omnipotence

Question 1

examples of Gods omnipotence

Answer 1

speaking things into existence in genesis
his resurrection
parting of the sea

Question 2

paradox of Gods omnipotence

Answer 2

God can do anything that is possible within his nature and doesn’t contradict the laws of logic in which he has already created

Question 3

Descartes definition of God?

Answer 3

unlimited
voluntarism
God can do ANYTHING
2x4 doesnt equal 8
can do anything they please because they’re all powerful
rejected any other definitions because they limit God

Question 4

Macquiree definition of God

Answer 4

Gods omnipotence has self-imposed limits in order to give humanity free will. He is so loving he limits himself to free us.

Question 5

What is the theory of kenosis?

Answer 5

kenosis refers to the doctrine of Christ’s “self-emptying” in His incarnation
he laid aside the privileges that were His in heaven in order to form a relationship with humans

Question 6

what are the two sides of Gods omnipotence?

Answer 6

limited vs unlimited

Question 7

peter vardys view of Gods omnipotence

Answer 7

• God is self limmiting
• he can only do what is logically possible because his power has allowed him to restrict himself

Question 8

kierkegaard quote

Answer 8

’ Gods omnipotence is under the power of his love’

Question 9

platingas view on omnipotence

Answer 9

God may be omnipotent but not have omnipotence as an essential quality - he limits himself

Question 10

Aquinas definition of omnipotence

Answer 10

God can do anything that is possible within his nature and doesn’t contradict the laws of logic in which he has already created

Question 11

criticisms of Descartes

Answer 11

• it is incoherent, if God can make 1 + 1 = 3 then that means it was possible. Meaning that 1 + 1 = 2 is not logically necessary. If God can do the logically ipossible then it is possible
• undermines theodicies, usually evil is defended through the idea it nos logically possible for God to alow us to morally grow or have free will. If god can do the logically impossible then it seems he would be able to illiminate evil without removing the fre will.

Question 12

aquinas omnipotence quote

Answer 12

God’s power is founded on God’s infinite divine nature which “possesses within itself the perfection of all being”. Therefore, God’s omnipotence can only bring about things consistent with the perfection of being.

Question 13

why would God selft limit hi power

Answer 13

1. One reason God might self-limit is that that when creating the universe, God made it logically consistent and orderly. This means that if he did something logically impossible within the universe, that would disrupt the logical order of universe and make it chaotic, probably uninhabitable. Since God does not want to do that to his creation or to humans, he must have limited his ability to do logically impossible things within the universe.
2. Another reason God would self-limit is because of God’s intention for humans to have free will. It is typically considered important in Christianity for our salvation that we have free will so we can choose good over evil. OR CHOOSE TO HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, KIERKEGARRD. However, our having genuine free will, or what Plantinga would call ‘significant’ free will, requires that God does not intervene to stop us every time we do something wrong. If God did that, we would have free will in a technical sense, but it would not be significant because it would be prevented from having an impact on the world.