One student of mine recently expressed astonishment that someone besides God cannot have an omniproperty in the strict sense of the word. He was under the impression that a person (S) could have the property of omnipotence (OP), for example, and still not be God. Only a being having every omniproperty would be God (in his estimation).
However, there is more than one reason why his idea of God needs to be adjusted. I mentioned some reasons to him, and they appeared to be sufficient for the time being. But the whole point of the ontological argument for God's existence is supposed to be that only a perfect being is maximally great, and only a perfect being (in the absolute sense of the word) is necessary (exists in all possible worlds), and compossibly instantiates all omniproperties.
Another way of viewing this issue logically is to say that only God could be all-knowing and maximally powerful. How could a creature ever have such properties? Nevertheless, to emphasize this point, instantiating all omniproperties seems to be a logical consequence of having one omniproperty. For a being cannot be omnipotent or omniscient without being maximally excellent, it seems.
Two other ways of handling my student's question is to reference transcendentals like "good" "beauty" and unity; God also has incommunicable properties that only God exemplifies. See http://www.theopedia.com/classification-of-the-attributes-of-god
Duns Scotus argues that God's chief attribute is infinity. So he evidently contends that all divine properties are really just an extension of divine infinity.
8 comments:
What is your definition of "creature" ?
A creature is a being (an existent thing), who or that initially does not exist, but is produced by God from non-being into a state of being.
I think I read here in the past that there is a difference between being qualitatively all powerful and quantitatively all powerful, seems like there is a difference, although I am not exactly sure what it is. I was under the impression it meant something like if God cannot lie, then he cannot do everything.He also cannot die, so I assume there are limits to even an all powerful God.
Philip, I think you're talking about the difference between qualitative infinity and quantitative infinity. The same principle could apply to omnipotence as well: it's reflection of Jehovah qualitative greatness rather than his quantitative excellence. So Jehovah would be infinite with respect to his qualities, but not with respect to his bodily extension. That view would be highly problematic, and I've never seen it expressed in our literature.
You're correct: there are things that an infinite being cannot do. He cannot lie, act unjustly, sin or perform contradictory acts. He is immortal and immutable; so he cannot become non-divine. He cannot act unlovingly or make 2 + 2 = 5. But none of these limitations impugn his omnipotence or maximal greatness.
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I've read that their is a difference between infinity and Eternity. We know the bible says he is king of Eternity but, I don't recall anything about it saying something about infinity. Eternity is significantly different from infinity,from what I have read. Eternity makes Jehovah maximally great.
You're welcome, Philip. There is a difference between the two attributes. Eternity (etymologically and technically) refers to timelessness or it can mean having no beginning nor haaving an end. The Bible likely uses "eternity in the second sense: Jehovah is from eternity to eternity. On the other hand, infinity is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, but it is implied. See 1 Kings 8:27.
You are right, Edgar. That reminds me of the scripture of Romans 11:33-36, for God cannot be fully known by us forever. So with that he is infinite. We can assume although I don't like to do that he knows that he is without limits. For such a thing as limit exist because he allows it.
Yes, Philip, by means of scripture--we can think of ways that Jehovah is without limits. His love is unlimited, his power is not limited and nor is his knowledge or wisdom limited. The only limitations imposed on Jehovah are by his nature or by logical necessity (it seems). They are primarily self-limitations.
Please see Job 37:16; Ps 147:5.
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