The Bible also teaches that God is omnipresent, or is everywhere. But, like omniscience and omnipotence, God’s omnipresence is a very complex concept, especially for the finite human mind to grasp. As we try to understand this concept, let us start with clear affirmations of scripture and develop it from there. While the affirmations are clear, they may be, at times, very complex, as you would expect, when discussing the nature of God. In dealing with this question, we must address the very Nature of God’s being.

First of all, consider Psalms 139:7-11. David affirms that he could not go anywhere and escape the Presence of God. David uses the extreme opposites of heaven and Sheol (the realm of the dead) to affirm God’s omnipresence. Whether ascending to the heights of heaven or descending to the depths of Sheol, God’s presence remains inescapable. While other scriptures provide further nuance, this passage strongly affirms that God’s Presence reaches everywhere. Barring any qualifying statements from other scriptures, we must take this as literal. Also, note that God’s Presence is equated with His Spirit. Being unable to hide from His Presence means we are unable to hide from His Spirit. David further says that God is in the uttermost in part of the sea. Darkness cannot hide one from God because darkness and light are both the same to God. God’s face, His Presence is literally everywhere.

Another clear passage defining the omnipresence of God is Jer. 23:23,24. Here the prophet says God asks man this question, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?” It is a rhetorical question and the answer is obvious: None can hide from God. Just as in the previous passage, God sees all and knows all. But a new element has been added here. God says, “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” So, God is not only present in every place, but He “fills” heaven and earth. This cannot be said of any man or any other being. Every man, every other being, is somewhere in time and space. We fill only a certain cubic area of space during any given time. But God, in some way, “fills” heaven and earth, “heaven and earth” being an expression encompassing all of creation. In some sense God fills up every part of creation. He is not limited by physical space, but rather His presence permeates all things.

This statement, that God fills heaven and earth, suggests some more very important questions. Some of these will be addressed in the next installment, but for now we continue with the plain affirmations of scripture. Another passage dealing with God’s omnipresence is found in Solomon’s building of the temple. Solomon asked, upon the occasion of the dedication of the Temple, this question: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth?” The answer is obvious and there is a sense in which God cannot be contained on the earth and the temple that Solomon built certainly could not contain God. Solomon continues with this observation and declares, “Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (I Kings 8:27).

This later statement that even the heaven of heavens cannot contain God is more than significant. It is generally believed that “the heaven of heavens” is a reference to the place where God abides. And yet it is stated here that even that place cannot contain God! What an astounding statement! The place where God abides, is in some sense inadequate to contain God. This truly demonstrates God’s omnipresence. More about this later.

In his address to the Athenians on Mars Hill, the apostle Paul touched upon God’s omnipresence. Some historians said it was easier to see a god than a man on the streets of Athens because they had a god for everything. Paul explained to them the God they didn’t know, the true and living God, and he said of God that He does not dwell in temples made with men’s hands (Acts 17:24), agreeing with Solomon’s statement about the temple. He further states that God is not far from every one of us for in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:27,28). There is a sense in which all of creation is “in Him.” This later statement is worthy of much deeper study but it is enough to know here that we are in Him because He fills His creation.

Beyond just the plain scriptural declarations of God’s omnipresence are the deductions that can be drawn from His creative power. God made all things by fiat. He merely spoke all things into existence (Psalm 148:5). In some basic sense, all things owe their existence to God, deriving their being from His creative power while remaining distinct from His essence. God breathed and spoke and we became. We exist because He is. Through His divine word and breath, God brought all things into existence. We exist because He wills and sustains our being. I believe that everything derives its reality from God but remains metaphysically distinct from Him. I am not affirming pantheism or panentheism in any form, at least that is not my intention, but only that all things are dependent on and are derived from God’s power (Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:3). God created all things ex nihilo, out of nothing, but that creation was powered by the breathe of God. If God continues to uphold all things by the word of His power, then they are in some sense touched by Him and if they are touched by Him then He is present with them, everywhere, in some sense. But while God is closely connected to His creation, He is also transcendent. We will discuss this in a future installment.

This concept of God’s omnipresence is a deep well from which to draw. It’s entirely possible that I am not as clear as I need to be, especially in the previous paragraph. Its entirely possible that no one can be as clear as they need to be discussing this topic since God’s nature is far beyond our finite mind’s ability to fully understand. I pray that what I have written will not mislead or teach anything contrary to the truth. But I hope it gives us an appreciation for God’s infinite Presence, His omnipresence.

Eric L. Padgett