Can God Do All?(Hebrews 6:18)

Can God Do All?

In the Bible we are told that God can do all (Matthew 19:26); however, in Hebrews, it says: "So that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us," (Hebrews 6:18 NASB1995).

This supposed contradiction misunderstands what one means when one says God can do all. In a sense, this is hyperbole, for God can not do what is logically impossible. God cannot make a circle with four sides for by definition that is not possible. God cannot sin for he is pure, he is all good. It would contradict his nature of omnibenevolence. As Moses writes in Numbers: "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19 NASB1995). 

As Poole writes: "In which it was impossible for God to lie, i.e. to cease to be himself, for essential truth to become a lie is impossible, it is utterly inconsistent with his nature. He is incapable to deceive, or speak against his mind, Numbers 23:19 1 Samuel 15:29 Psalm 89:35 Titus 1:2; and it is as impossible for him to violate his promise or oath," (Poole).

Works Cited:

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Poole, Matthew. Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible. United States, Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC, 1990.