From: Edgar Foster (questioning1@yahoo.com)
Date: Sun Apr 05 1998 - 16:12:45 EDT
Dear B-Greekers,
My thanks to all who responded to my question, however, this comment
hit upon my concern:
---Juan Stam wrote:
> Omnipotent is close, but as I understand it, >PANTOKRATWR
(especially as used
> of the Emperor) also meant "all-ruling", >all-governing, which
doesn't really
> come across in the more abstract "omnipotent"
It seems from my research as well, that Omnipotent does not accurately
convey the thought behind PANTOKRATWR.
PANTOKRATWR seems to delineate an activity or position (ONOMA) whereas
Omnipotent describes an attribute or inherent quality of Being. In
other words, Omnipotens seems to convey the idea that God is
inherently All-Powerful whereas PANTOKRATWR emphasizes His supremacy
over all creation.
Emil Brunner notes: "The Biblical conception means God's power over
the whole universe; but omnipotentia means the abstract idea that "God
can do everything" (Dogmatics, Vol. 1, p. 248). I wonder about this
distinction.
At any rate, in the context of Rev. 19:8, Babylon the Great is
adversely judged by God and annihilated. KURIOS hO QEOS hO PANTOKRATWR
then begins his REIGN. It seems, therefore, that PANTOKRATWR is best
understood in Revelation 19:6 as God's supremacy over creation.
PANTOKRATWR should therefore be translated "Almighty" or "Ruler of All."
Any more thoughts,
E. Foster
LR College
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