Abstract

How can one speak of God's omnipotence in the face of suffering? In a critical discussion of various approaches (P. Althaus, P. Tillich and K. Barth) the study turns against the definition of omnipotence as an all-determining power and against the instrumentalization and meaning of suffering. In the recording of biblical speech it is emphasized that God's power proves to be saving, life-creating and compassionate. On the basis of this, a reformulation of omnipotence as the omnipotence of love can be shown, which refrains from describing suffering as meaningful and thus keeps the theodicy question open.