Omnipotence

Omnipotence is the state or quality of being all-powerful. In theology and philosophy, it is the attribute most commonly assigned to the supreme being in monotheistic traditions, though its precise meaning varies by context. The term combines Latin omni- 'all' with potens 'powerful.' Broadly, omnipotence denotes the ability to perform any action, especially unlimited exertion of power over the world and its laws. A common formulation is that an omnipotent being can do all that is logically possible. Many philosophers distinguish between metaphysical possibility (what could happen in principle) and logical possibility (what can be conceived without contradiction). Under one view, omnipotence does not include the power to do the logically impossible, such as creating a square circle or making mathematics false.

The omnipotence paradox asks whether an all-powerful agent can create a task that defeats its own power, e.g., a rock too heavy to lift. Proposed resolutions include the denial that such tasks are genuine possibilities, or the claim that omnipotence means maximal power consistent with logical law rather than the ability to violate it. Some theists also emphasize that omnipotence fits within a coherent moral order and the nature of divine perfection, or that God's actions are compatible with greater goods beyond human understanding.

In religious use, omnipotence is commonly coupled with other divine attributes such as omniscience and omnibenevolence, and is interpreted in various ways across traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.