Angelicum Thomistic Institute Can God be Omnipotent and Kenotic? Understanding Divine Action in the Bible | Justin Schembri, O.P.
Dec 12, 2025
Justin Schembri, O.P., a Dominican priest and theologian working in Thomistic and biblical theology, explores whether God can be both omnipotent and kenotic. He traces the idea through Genesis, Exodus, and Philippians. Conversations cover biblical method, creation as invitation, miracles via secondary causes, and Christ's self-giving as a model for divine and human action.
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Start Theological Inquiry From The Text
- Biblical theology should start from reciting the text and infer divine attributes from God's actions rather than imposing speculative standards first.
- Justin Schembri argues starting from Scripture reveals tensions like omnipotence vs kenosis that systematic theology must account for.
Why Omnipotence And Kenosis Seem To Clash
- The apparent conflict between divine omnipotence and kenosis arises when we import abstract perfections into biblical interpretation.
- Schembri says the Bible often portrays God acting vulnerably through intermediaries, which challenges the 'unsurpassably excellent' model.
Creation As Divine Invitation Not Conquest
- Genesis 1 frames creation as divine invitation, not violent conquest, so omnipotence is exercised invitationally.
- Schembri notes the Hebrew jussive/optative tone of "let there be" as a softer, superior-to-inferior invitation leading to communion (shalom).