Thomas Aquinas · 103 of 385

Chapter VII. That there is in God Active Power

CHAPTER VII—That there is in God Active Power

AS passive power, or passivity, follows upon being in potentiality, so active power follows upon being in actuality; for everything acts by being in actuality, and is acted upon by being in potentiality. But it belongs to God to be in actuality; and therefore there is suitably ascribed to Him active power, but not passive power.

Hence it is said: Thou art powerful, O Lord (Ps. lxxxviii, 9); and Thy power and thy justice, O God, are even to the highest heaven, in the wonders that thou hast made (Ps. lxx, 18, 19).