When one argues for the omnipotence of God, inevitably, there are those who either twist or attempt to contradict the argument or mitigate against the force of it. Let us look at a couple of issues that arise.

Some people try to defeat the arguments for the existence of God by offering what has been called The Paradox of Omnipotence. This view argues against God and His omnipotence by posing a simple question: Can God create a rock so big that He cannot lift it? If God can create a rock so big that He couldn’t lift it, then He is not all powerful. But if He cannot create a rock so big that He couldn’t lift it, then how could He be omnipotent? And so either way, God cannot be omnipotent and if not omnipotent, then He cannot be God.

But the answer to this objection is really rather very simple to me. The question tries to present the appearance of a conflict between God’s power and ability when in reality there is no conflict at all between the two propositions. The purpose of asking can God make a rock so big He couldn’t lift is to suggest that there is something God cannot do, either lift or create, thus creating a dilemma. But there is no dilemma. The truth is, He can do both. God can make a rock of infinite size and weight but He also has the infinite power so as to lift it. There is no limit to God’s power or ability and thus no real conflict. The conflict is only semantical. It’s merely a word game disguised as an argument. It’s similar to the question, Have you stopped beating your wife lately? It presents two alternatives as the only options, when they clearly are not.

Now, some would try to answer the Paradox of Omnipotence by simply saying that it is a logical absurdity and that God cannot do the logically impossible. Which brings us to the second issue that needs to be addressed: Can God do that which is logically impossible? Sometimes, in response to these challenges it is affirmed that God cannot make a square circle or make 2+2=5 or some such seemingly absurd, impossible task. Some would say the Paradox of Omnipotence belongs in this category. These questions are, in effect, asking if God can do the logically impossible. And many give this classic response that some things are not subject to possibility because they are not subject to accomplishment.

Other such alleged logical absurdities sometimes put forward, besides creating a rock so big God cannot lift it include, creating a four-sided triangle, making an object that is all white all over and all black all over on the outside, creating a ninety-year-old teenager, or making a room that is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. “To propose such things is to affirm logical contradictions and absurdities,” someone wrote. It is said that God can only do “what is possible of accomplishment—not to what is impossible!”

The view that such questions are logical absurdities and therefore not subject to the power and omnipotence of God dates back to Thomas Aquinas. But I strongly disagree that simply because they might contain a logical absurdity that they are not subject to God’s omnipotence. I would agree these questions might be nothing more than a semantic trick, as we have seen, to suggest the appearance of a conflict in God’s power, as in the case of the Paradox of Omnipotence. But I also firmly believe that God has the sheer, raw power to create an infinitely big rock, a room that is bigger on the inside than on the outside, and an object that is both all white and all black on the outside, etc.. I don’t see why that simply because it may be absurd or illogical that God, in infinite power, could not accomplish it. If you accept that God has infinite power, and this is the clear affirmation of Scripture, then these seemingly absurd tasks are no problem for God.

I am of the view, and I know it is not a majority view, that when the Bible says that nothing is impossible with God, that that is exactly what it means. The point I want to stress here is that God has the sheer, raw, power to do these things. Does that mean He will do them or is obligated to do them? No, absolutely not. But it does not negate the fact that God has the sheer, raw power to do them. Just as the fact that God can make an infinitely large rock does not mean He will or is obligated to do so to prove to you or me or anyone the extent of His power. God can do all things. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with Him.

Think of this. The Bible says 1) with God, nothing shall be impossible and 2) all things are possible with God, and 3) God can do all things, 4) nothing can be with holden from Him. Contrast the statements from the Bible with the statement from some brethren and apologists that God can do only what is possible. I don’t know how you can believe the Bible and say that some things are not subject to God’s power.

Yet, doesn’t the Bible say that God cannot lie (Tit. 1:2)? Doesn’t the Bible say God cannot deny Himself (II Tim. 2:13)? Yes, absolutely. But one has to harmonize these statements with the very clear and unequivocal statements that God can do all things. Again, does God have the sheer, raw power to deny Himself or lie? He has the power to do so. But as these things go against His nature, He will not do them. In effect, He cannot do them and be God. But this does not mean that He hasn’t the sheer, raw ability and power to do so.

An analogy might help with understanding this. Jesus was God in the flesh (Matt. 1:23). All the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Jesus bodily (Col. 1:19; 2:9). Yet, Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). You cannot have a temptation without the possibility of it occurring. Now, could Jesus, the Son of God, God in the flesh, have lied? Could He have sinned? Was He tempted to lie. Remember, He was tempted in all points like us. Get this point: If Jesus could never have sinned, then He could not be our example in righteousness, because none of us will be endowed with a divine nature such that it keeps us from sinning. The only way for Jesus to serve as our example is to have been tempted and overcame the temptation.

Someone might answer that it wasn’t the divine nature of Jesus that was tempted, but the human. And this point is well taken and is true as far as it goes. The Bible says God cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:12). But the reason that God cannot be tempted with evil (or anything) is because God is all powerful. He can do whatever He wants or have whatever He wants. For a temptation to be real there must be some enticement. For instance, you cannot tempt me with peanut butter. I hate it. I don’t want it. It makes me sick. But I love chocolate. You could tempt me with chocolate, but not with peanut butter! But for God, there is nothing that can entice Him, so no temptation.

However, it is said of Jesus that He “cannot deny Himself” (II Tim 2:13). This is an absolute statement. He cannot deny Himself, just as it is an absolute statement that God cannot lie. And yet, in the temptation in the wilderness Jesus was offered all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them if Jesus would only fall down and worship the devil (Matt. 4:1,8-10). While it is said that Jesus cannot deny Himself, He may well have been tempted by this offer (Heb. 4:15), knowing what lay ahead for Him (Matt. 26:39). But this statement that He cannot deny Himself is clearly a reference to His Nature and that He will not deny Himself, even though He had the sheer, raw power to do so.

Furthermore, the more that is learned about quantum states the more we realize just how much we don’t know. In quantum physics particles can exist in two different states at the same time. If God can create the physics that can do this then God has the sheer raw power to do what we consider logically impossible. But I don’t need quantum physics to prove my case. It is enough that God has said in His word that with Him, all things are possible.

In dealing with God’s omniscience, I said that God cannot know a lie. But I made the point that God knows the truth value of all precisely stated propositions. God cannot know that I own a mansion and a yacht. He cannot know it because it is not true. But He knows the truth value of the propositions regarding that fact. But with omnipotence, if there is anything that God does not have the sheer, raw power to do, regardless of how absurd or illogical, then He is not all powerful.

I believe my position not only does not violate any doctrine of the scripture but positively affirms the truth of scripture. I definitely do not deny God’s absolute omnipotence. I do not deny God’s sovereignty over His creation. I do not place anything above God, such as logic or knowledge. These are a part of the Nature of God, and not something outside or above Him. My view acknowledges God’s Holiness and Righteousness. My view recognizes that God will not violate His Character and Nature. My view magnifies the God who, though He has the sheer, raw power to do whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3), He only acts in accordance with His Divine Nature. I believe my position to be eminently scriptural.

Eric L. Padgett

The teaching of the Bible is that God is omnipotent. For instance, the Bible says, “The Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Rev. 19:6). The word “Omnipotent” comes from the Greek word παντοκράτωρ, meaning the “all-ruling, or absolute and universal sovereign.” This word is also translated as “almighty” (II Cor. 6:18; Rev. 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 16:14; 19:15; 21:22). God is totally sovereign over His creation. He is all-powerful. In the Old Testament, God is El Shaddai, the Almighty. God has all power and might. But what does this mean exactly?

The truly magnificent power of God can be shown in the many expressions of that power in Scripture. The most obvious example is the creation. God merely spoke the universe (all matter, space, time) into existence. God said, “Let it be,” and it was (Gen. 1 passim; Psalm 18:5). When we consider what modern science tells us about the size of the universe and the nature of our world, it truly boggles the mind that all this could come into existence merely at God’s command. I suggest you go to YouTube and do a search on the size of the universe to fully understand the extent of this power. Furthermore, He upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3). He never tires but has endless energy because the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is He weary (Is. 40:28).

Just as God created the universe and holds it all together still, He will also bring it to a conclusion one day. All the dead that have ever lived will be brought back to life in the resurrection. Every molecule, every atom, every thought, everything that makes up all people will be brought back and reassembled at the resurrection when all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and come forth – they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29). Such is God’s power. And just as easily as He created all things, so all things will be dissolved (II Pet. 3:8-12).

In the Old Testament, God’s power is manifested in so many ways. God destroyed the earth with a universal flood (Gen. 6-9). He confounded the speech of man and scattered man abroad over the face of the earth (Gen. 11). He enabled Abram and Sarai to have a son even though they were past the age of childbearing (Gen. 21; Rom. 4:17-22). He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain with fire and brimstone from heaven (Gen. 19). Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord (Gen. 32). God sent dreams to Pharaoh, and Joseph was allowed to interpret them (Gen. 40). God delivered the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage with ten mighty plagues (Ex. 7-11). He parted the Red Sea so that the children of Israel walked through on dry ground and destroyed the Egyptian army by collapsing the walls of water that stood on either side of them (Ex. 14). Likewise, He parted the Jordan so that the children of Israel could pass over to the promised land (Josh. 3-4). He caused the sun and moon to stand still (Josh. 10). Many were raised from the dead (e.g., I Kings 17). Oil was miraculously multiplied (II Kings 4). Elijah departed in a chariot of fire (II Kings 2). And on and on the list could go.

In the New Testament, God’s power is demonstrated in the miraculous, virgin birth of the Son of God (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1). God sent a star to show the way to where Jesus was born (Matt. 2). John’s birth was beyond the childbearing years of Elizabeth and Zacharias (Luke 1). The miracles which Jesus performed showed that He had power over nature (striking the fig tree dead, turning water into wine, walking on water, and calming the storm), over healing the sick (restoring a withered arm, restoring vision and hearing and speech, healing palsy, and various other diseases), over casting out demons, and over life and death (raising the dead). Of course, the greatest of these miracles is His own resurrection, proving His claim to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living God (Rom. 1:4).

Of course, the Bible goes further than just showing examples of His power. The Bible makes specific claims about the power of God. God is girded with power (Psalm 65:6). God’s power is not just limited to what we can imagine, for He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). His power is eternal (Rom. 1:20), and in Jehovah is everlasting strength (Is. 26:4). God can do whatever pleases Him (as it is consistent with His own nature – Psalm 115:3). What He says will be done; it will be accomplished as He pleases (Is. 55:11). All other power is dependent on His power, for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1). He does whatever He wills, and no one can stop Him (Dan. 4:35).

But the Scriptures are even more explicit. God asked this rhetorical question of Abraham: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14). The answer is clear and obvious: Nothing is too hard for the Lord. There is no limit to His power. He asked Jeremiah the same question (Jer. 32:27), and Jeremiah expressly states that there is nothing too hard for the Lord (Jer. 32:17). The synoptic Gospel accounts all affirm God’s omnipotence. Jesus expressly stated that with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:6; Mark 10:27), while Luke expresses it from the negative: “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). God is omnipotent, all-powerful (Rev. 19:6).

We must point out that God is not merely more powerful than all others; He is all-powerful. It’s not the case that He can do merely many great things that others cannot do, but that there is no end to His power. His power is limitless. Just as His knowledge is limitless, His power is without limit. The difference between omniscience and omnipotence is only that omniscience must always be exercised to be knowledge (you can’t know something but not know it), while omnipotence does not have to be exercised to be power. For instance, a man may be able to power lift three hundred pounds, but he doesn’t always have to be lifting three hundred pounds to have that power. But a man cannot know “X” and then not know it and still be said to have that knowledge.

The God of the Bible is truly all-powerful. He is omnipotent. Next installment, we will discuss some questions that are raised by some with regard to the omnipotence of God.

Eric L. Padgett