Omni is a prefix that means all, every, everywhere, and is used in the formation of compound words. This prefix is often attached with words that describe God, for God is omni, all in all.
According to the Bible, God is:
1. Omnibenevolent, always doing good. Everything that God does is good, without exception. Omnibeneficent is also used to describe the same quality. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, James 1:17. (Cf. also Psalm 18:30; 19:7; Romans 8:28; I John 4:8)
2. Omnific or omnificent, all-creating. The Lord hath made all things...Proverbs 16:4. Everything was made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made, John 1:3. This word is rarely used today, but see Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Omnificent is another adjective with the same or similar meaning – “creating all things; having unlimited powers of creation.” See Genesis 1; Psalm 33:6; Revelation 4:11.
3. Omnipotent, almighty. God is infinite in power. He possesses unlimited authority and power. Cf. Job 42:2; Daniel 4:35; John 19:11. Even the powers that be are ordained of God.
4. Omnipresent, being all places at all times; present everywhere at the same time. Read Psalm 139:7-9; Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 33:13-14; and Isaiah 57:15.
5. Omnipure, altogether pure, free from anything degrading or sinful. God is altogether holy without mixture or taint of sin. He is unique, separate and distinct from all. 1 Samuel 2:2; Revelation 4:8.
6. Omniscient, having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. This can also be described as omnipercipient – perceiving everything – though the former word is almost always used. God knows all things (1 John 3:20). Psalm 147:5, His understanding in infinite. Job 28:24.
7. Omni. Period. God is all in all. Ephesians 1:23 ...him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
God is so omni that the English language doesn’t have enough omni-words to describe Him!!
These words are usually found in theological discussions, and a few may be coined by theologians rather than words with a long dictionary history, e.g. omnibenevolent, omnipure.
Silence, ye troubl’d waves, and thou Deep, peace
Said then th’ Omnific Word, your discord end:
Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim
Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode
Farr into Chaos, and the World unborn;
For Chaos heard his voice: him all his Traine
Follow’d in bright procession to behold
Creation, and the wonders of his might
Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand
He took the golden Compasses, prepar’d
In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe
This Universe, and all created things
John Milton – Paradise Lost, in Book 7, Line 217
No comments:
Post a Comment