104. God's Infinite Power and Divine Omnipotence

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Lecture Notes

Main Topics #

The Nature of Active Power in God #

• God possesses active power (potentia activa), the ability to act upon another
• God does not possess passive power (potentia passiva), the ability to be acted upon
• Active power is founded in actuality, not opposed to it; God as pure act possesses infinite active power
• The divine power is the same as God Himself—God’s power is His essence considered as a beginning of effects

God’s Power is Infinite #

• God’s being is infinite because it is not limited by any receiving potency
• Since God acts through His infinite essence, His active power must necessarily be infinite
• The infinity of God’s power is not quantitative (like mathematical infinity) but qualitative—His actuality is not limited in perfection
• This infinity is tied to God’s perfection: His power is unlimited in what it can effect

God is Not a Univocal Agent #

• A univocal agent produces effects of the same kind as itself (e.g., dog produces dog)
• The whole power of a univocal agent is manifested in its effect
• God is not univocal—nothing shares God’s nature or genus; God stands outside all categories
• Therefore, God’s infinite power need not produce an infinite effect; the effect is always less than the power
• Example: The sun’s power is not exhausted in producing one animal; its causality extends to all living things

The Relationship Between Power, Knowledge, and Will #

• God’s power is not really distinct from His knowledge and will secundum rem (in reality)
• The distinction exists only secundum rationem (according to our way of understanding)
• God’s knowledge and will, considered as a beginning of an effect, can be called divine power
• Divine knowledge and will as such do not formally name this “beginning of effect”; that is what constitutes power
• The consideration of knowledge and will logically precedes the consideration of power as cause precedes effect

Answering Objections from Physics #

• Aristotle’s objection about infinity and matter: Aristotle speaks of the infinite as unlimited matter lacking form, which is imperfect. God’s infinity is not of this type; God is not infinite in quantitative sense
• Objection that infinite power should produce infinite effect: Only univocal agents manifest their whole power in their effects. God, not being univocal, may produce finite effects while possessing infinite power
• Aristotle on infinite bodily power: If a body had infinite power, it would move in no time. But God is not bodily; moreover, God acts according to His will, not with the necessity of natural agents

Key Arguments #

For God’s Infinite Power #

1. Every agent acts according as it is in act (secundum quod est in actu)
2. The more perfect an agent is, the more powerful its action
3. God’s essence is infinite actuality, not limited by any receiving potency
4. Therefore, God’s active power must be infinite

The Univocal Agent Distinction #

1. Univocal agents (like natural bodies) produce effects of their own kind
2. Their whole power is manifested in their effect
3. God is not univocal—God stands outside all genera and species
4. Therefore, God need not manifest His infinite power through infinite effects
5. An effect can be finite while its efficient cause’s power is infinite

God Acts Through His Will, Not Natural Necessity #

1. Natural agents act with their whole power; they do not deliberate
2. God acts according to His will
3. God can will this measure or that measure
4. Therefore, God need not move all things instantaneously even if His power is infinite

Important Definitions #

Potentia (Power/Ability) #

• Active power (potentia activa): The ability to act upon another; to produce effect in something external
• Passive power (potentia passiva): The ability to be acted upon; to undergo change and receive form
• In God, only active power exists; passive power is incompatible with pure actuality
• God’s power secundum rem is identical with His essence; the distinction between power, knowledge, and will is secundum rationem

Univocal Agent #

• An agent that produces effects of the same kind as itself
• The whole of its power is manifested in its effect
• Examples: Dogs produce dogs; fire burns with its whole natural power
• Contrasts with God, an analogical agent whose effects need not be of the same kind or infinity

Infinity in God #

• Not the infinity of quantity (continuous or discrete)
• Rather, the absence of limitation in perfection; actuality not received in or limited by potency
• God’s infinite actuality is what grounds His infinite active power

Examples & Illustrations #

The Sun’s Causality #

• The sun’s power is not entirely manifested in producing one animal
• Though the sun has limited power (compared to God), its causality extends far beyond one effect
• Similarly, God’s infinite power need not be exhausted in producing any particular effect
• This shows why infinite power need not produce infinite effects

Natural Agents vs. God’s Action #

• Fire burns something with its whole power; it does not deliberate about how much to burn
• A natural agent acts according to its nature with necessity
• God, however, acts according to His will; He can will this measure or that measure
• Therefore, God’s action is not determined by the necessity that governs natural agents

The Axiom: Nothing is the Beginning of Itself #

• This principle appears to create a problem: If nothing is the beginning of itself, and the divine will is the beginning of divine willing, then the divine will would not be the divine willing
• However, this problem dissolves when we recognize that in God, will and willing are not two things but one
• The distinction exists only secundum modum intelligentiae (according to our mode of understanding), not secundum rem (in reality)
• We begin from ourselves (where will and willing are distinct) to understand God, but we must remember this distinction does not hold in God

Notable Quotes #

“In all agents we find this, that as an agent is more perfect, so the form that it has for which it acts is to that extent more powerful and active. Just as when something is more hot, so it has a greater power to heating things.” — Thomas Aquinas, on the proportionality of power to perfection

“The power of an agent that is not univocal, its whole power is not manifested in the production of its effect.” — Thomas Aquinas, explaining why infinite power need not produce infinite effects

“The divine power is not ordered to an effect as to an end. But rather, it is the end of its effect.” — Thomas Aquinas, on why divine power cannot be “in vain”

“The principle of simplicity is based upon the fact that nature acts for an end. And when less will serve, it serves no purpose to use more than is necessary.” — Berquist, explaining why the principle of simplicity does not apply to the Trinity

“The genuine physicist believes obstinately in the unity and simplicity of nature despite any appearance of the contrary.” — Max Born, cited by Berquist on the principle of simplicity in nature

Questions Addressed #

Is there power in God? #

• Apparent problem: God is pure act; potentiality seems opposed to actuality
• Resolution: Active power is not opposed to act but founded in it. God’s infinite actuality grounds infinite active power. Only passive potentiality is incompatible with God’s nature.

Is God’s power infinite? #

• Objection from Aristotle: Everything infinite is imperfect (lacking limits); God is not imperfect; therefore God’s power is not infinite
• Resolution: The infinite that Aristotle speaks of is the infinite of matter lacking form. God’s infinity is the infinity of actuality not limited by potency—a perfection, not an imperfection.

Should not infinite power produce infinite effects? #

• Objection: Every power is manifested in its effect; if God’s power were infinite, He could make an infinite effect. But infinite effects are impossible. Therefore, either God’s power is not infinite or it would be in vain.
• Resolution: Only univocal agents manifest their whole power in their effects. God is not univocal. An analogical agent like God may produce finite effects while possessing infinite power. Moreover, divine power is not ordered to an end but is itself the end, so it cannot be in vain.

Why does God not move all things instantaneously? #

• Objection from Aristotle: If a body had infinite power, it would move in no time. Why does God not do this?
• Resolution: Aristotle’s argument applies to bodily movers, which are univocal agents and act with natural necessity. God is not bodily and acts according to His will, not natural necessity. Therefore, God can move according to His will, even though His power is infinite.