Is God omnipotent and controls everything?

[zoidar]

If you go to an English dictionary the two are interlinked, to define each other, but the difference between El Shaddai and Deus Omnipotens is the key here. The Hebrew and Latin mean different things. El Shaddai refers to a Creator who having created all was able to say enough to creation, so that the creation process stopped. Omnipotens implies a sort of Imperial control of all reality by an All powerful God. The difference is subtle but exists.

But there is a lot of controversy about what the word Shaddai actually meant in the original Hebrew so maybe its meaning is not completely clear.

I think this is quite interesting:

"El ShaDai (אֵל שָׁדַּי)is just one of the many names of God in Hebrew. El means “God.” The rest, however, is slightly more complicated.

In our Bibles, אֵל שָׁדַּי “El Shadai” is most often (mistakenly) translated as “God Almighty”. The main reason for this stems from an opinion that Hebrew word שָׂדַּי ShaDai is connected with the verb לְשְׁדוד liShDoD, which means “to destroy” or “overpower”. For example, Hebrew word for “bandit” has the same root –שׁודֵד ShoDeD.

El Shadai אֵל שָׁדַּי does have another meaning though. The word שָׁד ShaD has a much closer grammatical connection to ShaDai and it means – “breast.” Moreover, when a word ends with an “i”or “ai” it is almost always means “my”. So, literally, “El Shadai” could very well mean “God (is) my Breast/s”."

El Shadai (Hebrew Insight)

 

[Hammster]

Psalms 103:19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven;
his kingdom extends over everything.


God reigns over the nations,
God sits on His holy throne.
— Psalm 47:8

 

[zoidar]

Today I let my 1 year old, play with a hand-grenade. I know that might seem negligent and irresponsible to most of you, but I just couldn't bring myself to violate his precious "free will"

You are fighting hard for the position that God is controlling everything. Would you be just as eager do defend this if it turns out not all men will be saved in the end?

 

[mindlight]

I think this is quite interesting:

"El ShaDai (אֵל שָׁדַּי)is just one of the many names of God in Hebrew. El means “God.” The rest, however, is slightly more complicated.

In our Bibles, אֵל שָׁדַּי “El Shadai” is most often (mistakenly) translated as “God Almighty”. The main reason for this stems from an opinion that Hebrew word שָׂדַּי ShaDai is connected with the verb לְשְׁדוד liShDoD, which means “to destroy” or “overpower”. For example, Hebrew word for “bandit” has the same root –שׁודֵד ShoDeD.

El Shadai אֵל שָׁדַּי does have another meaning though. The word שָׁד ShaD has a much closer grammatical connection to ShaDai and it means – “breast.” Moreover, when a word ends with an “i”or “ai” it is almost always means “my”. So, literally, “El Shadai” could very well mean “God (is) my Breast/s”."

El Shadai (Hebrew Insight)

The literal translation is "mighty teat" which summons up an image of a nipple that somehow provides the sustenance for all life. It is a maternal image unlike the Roman translation Deus Omnipotens which sounds quite macho.

The mother of the family is the “one who binds the family together.”
God can be seen as the “glue” that holds the whole universe together.....God literally “binds” the entire universe together.

The Meaning of El Shaddai | AHRC

 

[Silly Uncle Wayne]

New thread, trying to pinpoint my question.

I think the problem is the word 'everything'. If everything includes the illogical then I don't think God is all powerful in that sense.

But there is another issue. God have power over everything logical does not mean that he exercises that power. An all-powerful God must be able to choose not use his power in some way else he is not all powerful.

 

[Francis Drake]

And?

That's a nice word, do you know any longer ones?

 

[zoidar]

That's a nice word, do you know any longer ones?

Love your neighbor.

 

[Hammster]

That's a nice word, do you know any longer ones?

Yes. But most folks get brevity. So I’ll try again.

And what is your point?

 

[Hammster]

Maybe some of the confusion is over the use of the words power (omnipotence) and authority (sovereignty). Yes, God has the power to do what He pleases. But I think the bigger issue as it relates to this thread is His sovereignty. Does He have the authority to control every situation? Yes, He does. And He can do that directly or indirectly; passively or impassively. And even that would need to be looked at closer.

So if I say that God is sovereign over evil, that doesn’t mean that He actively caused evil. It does mean that He is in control of the situation, and that ultimately things will work out according to His purpose.

 

[zoidar]

Maybe some of the confusion is over the use of the words power (omnipotence) and authority (sovereignty). Yes, God has the power to do what He pleases. But I think the bigger issue as it relates to this thread is His sovereignty. Does He have the authority to control every situation? Yes, He does. And He can do that directly or indirectly; passively or impassively. And even that would need to be looked at closer.

So if I say that God is sovereign over evil, that doesn’t mean that He actively caused evil. It does mean that He is in control of the situation, and that ultimately things will work out according to His purpose.

Agree, and then we come to the question: "What is God's purpose?"

 

[Swag365]

Agree, and then we come to the question: "What is God's purpose?"

Per Calvin, to damn certain human beings before the creation of the universe, without even giving them a possibility or hope of salvation, merely "to glorify himself".

That's the ultimate issue behind all of this I think. Whether or not God did that.

 

[Hammster]

Agree, and then we come to the question: "What is God's purpose?"

His glory.

 

[zoidar]

His glory.

Ah! I believe it is to save everyone who believes, by dying for the sins of the world.

 

[Hammster]

Ah! I believe it is to save everyone who believes, by dying for the sins of the world.

Do you think that’s more important than His glory?

 

[Cis.jd]

New thread, trying to pinpoint my question.

Is "power" the right word? Maybe "decision" is.

I don't believe everything that happens is directly God's decision. There is a law called "cause and effect" and "every action there is a reaction". Not all events happen because it is what he wants, some are because of your own decisions, or a domino effect that has happened in your environment, or just all random.

Was it God's decision for some guy to just get hit by bus, or how nature has some of the most cruelest creatures like wild dogs eating their pray alive from the rear up?

 

[zoidar]

Do you think that’s more important than His glory?

It is His glory!

 

[Hammster]

It is His glory!

Where was His glory before creation?

 

[zoidar]

Where was His glory before creation?

I don't know. In himself, the trinity?

 

[Hammster]

I don't know. In himself, the trinity?

So then it’s more than just saving people. In other words, He doesn’t need to save anyone in order to be glorified. In fact, if He saved no one, He’d be glorified.

 

[zoidar]

So then it’s more than just saving people. In other words, He doesn’t need to save anyone in order to be glorified. In fact, if He saved no one, He’d be glorified.

He didn't have to save anyone, but doing so gives Him glory. Even I quess, He is glory within himself.