Theological Term of the Week: Ordinate Power (of God)

ordinate power (of God)
“That power whereby God doth that which he hath decreed to do, that is, which he hath ordained or appointed to be exercised;1 God’s ability to do what he has ordained, decreed, and willed to do.”2 God’s ordinate power is a subset of his absolute power. 

• From scripture:

Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.(Psalm 135:6 ESV)

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will … (Ephesians 1:11 ESV)

• From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof: 

The potentia ordinata [ordinate power] can be defined as that perfection of God whereby He, through the mere exercise of His will, can realize whatsoever is present in His will or counsel. The power of God in actual exercise limits itself to that which is comprehended in His eternal decree.

Learn more:

1. Mark Jones: A Crucial Distinction
2. Louis Berkhof: The Sovereign Power of God

Related terms:

• omnipotence
• absolute power of God

Filed under God’s Nature and His Work

1From The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock.

2From None Greater by Matthew Barrett

---

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button will take you to an alphabetical list of all the previous theological terms.

Sunday's Hymn: My Jesus, I Love Thee

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
For thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art thou;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

I love thee because thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

I’ll love thee in life, I will love thee in death;
And praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath;
And say, when the death-dew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.

—William Featherstone

 Other hymns, worship songs, or quotes for this Sunday:

• The Sun of Righteousness at The Happy Wonderer
• Praise God, I Have a Place to Put My Hope at The Outspoken Tulip
• Ever faithful, ever sure at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 30, 2019 at The Thirsty Theologian

Selected Reading

I read or listened to these recently and recommend them to you.

Church History

Who Was Zwingli?
One branch of my ancestors goes back to the early Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger, so I was naturally interested in this video about Huldrych Zwingli, who was Bullinger’s predecessor. (Somewhere along the line, my branch of the Bullinger/Bollinger family became Swiss Anabaptists. I wonder what Zwingli would think of that?)

Theology

Theological English
Do you know someone who might find this book useful? “With thirty lessons covering the major genres of theology (apologetics, biblical studies, church history, systematic theology, and practical theology), Theological English invites you to develop your English skills while actively putting them to use.” 

Here’s a sample chapter.

Four Views on the Lord’s Supper
Another good one from the Simply Put podcast. (Zwingli makes an appearance here, too.)

Hard Questions

Did Jesus Preach the Gospel to People In Hell During the Two Days He Was Dead?
“Down through the ages, some Christians have taught that during these two days between Good Friday and Easter morning Jesus went to Hades and preached the gospel to people there.” Are they right? ​