# Where is it established that the Christian God is omnipotent and omniscient? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465 "2011-06-06T01:32:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465/21 "2011-06-06T19:01:04Z")
Fair question. How’s this? Omnipotence: Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God. (context = the angel appearing to Mary and telling her the plan, and answering her query as to how she’s going to conceive). Omnipresence: Galatians 3:28-29 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise. I’m sure there are better ones, but those are two that I get from a quick dig. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465/22 "2011-06-06T19:46:59Z")
> [@Bartman](#): > > Here is the best quote I could find: > Revelation 19:6 > And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God **omnipotent** reigneth. > > Although I understand a literal translation from the Greek would be “almighty.” Well, the Germanic-derived “almighty” and the Latin-derived “omnipotent” are pretty much synonymous: “omni” = “all” and “potent” = “powerful” = “mighty”. The original Greek term is _pantokrator_, or so sez the [International Bible Encyclopedia:](http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Def.show/RTD/isbe/ID/6547/Omnipotence.htm) > [@](#): > > 1. Terms and Usage: > > The noun “omnipotence” is not found in the English Bible, nor any noun exactly corresponding to it in the original Hebrew or Greek > > The adjective “omnipotent” occurs in Revelation 19:6 the King James Version; the Greek for this, pantokrator, occurs also in II Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 11:17; Revelation 15:3; Revelation 16:7, Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:15; Revelation 21:22 (in all of which the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) render “almighty”). It is also found frequently in the Septuagint, especially in the rendering of the divine names Yahweh tsebha’oth and 'El Shadday. In pantokrator, the element of “authority,” “sovereignty,” side by side with that of “power,” makes itself more distinctly felt than it does to the modern ear in “omnipotent,” although it is meant to be included in the latter also. Compare further ho dunatos, in Luke 1:49. > > 1. Inherent in Old Testament Names of God: > > The formal conception of omnipotence as worked out in theology does not occur in the Old Testament. The substance of the idea is conveyed in various indirect ways. The notion of “strength” is inherent in the Old Testament conception of God from the beginning, being already represented in one of the two divine names inherited by Israel from ancient Semitic religion, the name 'El. According to one etymology it is also inherent in the other, the name 'Elohim, and in this case the plural form, by bringing out the fullness of power in God, would mark an approach to the idea of omnipotence. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465/23 "2011-06-06T19:57:03Z")
The problem is that, in English, the two words have different meanings. The Germanic word is more common, and thus is not considered as powerful as the Latinic one. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465/24 "2011-06-06T20:58:57Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The problem is that, in English, the two words have different meanings. The Germanic word is more common, and thus is not considered as powerful as the Latinic one. No, I think you’re overstating the difference somewhat. “Omnipotent” and “almighty” are typically presented as synonyms in a thesaurus, for example. I would agree with you that the **connotations** of the two words in English are not quite identical: “almighty” suggests something like “really really REALLY mighty” while “omnipotent” implies something more along the lines of “officially certified and guaranteed absolutely ALL-powerful”. But the literal **meanings** of the two words are essentially the same. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465/25 "2011-06-07T00:18:28Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Well, it could be hyperbolic praise. Poets have license to exaggerate after all. Sure, it _could_ be hyperbolic praise. But is there anything in the Bible that could not have multiple interpretations? In case it’s not obvious, I am looking for the basis for the belief that God is omnipotent and omniscient. A passage like this one that can readily be interpreted as a clear statement of His omniscience – even though it _could_ also be interpreted otherwise – seems to me like a very reasonable basis for the belief. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465/26 "2011-06-07T20:02:32Z")
In case you haven’t looked yet, Wikipedia does have a page about God’s omnipotence and omniscience. It includes some of the thinkers who’ve contributed to the discussion over the centuries and some of the verses used to support the belief. It’s worth noting that there’s some quibbling over just what it means to be omnipotent. So, for example, you get the question about whether God can really do anything with every action as an option, or whether he only do anything if it’s within the confines of His nature. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465/27 "2011-06-07T20:47:11Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Was God a _Jeopardy_ contestant? Reminds me of a certain [Far Side cartoon](http://www.heartofeugene.org/images/FarSideGod.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465/28 "2011-06-07T21:09:44Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > In case it’s not obvious, I am looking for the basis for the belief that God is omnipotent and omniscient. A passage like this one that can readily be interpreted as a clear statement of His omniscience – even though it _could_ also be interpreted otherwise – seems to me like a very reasonable basis for the belief. It would be, if you take the bible to be inerrant, or at least, mostly true regarding supernatural claims. How you’d arrive at _those_ assessments is probably one of life’s great mysteries. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-it-established-that-the-christian-god-is-omnipotent-and-omniscient/584465.md?page=1)