This is a series on the attributes of God.
Selected Scriptures
Purpose: In this session we shall look at what the New Testament has to say about the omnipotence of God so that we would draw implications for our lives.
Definitions of the omnipotence of God:
- Looking at the root of the word omnipotence: “The word omnipotence is derived from two Latin words, omni, “all,” and potens, “powerful,” and means “all-powerful.”[1]
- Wayne Grudem: “God’s omnipotence means that God is able to do all his holy will.”[2]
- John Frame: “The term omnipotence is not in Scripture, but the term is appropriate to refer to two biblical ideas, closely related to one another: God can do anything He pleases…Nothing is too hard for God.”[3]
- John Feinberg: “God is able to do everything Scripture shows him doing.”[4]
What does the New Testament have to say about the omnipotence of God?
- Any Greek words for God’s omnipotence? “In the NT, the term that is closest to our English word ‘omnipotent’ is the Greek panokrator. Panto comes from pas, ‘all,’ and krator comes from kratos, ‘power’ or ‘might.’ Hence, it is often translated ‘almighty,’ ‘all-powerful,’ or ‘omnipotent.’ Panokrator appears in the NT most frequently in the book of Revelation where it is used only of God (Rev 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22).”[1]
- God is called Almighty
- “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”” (Revelation 4:8)
- This is a scene in heaven where the four living creatures praises God.
- There is an echo of Isaiah 6 here in this verse.
- The word “the Almighty” in the Greek is panokrator which literally means “all powerful.”
- Notice here the profession of God being all powerful is done in the context of worship.
- “saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17)
- In the context the seventh trumpet was sounded (15)
- As a result the twenty four elders worshipped before the throne of God (16)
- The first words they uttered were recorded in this verse is a thanks to God.
- There is a profession of God’s “great power and …reign.”
- Again we see the word “the Almighty” in the Greek is panokrator which literally means “all powerful.”
- “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”” (Revelation 4:8)
- Statements that God can do all things
- “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
- These are the words spoken to Mary by the angel Gabriel (35) when Mary ask how she as a virgin can have a child (v.34).
- The reason why Mary can be a virgin with child supernaturally is because of the attribute of God being all powerful.
- “And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36)
- In the context these are the words of Jesus when He was praying at the Garden of Gethsemane (32).
- This is the night before Christ was to die on the Cross.
- Christ acknowledges here that God the Father is omnipotent: “All things are possible for You”
- Yet His prayer also acknowledges and submits to God’s Sovereign will: “yet not what I will, but what You will.”
- This is all the more moving considering Jesus’ submission to the Father is the extent of His own death.
- What we conclude theologically from these two verses:
- Both the beginning and end of Jesus’ advent involves event that is humanly impossible but it is possible with God.
- Of course other events in between Jesus’ birth and death involves the power of God but we must not miss that these two “book ends” shows the affirmation that all the miracles, signs, wonder and work of Jesus’ ministry is possible because God is omnipotent.
- “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
- Jesus’ Omnipotence
- Since Jesus is revealed in the New Testament as a Person of the Triune God, we would expect Jesus to have the attribute of God such as Omnipotence. This is exactly what we find in the New Testament.
- “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” (Revelation 1:8)
- There’s some debate whether this is God the Father or Jesus being referred to here.
- It is possible that this is referring to Christ since He is the one “who is to come.”
- Also Jesus in the context was mentioned in the previous verse.
- Thus if it is Jesus who is here “the Lord God” here Jesus is “the Almighty.”
- “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”” (John 10:18)
- In the context here Jesus is speaking.
- We often think that one of the ways someone is not powerful is that they can die.
- While Jesus in His humanity can die and did die on the cross, yet we see here that there’s a relationship between Christ’s death and His power.
- Jesus’ power is shown in that in regards to His own life “No one has taken it away from Me.”
- But how do we explain the death of Christ? “but I lay it down on My own initiative”
- Here we see again the power of Christ shown in that it is His own initiative to lay down His own life.
- Jesus’ power in His death is affirmed in His statement that “I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again”
- Thus the death and resurrection of Christ demonstrates the all-powerful nature of Jesus.
- God’s omnipotence and salvation
- The New Testament is clearer than the Old Testament that salvation is tied to the power of God. Note Paul’s statements concerning the Word, the Gospel and Christ as God’s power for bringing about salvation:
- The Word: “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
- The Gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”” (Romans 1:16)
- Christ: “but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24)
- “And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26)
- In the context Jesus had just said “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” after the rich young ruler turned away from following Jesus (24)
- With all that was happening and what Jesus said the disciples “were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”(25)
- Jesus’ response was to first deny the impossibility of salvation by man’s effort: “‘With people this is impossible”
- This is followed by the affirmation that man can be saved because of the omnipotence of God: “but with God all things are possible.”
- The same event and words seen in Matthew 19:26 is paralleled in Mark: “Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”” (Mark 10:27; cf. Luke 18:27).
- If all three synoptic Gospels mentioned it, it is probably important to the historic Christian faith and church.
- The New Testament is clearer than the Old Testament that salvation is tied to the power of God. Note Paul’s statements concerning the Word, the Gospel and Christ as God’s power for bringing about salvation:
Implications
-
- Just as we have seen Revelation 4:8 do you sing to God that He is all powerful as an act of worship?
- Do you still worship and thank God for even His power being shown against judgment against sinners?
- Do you marvel that salvation rest on the omnipotence of God?
- Do you pray believing that all things are possible with God? But do you also pray according to His will and not one’s own?
[1] John Feinberg, No One Like Him (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 278.
Great study. Thanks for continuing with the New Testament.
Love this scripture: “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Blessings for a wonderous day in Jesus.
Thank you for this second part, Jim! Blessings to you and your family!
You’re welcome brother and thank you for reading this and joining us in the Bible study too this past Tuesday. I know you recommended the new show with falcon and Winter Soldier; curious if you have watched Wanda Vision and your thoughts?
It is worth the time to watch just 30-minute plus per episode (of about 9 in a series) that was well made and thought of, something you can expect from a Marvel production. Just a caveat though, there are a lot of Marvel red herrings and 🎶”its ___tha all along”🎶. The series showed the blip, the fate of the white Vision, and the emotional journey of the Scarlet Witch. It is recommended, Jim!
This is excellent! I am not a Greek scholar so forgive me! I was wondering if in Eph 6:10 “strength of His might” was in any way connected to the omnipotence of God? Paul commands us to be strong in the Lord in the strength of His might. It is the Lord’s strength/armor that God provides for His people through the Spirit. There is so much about God’s omnipotence from raising Lazarus and Christ from the dead that I think we take for granted. Since the Fall man has always wrestled with God in regards to doing things in their own strength, will and way. I am so thankful for Rev 4:8 and this does cause me to break out in awe, wonder and song! Thanks for this lesson, brother! Praying for y’all!
Definitely think Ephesians 6:10 mentioning His might is fascinating and of course we know elsewhere His power is omnipotent. I think Ephesians 6 discussion about the armor is echoing Isaiah 59:16-17 which in the context this armor of God wasn’t just own by God but worn by God to to achieve JUSTICE and SALVATION! Relatively speaking His armor is more powerful than anything else in the world, even powerful than Satan. Any thoughts on Isaiah 59? If any I love to hear it!
Good call with the Divine Warrior in Isaiah 59! Ephesians 6 was part of my Bible plan today and I thought of what you wrote! The armor itself I do think harkens back to Isaiah but the “strength of His might” I think refers more to Ephesians 1.
Great observation on Ephesians 1:19 and 6:10! Both contain kratos (“power”, “might”), which is a cognate of the latter part of the compound word pantokratōr, as found throughout Revelation (the first part means “all”, as Jim notes above). I think we should construe kratōr/os as “inherent power/might”.
Please allow me to put a finer point on the following: “There is so much about God’s omnipotence from raising Lazarus and Christ from the dead that I think we take for granted.” Christ also stated he would raise “this temple” in three days (John 2:19), with the narrator explaining retrospectively that Jesus meant raising His own body (2:22). In other words, when “God” raised Jesus from the dead, included in “God” was Jesus Himself, as part of the Trinity.
This is fascinating how much the root of “raise” is connected to rising from the dead. I was hoping maybe John 3:14 would have the same root but it does not. Thanks for the lesson! How’s work?!
John 3:14 uses a different word because this refers to being ‘raised’ up on the cross–just as the snake was raised up on a stake (Numbers 21:8). See also John 12:32.
Agreed. I was curious if 3:14 would have connections to airo in 15:2 and obviously it didn’t!
NOTHING impossible for the Omnipotent God!!! 🙌🙌🙌
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you yet again Jim for a very worthwhile study in God’s Omnipotence, these are great spiritual food. I read the whole thing and find it beneficial but today I am drawn back to a quote you use in the definitions at the beginning: “John Feinberg: “God is able to do everything Scripture shows him doing.”[4]”
This really smacked me right between the eyes this week as a very sharp but easy definition, yet also profound too. Does that make sense even? God bless you brother.
That makes sense Alan! I like that definition because John Feinberg’s books compared to the other ones I used is more Philosophical and he’s dealt with some philosophical issues people being up with objection with omnipotence so his definition was a maneuver to focus on God’s Word and I think avoid some of the folly people try to say to attempt to debunk God’s omnipotence, which will be the topic for next Wednesday’s post! But I am struck by that definition largely because it’s right and focuses on God’s Word if that makes sense? It sounds like we have the same sense of awe with that definition, if I am correct, or assuming.
I like the Feinberg definition for its cleverness, as you say it he sidesteps what are potential landmines. He defuses these same landmines by basing his definition on the infallibility of the Holy Bible, Holy scripture is either the faultless Word of God or it is a lie. And that is what struck me with awe about Feinberg’s statement.
Thanks for this second outline on God’s omnipotence! It’s very helpful for us to contemplate God’s attributes like this. It’s an encouragement to our faith.
Amen! I think studying God’s attributes is what some in our midweek Bible study requested, and even more needed including me. How is your shift going today?
Thanks! About three hours to go…the 9 hours went by fairly quickly.
How is your Friday going?
I’m spiritually fed reading this
A very comforting article.
Thank you brother, how was your week so far?
Well, I’m finishing my third week of steroid treatments, and feeling kinda beat. They raised my diabetic medicine to try to get my sugar back down and I seem to be going through pseudo-hypoglycemia (if I got the term right, it means my body thinks its sugar is low even though it ain’t). Doc says after a few days, it should be better when my system sorta recalibrates. Feeling rough but trusting in The Lord, and giving Him all The Glory. Thanks Jim.
SlimJim,
Regarding your point 4 and the first sub-point about Rev 1:8—There’s some debate whether this is God the Father or Jesus being referred to here—please allow me to chime in. My NIV 1984 red letter edition attributes the words in 1:8 to Jesus, but I’m convinced this is incorrect. How so? A careful reading of 1:4-5 yields that the One “who is, who was, and who is to come” in v 4 must be God [the Father], since v 5 clearly refers to Jesus. In other words, here the writer provides the Trinity in order of: God [the Father] (v 4), the Holy Spirit (v 4—“seven spirits”), and Jesus Christ (v 5). Thus, this same language in v 8 most likely refers back to v 4. It’s somewhat of a moot point in that Jesus clearly refers to Himself as “the Alpha and the Omega” in 22:12, just as God (IMO) refers to Himself by the same in v 8, indicating overlap in referential titles between the two.
Wow thanks for your comments; I am going to have to change my outline and post, you are right with the observation of revelation 1:8 in light of the the Triune presentation in revelation 1:4-5. Here I’m reminded again we need each other and I am thankful for your input and content packed comment!
Aweome work
Thank you for your kind words! Have a blessed weekend
You are welcome ome.
Reblogged this on My Logos Word.
[…] 1. When I teach ST over the years I structure my teaching on doctrines with BT framework of a doctrine being developed in more details from Genesis to Revelation (or OT to NT). I do this as it’s better model than “proof texting” verses in isolation to prove a doctrine. From the world of BT we know Scripture has progressive revelation so I employ what is called antecedent theology of how any given passage is building up from previous passages in redemptive history and plus prior antecedent theology Leans one to interpret doctrine biblically with what came prior. I think especially teaching overseas many appreciate seeing how the Bible organically teach doctrines that we believe is biblical in the field of ST to the degree that a systematican employs BT. For example see my God’s attribute: The Omnipotence of God Part 1 and God’s attribute: The Omnipotence of God Part 2. […]