Is the Christian God omnipotent?

[otseng]

There are various definitions for omnipotence, but we'll start with this one:

Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnipotence

For debate:
Is the Christian God omnipotent?
What evidence/arguments supports or rejects omnipotence?

[ttruscott]

This opens the door to some intriguing thoughts:

These thoughts would only have meaning if GOD was only Almighty and not THE Almighty in the sense that the only power there is is HIS and all others 'plug into'* HIS power to execute their plans. I suggest that this is the proper way to think about HIS power and the lesser power of others.

All power is ONE power and there is no other source of power which the Apostle may have alluded to in Acts 17:28 For in him we live and move and have our being. which would include all created persons whether they have chosen to be holy or demonic. Tapping into HIS power may have been the use of the ziggurat at Babel as well as the reason Michael was able to throw Satan to the earth.

That which plugs into the source of power to do work can never be more powerful than the source of their power and to try would burn itself out.

* It has been recognized that arguing the analogy sheds little light on the truth behind the analogy.

[SallyF]

You failed to name your version of "God" again.

Of what importance is naming God? As for identifying the Christian God, we will assume God the Father. If you insist on a name, it would be YHVH.

There is no such thing as "the Bible".

If you're going to go down the path of questioning everything, you'll just derail this thread. The Bible would be a generic term for any English Bible translation.

If you want to debate what is the Bible or other topics, please start other threads.

Derailing is a very Christian thing to do.

This whole thread has done little more than try to define the relatively clear "omnipotent".

It's more than reasonable to define "God" and "Christian God"

Because folks of faith cannot agree on what in God's name they mean by "God".

The mythological Jehovah/Yahweh/YHVH/Whatever is NOT the "Christian God"

It may not even be a Jewish god.

The Samaritan "The Bible" is comprised of five booklets.

The Ethiopic "The Bible" is comprised of eighty four booklets.

There is no such thing as "The Bible".

But as I say, none of the biblical versions of "God" is God with a capital G

Therefore none of the biblical versions of "God" is omnipotent

No matter HOW many pages of definition we give "omnipotent".

[Diagoras]

This opens the door to some intriguing thoughts:

These thoughts would only have meaning if GOD was only Almighty and not THE Almighty in the sense that the only power there is is HIS and all others 'plug into'* HIS power to execute their plans. I suggest that this is the proper way to think about HIS power and the lesser power of others.

<bolding mine>

We might need to properly consider what exactly power is in this idea. Is it an equivalent of energy? Do all the billions upon billions of stars only keep their hydrogen fusion processes going through being somehow plugged in to God? How will God overcome the Second Law of Thermodynamics when all of HIS power is essentially just heat energy?

Or is it closer to the idea of free will? That could make more sense, but then means that the execution of any evil plan at all could be immediately stopped by turning off the power, so to speak. Why would God allow Satan access to any of HIS power? Rather than simply evicting him from the Garden of Eden, he could just reduce his power a bit - put him on power saving mode, if you will.

Or even, power in the sense of Im the boss - what I say, goes. The ultimate Managing Director. Sure, you can start a family, but only because Ive signed off on the request. I make all the rules. That seems to run into problems similar to the free will idea of power though.

Maybe theres another meaning to power that Im not considering. I thought wed managed to tame the definitions earlier on, but apparently not.

[Zzyzx]

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Moderator Comment

Kindly stop the blanket accusations. Address the OP topic.

Derailing is a very Christian thing to do.

Please review the Rules.


______________

Moderator comments do not count as a strike against any posters. They only serve as an acknowledgment that a post report has been received, but has not been judged to warrant a moderator warning against a particular poster. Any challenges or replies to moderator postings should be made via Private Message to avoid derailing topics.

[William]

[Replying to post 18 by ]

ttruscott: They are different aspects of GOD and not to be confused...

William: And how is my use of them 'confusing' you or anyone else... exactly why doth thou protest...

[otseng]

My proposal for the definition of power in regards to omnipotence:

ability to act or produce an effect
legal or official authority, capacity, or right
possession of control, authority, or influence over others

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/power

The ability or official capacity to exercise control; authority:

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/power

[Diagoras]

[Replying to post 36 by otseng]

Thanks for the suggestion. While the first one is reasonably broad, including the ability to create, they both seem to be leaning toward the control/authority aspect. Do you agree?

Therefore, omnipotence in this way of thinking is closer to the ultimate ruler. Do we then accept God as the ultimate authority?

[amortalman]

There are various definitions for omnipotence, but we'll start with this one:

Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnipotence

For debate:
Is the Christian God omnipotent?
What evidence/arguments supports or rejects omnipotence?

The question is simple. The answer is a simple yes. The Christian God as described in the Christian Bible is omnipotent.

Evidence: The book that introduces and describes him says that he created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists including mankind. It would be hard to imagine anything more powerful than that.

[Willum]

[Replying to post 38 by amortalman]

Welp, in high school I learned that matter is neither created nor destroyed.
No creation, no creator required.
No need for omnipotence.

[SallyF]

For debate:
Is the Christian God omnipotent?
What evidence/arguments supports or rejects omnipotence?

The Christian versions of God are not omnipotent

Because none of the Christian versions of God is God with a capital G.

The claim that any of them is God with a capital G is false.

To even begin to claim omnipotence for a particular version of God, it would have to be demonstrated that that particular version of God existed and that it was indeed God.

To the best of my knowledge, NO version of God has ever ben shown to exist outside the imaginations of believers.

And if all versions of God only exist in human imaginations

No version of God can be omnipotent.

No matter HOW omnipotent is defined.