His Omnipotence means power to do all that is…
““His Omnipotence means power to do all that is intrinsically possible, not to do the intrinsically impossible. You may attribute miracles to Him, but not nonsense. This is no limit to His power. If you choose to say, ‘God can give a creature free will and at the same time withhold free will from it,’ you have not succeeded in saying anything about God: meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prefix to them the two other words, 'God can.' It remains true that all things are possible with God: the intrinsic impossibilities are not things but nonentities. It is no more possible for God than for the weakest of His creatures to carry out both of two mutually exclusive alternatives; not because His power meets an obstacle, but because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
God’s power is limited to what is intrinsically possible; contradictions are nonsense, not divine feats.
In simple terms: God cannot do the intrinsically impossible.
Key Takeaway
Recognize logical limits.
Themes
theology
philosophy
logic
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- faith discussions
- ethical reasoning
- academic debate
- personal belief
Key Concepts
omnipotence paradox
language limits
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile faith with logical paradoxes?
- Do contradictions always imply nonsense?
A Different Perspective
Some argue divine power transcends logic.