained beginning, middle, and end, which would undermine any semblance of what we call morality.
My view is that God is indeed King of kings and Lord of lords of the exterior world, but not our faith, our choices, our will, our intentions.
It seems to me you are left with two choice. Either a rejection of that which is not even explicitly stated in the Bible although it is in plenty of creeds, the claim that God is omnipotent, that God is not omnipotent-- or circumscribes His own power-- to allow for choice and morality. Or that God is indeed all powerful, but that would make him at least as evil as the most evil person who ever lived or demon who has ever existed, since God must have in some way allowed that evil because he is all powerful.
But let's take your verses one at a time.
"Genesis 1:1-2:1 / John 1:3 / Romans 11:36 / Ephesians 3:9 [and others] - All things were created by God."
Yes, God is the creator. But this says nothing about power. It doesn't follow that God exceeds the power of that which he created any more than humans exceeds the power of an atom bomb or a sling shot for that matter. There is nothing in God's creatorship that implies omnipotence.
""All things are possible with God" Mark 10:27, Matthew 19:26"
You need to read these passages again. The context has to do with the difficulty of a rich man entering heaven. What Jesus is saying that with God rich men can enter heaven.
"Psalm 119:91 - All things serve the Lord"
First, aren't you dipping into poetry? Secondly, can you say that is true? Do abortionists and gas chambers serve the Lord?
"You are the ruler of all things." 1 Chronicles 29:12
Well, I read this verse in the KJV somewhat differently: "Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all." In Daniel's prayer to God, there is again no implication that he is all powerful-- only that he is the ruler of all.
"Lord, you know all things." John 21:17 [Peter speaking to Christ (God in flesh)]
Knowledge is not the same as power.
Christ (God in flesh) is over all things - Hebrews 1:6
You need to be more accurate in your proof texting. Here is the verse as it is written in the KJV: "And again, when hr bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." The context of this chapter makes this a clear reference to Jesus. But nothing is implied about omnipotence-- only that angels will worship him.
Romans 11:36 - all things are directed by God
Here you get into theological interpretation especiually as regards the question of theodicy. If it is your view that God directs your choices and the choices of all people from the dawn of time then I would ask why was there a need for the atonement since no one from Adam on can be held responsible for what God directs-- making God a co-consipirator in every evil than man does. God would basically be a cosmic puppet-master and the entire Bible a play with a pre-ordained beginning, middle, and end, which would undermine any semblance of what we call morality.
My view is that God is indeed King of kings and Lord of lords of the exterior world, but not our faith, our choices, our will, our intentions.
It seems to me you are left with two choice. Either a rejection of that which is not even explicitly stated in the Bible although it is in plenty of creeds, the claim that God is omnipotent, that God is not omnipotent-- or circumscribes His own power-- to allow for choice and morality. Or that God is indeed all powerful, but that would make him at least as evil as the most evil person who ever lived or demon who has ever existed, since God must have in some way allowed that evil because he is all powerful.
Labels: theology
posted by My Mall and News at
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