神的無所不能The Omnipotence of God
作者: 史鮑爾 (R.C. Sproul) 译者: 姚錦榮
摘自《神學入門》《Essential Truths of the
Christian Faith》P36 ,更新傳道會出版
每一位神學家遲早都會被學生問及這樣一個難解的問題：神能不能創造一塊自己搬不動的石頭？乍聽之下，這個問題必會把神學家弄得進退兩難。如果回答是，便等承認神有自己做不到的事，祂移不動那塊石頭；如果回答不是，則等於說神不能創造這塊石頭。無論回答是與不是，我們好像都不得不限制了神的能力。
這個問題和另一個刁難的問題十分類似：如果用一股不可抗拒的力量推動一個不能移動的物體，結果會怎樣？我們可以理解什麼是不可抗拒的力量，也知道什麼是不能移動的物體，但是我們猜不透二者共存時將會出現什麼情況。如果不可抗拒的力量遇上不能移動的物體，而將之移動的話，該物體便不能再被稱為是不能移動的物體了；但是如果該物體無法被移動的話，那麼不可抗拒的力量也就不能再被稱為是不可抗拒的了。由此我們得知，現實世界不能同時容納此二者——不可抗拒的力量和不能移動的物體。
讓我們再回到那塊搬不動的石頭上，其實這是一個錯誤的兩難問題。我們之所以稱它是錯的，乃因它是建立在一個錯誤的前提上，它假定無所不能（omnipotence）是指神的能夠做任何事。但在神學上，無所不能一詞並不是指神能夠做任何的事。在聖經中，有幾件事是神不能做的：神不能說謊（來6：18）；神不能死；神不能既是永恒又同時是被造的；神不能違背自己的本性而行；神不能在同一時間和同一情況下是神、又不是神。
無所不能乃是說，神有掌管受造物的全能。沒有任何一個受造能夠逃離神全權的管治。因此之故，對於搬不動的石頭這個難題，我們是有正確答案的，那就是「不能！」——神不能創造一塊自己搬不動的石頭。如果神創造一塊這樣的石頭，祂便是創造自己無力管理的事物，這樣祂也等於摧毀了祂自己那無所不能的神性。神不會不再是神，神也不會變成為是一位有所不能的神。
當童女馬利亞聽見天使加百列說，她將會懷孕生子是時候，馬利亞感到萬分詫異。但天使說「因為出於神的話，沒有一句不帶著能力。」（譯者註：新國際版譯作『在神沒有難成的事。』）天使提醒馬利亞，神是無所不能的。我想，似乎連天使也懂得使用誇張語法。從狹義的角度考慮，這位天使的神學概念似乎不對；但從聖經廣義的角度去理解，卻正確地指出神的能力遠遠超越受造之物。對我們而言不可能的事，在神卻是可能的。在神沒有難成的事，意為神能做到任何祂決心要做的事，神的全能並不受有限的影響，「沒有任何事」會限制住祂的能力。但祂的能力卻依然受到祂的本質和身份的限制。神不可能犯罪，因為沒有犯罪的意願便沒有犯罪的可能；神不能犯罪，因為從來不願意犯罪。當約伯說以下這句話的時候，他深明此中道理——「我知道你萬事都能作；你的旨意不能攔阻。」（伯42：2）
都基督徒來說，神的無所不能是安慰的泉源。我們知道神用來創造宇宙的那個大能，也是祂保證用來向我們施行救恩的大能。在出埃及時，神曾彰顯大能；在基督的死而復活上，祂也彰顯了這種大能。我們知道，沒有任何受造物能夠擾亂神對未來的計劃；宇宙中也沒有一顆遊離分子，能夠破壞神的計劃。盡管這世上的權勢和力量發出毀滅的威嚇，但是我們不必懼怕。神是全能者，祂的力量無人能夠抗拒，這正是我們可以安息的原因。
總結：
1.神的無所不能不是說神可以做任何事情；神不能違背自己的本性。
2.神的無所不能不是指神對於受造秩序具有全權的能力、權柄和管治。
3. 神的無所不能對於惡人是可怕，對於信徒來說，卻是安慰的泉源。
4. 神在創造中行使的能力，也正是祂在救恩中所彰顯的能力。
5. 宇宙中沒有任何事物，能夠阻撓或擾亂神的計劃。
思考經文：
創十七1；詩一一五3；罗十一36；弗一11；来一3
13.
THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD
Every
theologian is sooner or later asked a question by a student that is posed as an
impossible nut to crack. The old query is this: Can God make a rock so big that
He cannot move it? At first glance this question seems to impale the theologian
on the horns of an unsolvable dilemma. If we answer yes, then we are saying
that there is something God cannot do; He cannot move the rock. If we answer
no, then we are saying that God
cannot
build such a rock. Either way we answer we are forced to place limits on God’s
power.
This
problem resembles the other teaser: What happens when an irresistible force
meets an immovable object? We can conceive of an irresistible force. We can
likewise conceive of an immovable object. What we cannot conceive of is the
coexistence of the two. If an irresistible force ever met an immovable object
and the object moved, it could no longer properly be called immovable. If the
object did not move, then our “irresistible” force could no longer properly be
called irresistible. We see, then, that reality cannot contain both—an
irresistible force and an immovable object.
Meanwhile,
back to the immovable rock. The dilemma posed here (as in the case of the
irresistible force) is a false dilemma. It is false because it is erected on a
false premise. It assumes that “omnipotence” means that God can do anything.
Yet, as a theological term, omnipotence does not mean that God can do anything.
The Bible indicates several things that God cannot do. He cannot lie (Hebrews
6:18). He cannot die. He cannot be eternal and created. He cannot act against
His nature. He cannot be God and not be God at the same time and in the same
respect.
What
omnipotence does mean is that God holds all power over His creation. No part of
creation stands outside the scope of His sovereign control. Therefore, there is
a correct answer to the dilemma of the rock. The nut can be cracked. The answer
is no. God cannot build a rock so big that He could not move it. Why? If God
ever built such a rock He would
be
creating something over which He had no power. He would be destroying His own
omnipotence. God cannot stop being God; He cannot not be omnipotent.
When
the Virgin Mary was puzzled by Gabriel’s announcement to her of the conception
of Jesus in her womb, the angel said to her: “For with God nothing will be
impossible” (Luke 1:37). Here the angel was reminding Mary of God’s
omnipotence. I guess even angels are capable of using hyperbole. Narrowly
considered, the angel expressed bad theology. But
the
broader biblical understanding points to the meaning that God’s power reaches
far beyond that of the creature. What may be impossible for us is possible with
Him. To say that nothing is impossible with God means that He can do whatever
He wills to do. His power is not limited by finite limitations. Nothing or “no
thing” can restrict His power. Yet His power is still restricted by what and
who He is. Sin is impossible for Him because one cannot sin without willing to
sin. God cannot commit sin because He never wills it. Job got to the heart of
this matter when he said: “I know that You can do everything, and that no
purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (Job 42:2).
For
the Christian, God’s omnipotence is a great source of comfort. We know that the
same power God displayed in creating the universe is at His disposal to assure
our salvation. He showed that power in the Exodus from Egypt. He displayed His
power over death in the resurrection of Christ. We know that no part of
creation can frustrate His plans for the future. There are no maverick
molecules loose in the universe that could possibly disrupt His plans. Though
powers and forces of this world threaten to undo, we have no fear. We can rest
in the knowledge that nothing can withstand the power of God. He is the One who
is almighty.
Summary
1.
Omnipotence does not mean that God can do anything. He cannot act against His
nature.
2.
Omnipotence refers to God’s sovereign power, authority, and control over the
created order.
3.
Omnipotence, though a threat to the wicked, is a source of comfort to the
believer.
4.
The same power God exhibited in creation is displayed in our redemption.
5.
Nothing in the universe can thwart or frustrate God’s plans. Biblical passages
for
reflection:
Genesis
17:1
Psalm
115:3
Romans
11:36
Ephesians
1:11
Hebrews
1:3