Pantokrator
Monday, November 27, 2023
7:39 AM
The portion of the ecumenical creeds that is generally translated as "the Almighty" is in Greek transliteration Pantokrator.  1. First Testament (LXX). The Septuagint used Pantokrator in those places where the Hebrew Bible used El Shaddai. According to Documentary Hypothesis (JEPD), El Shaddai belongs to the Priestly source (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; 48:3, Exodus 6:3). Pantokrator is als used to translate Adonai Sabaoth meaning Lord of Hosts (Isaiah 1:9, Jeremiah 46:18; Amos 4:13; Haggai 2:7; Zechariah 1:3). The glossary to the World Council of Churches publication, Confessing the One Faith defines Adonai Sabaoth as "God continues to uphold with God's powers 'energies' all creation" (p. 112) and goes on to clarify that the term should not "be associated with the notion of domination."  That said, some of the Hebrew terms standing behind Pantokrator do in fact refer to God as the Lord of victorious armies and one who is always ready to do battel.  The term Sabaoth often translated "Hosts" refers to multitudes and is especially used of armies but also used in reference to angels and celestial beings and of the multitude of people themselves.  According Martin Rose, Adonai Sebaoth is "the Power to recruit into service." Rose, Martin. "Names of God in the OT." Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. 4, p. 1008).  2. New Testament.  It means, "Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God (BAGD). In the New Testament, the Title is used by Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:18.  and outside of that one reference, it is used nine times in the book of Revelation (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6; 19:15; 21:22) and almost always as a modifier for God (Theos). 3. Ante-Nicene.  In the writings of Clement, Bishop of Rome, Pantokrator is the one who gives and takes away suffering (1 Clement 56:6) Pantokrator surfaces in the Eucharistic prayer of the Didache, "You, Almighty Master, created all things for your name's sake, and gave food and drink to people to enjoy, that they might give you thanks, but to use you have graciously given spiritual food and drink."  4.  Ecumenical Creeds.  The Greek version of Nicene Creed use Pantokrator as descriptor of the first person of the Trinity.  In a similar location in the Apostles Creed, the Latin version uses omnipotem (omnipotent, all powerful). 4.  Eastern Orthodox.  By at least the sixth century Pantokrator is used within Eastern Orthodox Iconography as a Title for Jesus Christ.  The Pantockrator icon usually depicts Jesus holding up his right hand in blessing and with his left hand holding a copy of the Gospels.  