xeren

I was wondering, does anyone know the bible verses that Christians use to come to the conclusion that god is any of the following?:

1. all powerful
2. all knowing
3. all loving

Or are they not actually in the bible, and simply a part of standard/popular christian theology?

I would especially love to know about number 3., as a very messy debate is going on in EoG, under this topic :
<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=50&t=000622" target="_blank">Proof that Christianity is false</a>

Thanks in advance for any help verses/explanations anyone can offer up.

[ September 21, 2002: Message edited by: xeren ]</p>

Vinnie

Jesus' life and death expressed God's love for us. For Christians Jesus is the main theme of God's great love story with his creation. God lowered himself and jumped into our history to show us he cares as the person of Jesus and when he died on a Roman cross it was equivalent to saying "I love you."

Roman's 5:8
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."


As for your other two I would advice against proof-text hunting scripture for teachings on omnipotence and omniscience. I'd go to philosophy for that.

Vinnie

[ September 21, 2002: Message edited by: ilgwamh ]</p>

Peter Kirby

This is based on a 1998 alt.atheism post of mine.

* Omnipotence

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)

"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' " (Matthew 19:26)

* Omniscience

"Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1:4-5)

"Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." (Psalms 147:5)

"...whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." (1 John 3:20)

Of course, others could probably provide verses indicating that God has limited power or knowledge. I remember something saying that the Hebrews, although God was on their side, couldn't win because the opponents had weapons of iron. Also, God "regretted" that He made man, as if He didn't know that they would become wicked (Gn 6:6).

Although these concepts may be problematic, and even contradict parts of the Bible, there are some scripture quotes to support omnipotence and omniscience.

* Omnibenevolence

Here are some of the closest I could find:

"For everything created by God is good..." (1 Timothy 4:4)

"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love." (1 John 4:7)

However, the scriptural support for omnibenevolence is relatively weak, and practically non-existent in the Old Testament.

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)

My guess is that these doctrines owe at least as much to philosophy as to scripture. Epicurus is often quoted for the argument from evil in its deductive form; obviously, there must have been some monotheists whom Epicurus was refuting.

best,
Peter Kirby

[ September 21, 2002: Message edited by: Peter Kirby ]</p>

Vinnie

"""""Of course, the others could probably provide verses indicating that God has limited power or knowledge.""""""

Exactly.

That is why I advised against proof-text hunting of scripture. Otherwise you are merely finding what suits you and ignoring the rest.

Just look at open view theism and the idea of omniscience.

Vinnie

Vinnie

That God does not know everything from Boyd's site:

<a href="http://www.gregboyd.org/gbfront/index.asp?PageID=492" target="_blank">http://www.gregboyd.org/gbfront/index.asp?PageID=492</a>

Gen. 2:19 | Gen. 6:5–6 | Gen. 22:12 | Exod. 3:18–4:9 | Exod. 4:10–16 | Exod. 13:17 | Exod. 16:4 | Exod. 32:14 | Exod. 32:33 | Exod. 33:1–3, 14 | Num. 11:1–2 | Num. 14:11 | Num. 14:12–20 | Num. 16:20–35 | Num. 16:41–48 | Deut. 8:2 | Deut. 9:13–14, 18–20, 25 | Deut. 13:1–3 | Deut. 30:19 | Judg. 2:20–3:5 | Judg. 10:13–15 | 1 Sam. 2:27–31 | 1 Sam. 13:13–14 | 1 Sam. 15:10 | 1 Sam. 15:35 | 1 Sam. 23:9–13 | 2 Sam. 24:12–16 | 2 Sam. 24:17–25 | 1 Kings 21:27–29 | 2 Kings 13:3–5 | 2 Kings 20:1–7 | 1 Chron. 21:7–13 | 1 Chron. 21:15 | 2 Chron. 7:12–14 | 2 Chron. 12:5–8 | 2 Chron. 32:31 | Psalm 106:23 | Isa. 5:3–7 | Isa. 38:1–5 | Jer. 3:6–7 | Jer. 3:19–20 | Jer. 7:5–7 | Jer. 18:7–11 | Jer. 19:5 | Jer. 26:2–3 | Jer. 26:19 | Jer. 32:35 | Jer. 38:17–18, 20–21, 23 | Ezek. 12:1–3 | Ezek. 20:5–22 | Ezek. 22:29–31 | Ezek. 33:13–15 | Hosea 8:5 | Hosea 11:8–9 | Joel 2:13–14 | Amos 7:1–6 | Jonah 1:2; 3:2, 4–10; 4:2 | Matt. 25:41 | Matt. 26:39 | Acts 15:7 | Acts 21:10–12 | 2 Pet. 3:9–12 | Rev. 3:5 | Rev. 22:18

Vinnie