Welcome to the first post in my series exploring the attributes of God, such as omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. In this article, I will specifically cover God’s omnipotence and the definition that I believe most accurately captures its meaning. I will also discuss the theological importance of understanding omnipotence.
What is Omnipotence?
Many mistakenly define omnipotence as “the ability to do anything.” This simple definition often leads to questions from atheists, such as whether God can make a rock so heavy that He can’t lift it. The standard definition in theology tends to be that omnipotence is “the ability to do anything that is logically possible.” While this is a mostly accurate definition, it still falls short of being fully robust.
For example, consider a world where everyone freely chooses God. There’s no logical impossibility in this scenario, so some atheists argue that God should be able to create it. The main problem is that God can’t make people freely choose Him, as that would entail a contradiction (if you’re free to choose, then by definition, you weren’t made to choose). It seems there’s a logical impossibility with the method to reach the outcome but not with the outcome itself. In other words, while a world where everyone freely chooses God is possible, God can’t guarantee that outcome and still preserve free will. Perhaps, in any set of circumstances you present to free humans, at least one will sin and not follow God.
This leads me to my definition: “Omnipotence is the ability to do anything logically possible that can be done with power.” This definition gets to the crux of what omnipotence is: being all-powerful. If no amount of power can accomplish a task, then it’s not a mark against omnipotence if God can’t do it. This is why the definition needs to include the specification that we are only talking about things that can be accomplished with power.
Importance for Theology and Apologetics
It’s crucial to have a good definition of omnipotence for both your understanding and the understanding of others. It can help cultivate a sense of awe in the power of God, knowing that He could snap His fingers and bring a universe or a trillion universes into existence. Learning about God’s attributes and seeking to understand them is also a way to love God with your mind, as Jesus calls us to do in Matthew 22:37. Additionally, a well-rounded understanding helps you avoid the pitfalls that often arise from misunderstandings about omnipotence.
In conclusion, a robust definition of omnipotence enriches our theological knowledge and equips us better for apologetics. It enables us to appreciate God’s boundless power more deeply and to communicate this profound attribute effectively to others.
Expositing Reality 