Divine action in the flesh: A cognitive linguistic evaluation of Pannenberg’s theology

Abstract This paper aims to examine Wolfhart Pannenberg’s theology of divine action using the conceptual framework of cognitive linguistics. Central to this exploration is Pannenberg’s use of the scientific concept of force field in an analogical/metaphorical way, enabling him to present a trinitarian-pneumatological understanding of divine action through divine omniscience and omnipresence. This paper argues that, despite justified criticisms of Pannenberg’s reliance on Faraday’s outdated concept of a universal force field, recent developments in cognitive linguistics affirm the legitimacy of Pannenberg’s panentheistic metaphorical approach to the theology of divine action while calling for revisions.