The Meaning of God Upholding All Things by His Power
The Greek phrase "upholding all things by his powerful word" (Hebrews 1:3) highlights God's sustaining power over creation. The verb "upholding" (φέρων, pherōn) signifies carrying or sustaining, indicating God's ongoing involvement in maintaining the universe [1].
The concept of God's providence is central to understanding this phrase. According to the Westminster Confession, God "doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence" [3]. This understanding is echoed in the Heidelberg Catechism, which describes God's providence as "the almighty and ever present power of God by which God upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures" [2].
The biblical basis for this doctrine is evident in passages such as Colossians 1:17, which states that Christ "is before all things, and in him all things hold together." This verse underscores the idea that God's power is not limited to creation but extends to sustaining and governing the universe. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that Christ's power is "exhibited in... upholding all things" [1].
The patristic tradition also emphasizes God's sustaining power. Irenaeus writes that God "governs and arranges all things" through His Word [6]. Similarly, Hippolytus describes God as "containing all things, having nothing vacant beyond Himself" [7].
Theological traditions have interpreted God's sustaining power in various ways. Aquinas argues that God's omnipotence is not limited to creating but also includes sustaining and governing creation [4]. Calvin emphasizes that God's providence involves not only creating but also directing and regulating the destiny of all things [5].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
- Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. What do you understand: Q. What do you understand by the providence of God? A. The almighty and ever present power of God1 by which God upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures,2 and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty—3 all things, in fact, come to us not by chance4 but by his fatherly hand.5 1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-28 2 Heb. 1:3 3 Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17/a>; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2 4 Prov. 16:33 5 Matt. 10:29 Q & A 28”
- Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed) “Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed, 1646), CHAPTER 5 (part 1): CHAPTER 5 Of Providence 1. God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy. 2. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly; yet, by ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), The Power of God, Art. 3: Article: Whether God is omnipotent? I answer that, All confess that God is omnipotent; but it seems difficult to explain in what His omnipotence precisely consists: for there may be doubt as to the precise meaning of the word 'all' when we say that God can do all things. If, however, we consider the matter aright, since power is said in reference to possible things, this phrase, "God can do all things," is rightly understood to mean that God can do all things that are possible; and for this reason He is said to be om”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 32: and equivocal movement, withholds what is of principal moment—viz. the disposing and directing of every thing to its proper end by incomprehensible wisdom. By withholding government, it makes God the ruler of the world in name only, not in reality. For what, I ask, is meant by government, if it be not to preside so as to regulate the destiny of that over which you preside? I do not, however, totally repudiate what is said of an universal providence, provided, on the other hand, it is conceded to me that the world is governed by God”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. XVIII.--GOD THE FATHER AND HIS WORD HAVE FORMED ALL CREATED THINGS (WHICH THEY USE) BY THEIR OWN POWER AND WISDOM, NOT OUT OF DEFECT OR IGNORANCE. THE SON OF GOD, WHO RECEIVED ALL POWER FROM THE (part 3): governs and arranges all 547 things; and therefore He came to His own in a visible(1) manner, and was made flesh, and hung upon the tree, that He might sum up all things in Himself. "And His own peculiar people did not receive Him," as Moses declared this very thing among the people: "And thy life shall ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — CHAP. II. ARGUMENT.--GOD IS ABOVE ALl, THINGS, HIMSELF CONTAINING ALL THINGS, IMMENSE, ETERNAL, TRANSCENDING THE MIND OF MAN; INEXPLICABLE IN DISCOURSE, LOFTIER THAN ALL SUBLIMITY. (part 1): And over all these things He Himself, containing all things, having nothing vacant beyond Himself, has left room for no superior God, such as some people conceive. Since, indeed, He Himself has included all things in the bosom of perfect greatness and power, He is always intent upon His own work, and pervading all things, and moving all things, an”