CREATIO EX NIHILO
INTRODUCTION
Man
by nature is characterized by his quest for knowledge; always wanting to know
more and more about his environment. This quest is seen right from the time of
the early Ionian philosophers, who tried to answer the question of the primary
stuff that underlies every other thing. In the medieval period, the question of
creation arose, “If God created ex nihilo, or ex materia or ex deo”. In this
paper, we shall see the different views of some religion on creatio ex nihilo,
and the views of various philosophers in the medieval and contemporary times
concerning creatio. But before that, we shall first of all know what creatio ex
nihilo is, the etymology and definition, coupled with the history.
History
The
doctrine of creatio ex nihilo is formulated “in response to the challenges of
other world views”, mainly Greco-Roman philosophies, specifically the Platonic
view.[1]
This doctrine
of according to May emerged in the latter part of the second century in order
to express and safeguard the omnipotence and freedom of God acting in history.
It came through the controversy of two schools of thought, basically; Gnosticism
(with its emphasis on emanations) and Middle Platonism (with its belief in
eternally pre-existent matter). Before this period, there was no real
discussion about the doctrine of creation[2]
The
Gnostics believed, Platonically, that God made from pre-existent materials but,
in addition to this, that creation was performed not by God Himself, but by an
apprentice, like a demiurge - who made mistakes in their creation, accounting
for the existence of evil.[3]
This was opposed by the
fathers of the church, with reference to the following passages of the
scripture; Genesis 1:1, which is commonly rendered:
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Hebrews 11:3—"By faith we understand
that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not
made out of things that are visible" Revelation 4:11—"For you [God] created
all things, and by your will they existed and were created." [4]
Creatio ex
nihilo according to Ian Barbour, was developed simply to defend God's goodness
and absolute sovereignty over the world against "Gnostic ideas regarding
matter as evil or as the product of an inferior deity.[5]
Though Ian Barbour believe that creatio ex nihilo is not biblical, as it is
clearly seen in genesis, the creation order from chaos.
DEFINITION
Creatio ex nihilo is a Latin phrase; creatio meaning creation and Ex
nihilo
meaning "out of nothing". Creation out of nothing, or Creatio
ex nihilo, is the belief that God created this world out of nothing, ex nihilo."[6] This term is understood in different
context, namely; philosophical and theological context.
In theology, the common phrase creatio ex nihilo ("creation out of nothing"), contrasts
with creatio ex materia (creation
out of some pre-existent, eternal matter) and with creatio ex deo (creation out of the being of God).[7]
Creatio ex nihilo refers to the view
that the universe, the whole of space-time, is created by a free act of God out
of nothing, and not either out of some preexisting material or out of the
divine substance itself.
One
major significance of this is that it asserts that the Earth is not eternal as
“there was a time when it was not [in existence]”.[8] This view was widely, though not
universally, accepted in the early Christian church, and was formally defined
as dogma by the fourth Lateran council in 1215. Creatio ex nihilo is now almost
universally accepted by Jews, Christian, and Muslims.[9]
Jewish Thought
The Jews believe in creatio ex nihilo, this is clearly seen in the teaching of the two great Jewish thinkers who lived during the early years of Christian era; Rabbi Gamaliel and Philo of Alexandria. Gamaliel taught that the unformed space/void, darkness, water, wind, and the deep was created by God and are not preexistent."
The Jews believe in creatio ex nihilo, this is clearly seen in the teaching of the two great Jewish thinkers who lived during the early years of Christian era; Rabbi Gamaliel and Philo of Alexandria. Gamaliel taught that the unformed space/void, darkness, water, wind, and the deep was created by God and are not preexistent."
Philo (20 BC – 50 AD)" stated;
and I quote:
And besides all this, as the sun,
when he arises, discovers hidden things, so also does God, who created all
things, not only bring them all to light,but but he has even created what
before had no existence, not been their only maker, but also their founder.[10]
From the above, we can say that the Jews
believe in creation ex nihilo.
ISLAMIC
THOUGHT
Early Islamic philosophy, as well as key Muslim schools of
thought, have argued a wide array of views, the basis always being that the
creator was an eternal being who was outside of the creation, and was not a
part of creation. Al-Ghazali, a Muslim scholar gave a lot of
quotation in the Quran to support creation out of nothing, this include the
Quran verse; 19:67: "But does man not bear in mind that We have created
him aforetime while at one point they were nothing?"
Hindu
Basically, there are two tradition in Hinduism and there
concept of creation varies. They include the Vishishtadvaita tradition and the
Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta tradition. The Vishishtadvaita tradition believes that
the Universe is a part of God and created from some aspect of His divinity
while the Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta traditions believes that the minute initial
particle (shuddha Maya) has always existed and was never created.[11]
Biblical Ambiguous Concept Of
Creatio Ex Nihilo
The Bible is clear that God is the creator of
this world (Gen 1:1; Job 38:1-42:6 among many others), but the issue of how he created this world is what is
in question. Typically there are two main answers: Either God created this
world from nothing, or he created this world from pre-existing matter.[12]
Justin Martyr
Justin Martyr (103–165), who was Platonist before his
conversion, talks at length about Plato and maintains that Plato borrowed his
ideas on the origins of the cosmos from Moses. Specifically that: God, having altered matter which was
shapeless, made the world. Giving his own account of creation, he
pointed out that according to mosses, in
the beginning God made the heaven and the earth. And the earth was invisible
and unfurnished, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of
God moved over the waters. And God said, Let there be light; and it was so.[13]
With the above, he concluded that by
the word of God the whole universe was made out of this substratum, as
expounded by Moses. And that which the poets call Erebus, we know was
spoken of formerly by Moses.[14]
Moreover, two of Justin's students, Tatian and Theophilus, were early and very explicit supporters of the idea of creatio ex nihilo—a fact which must increase doubt as to the exact nature of Justin's position and the strength with which he held it.[15]
IRENAEUS
Irenaeus (2nd
century AD – c. 202) was a Greek who became bishop of Lyon, in France. In his writing,
Against
Heresies. He clearly taught creatio ex nihilo as a defining principle of Christianity, in contrast
to Gnostic speculation.[16]
He argued not only against the Gnostic teaching of
two Gods, but even more against Greek philosophy which taught that matter had
pre-existed and that God became the divine architect as he ordered this
pre-existent matter. Irenaeus argued that "there was no preexistent
matter; everything required to be created out of nothing"[17]
Irenaeus stated in his rule of truth and I quote;
The rule of truth which we hold , is, that there is
one God Almighty, who made all things byhis word, and fashioned and formed, out
of that which had no existence, all things which exist.[18]
Furthermore,
he stated that that God, according to
His pleasure, in the exercise of His own will and power, formed all things (so
that those things which now are should have an existence) out of what did not
previously exist.
Referring to the Gnostics, said that they [the Gnostics] do not believe
that God (being powerful, and rich in all resources) created matter itself, inasmuch as they know not how much
a spiritual and divine essence can accomplish.[19]
He further stated that things which are impossible for men are possible with
God, for man can only make things out of matter and not out of nothing, but God
who Is superior to man called into
being the substance of His creation, when previously it had no existence.”
(Against Heresies 2.10.2-4)[20]
He stated
that God Himself is uncreated, both without beginning and end, and lacking
nothing. That He is Himself sufficient for Himself; He grants to all others this very thing, existence; but the things
which have been made by Him have received a beginning. But whatever things had a beginning, and are
liable to dissolution, and are subject to and stand in need of Him who made
them. (Against Heresies 3.8.3)[21]
TERTULLIAN
Tertullian
(c. 160 – 225 AD) was a North African from Carthage, the
father of the Latin (Western) Church. Like Irenaeus, Tertullian argued strenuously against various
Gnostic heresies, as well as against the influence of Greek Stoic
philosophy—specifically the Stoic doctrine that God created the world from
co-eternal matter. Against these heresies Tertullian propounded the “rule of
faith,” the true teaching of the Church, that God created “all things,”
including the matter from which they are formed.[22]
He argued that the world depended on God for its
existence. This was in contrast to the Aristotelian view that the world
depended on nothing. [23]
He
believed that there is one only God,
and that He is none other than the Creator of the world, who produced all
things out of nothing through His own Word.[24]
In his work; Against
Hermogenes , he defends creation ex nihilo against Hermogenes’ belief that God created the world
out of eternal (preexisting) matter. He points out that Hermogenes borrowed his
view from Greek Stoic philosophers and that it was heretical because it put
matter on the same level as God Himself.[25]
He further
argues that Genesis 1
teaches that matter is good (not evil) and that Genesis 1:1
specifically teaches that God created matter. In another passage, he argues
that the universe must have a beginning just as it has an ending.[26]
In conclusion,
he said that; Matter has a beginning.
Only God is eternal and uncreated; therefore, matter must have a beginning
(i.e. it must have been created). Matter
is created by God. It is not enough to say that matter is created; God
must be its creator.[27]
HERMOGENES
Hermogenes
introduces matter as having no beginning, and then compares it with God, who
has no beginning. (Prescription
against Heretics, 3)
He stated
that God would not have made any
perishable thing out of what was eternal, that is; out of Matter; ... we
may believe that He has actually
awakened the universe out of nothing, as if it had been steeped in
death, in the sense, of course, of its
previous non-existence for the purpose of its coming into existence. (Against Hermogenes 34)[28]
Therefore,
in as far as it has become evident that
Matter had no prior existence (even from this circumstance, that it is
impossible for it to have had such an existence as is assigned to it), in so
far is it proved that all things were made by God out of nothing. (Against Hermogenes, 45)[29]
ORIGEN
Origen (c. 185–254) was an Egyptian from Alexandria. His
teachings are influenced by Pythagorean and Neoplatonic thought. Unlike other
teachings of origin that has elements of Greek thought, Origen argues from the
point of view that creation ex nihilo
belongs to the “teaching of the apostles.”[30]
He further stated that it is clearly seen in the teaching of
the apostles that:
First, there
is one God, who created and arranged all things, and who, when nothing existed,
called all things into being— God from the first creation and foundation of the
world... (First Principles, Preface 4)[31]
CLEMENT
Clements
statements are quite unclear and ambiguous for one to easily point out his
position on creation ex nihilo. Just like Justine, he believed that the Greeks
stole many of their ideas from Moses and the Hebrew scripture. Specifically, he
described the universe “as deriving its being from him [the Maker] alone and
springing from non-existence” (Miscellaneous
5.14, also known as Stromata).
He also argued that matter could not be its own creator on the basis of the law
of cause and effect (Miscellaneous
8.9).[32]
TATIAN
Tatian (c. 120–180) was, according to May, the "first Christian theologian known to us who expressly advanced the proposition that matter was produced by God".[33]
He stated that matter is not, like God, without
beginning, nor, as having no beginning, is of equal power with God; it is
begotten, and not produced by any other being, but brought into existence by
the Framer of all things alone.” (Address to the
Greeks 5)
He points
this out clearly that that the whole structure of the world, and the whole creation, has been produced from
matter, and the matter itself brought into existence by God; …” (Address to the Greeks 12) [34]
Finally, he
posited that God alone is eternal and uncreated is central to biblical
monotheism; hence matter cannot be eternal (lest it be elevated to the status
of a second god).[35]
THEOPHILUS
Theophilus
of Antioch (died c. 183 - 185) was a contemporary of Tatian, who also studied
under Justin Martyr. Like Tatian, Theophilus commended
Plato's belief that God is uncreated, but disagreed with the notion that matter
existed co-eternally with him, which would make matter equal to him, he asserted that God created all things,
which include matter itself. Matter according to him is not co-eternal with
God:[36]
He believed
that the God is the creator of heaven, earth and the sea. man is His formation
and His image; sun, moon, and stars are His elements, made for signs, and
seasons, and days, and years, that they may serve and be slaves to man; and all
things God has made out of things that were not into things that are, in order
that through His works His greatness may be known and understood.” (Theophilus
of Antioch, To Autolycus 1.4)[37]
He
further stated that God is uncreated, unalterable, so if matter is uncreated,
it also will be unalterable and equal with God; for that which is created is
mutable and alterable, but that which is uncreated is immutable and
unalterable. Human artist according to him, gets material from someone, makes
of it what he pleases. But the power of God is manifested in this, that out of
things that are not He makes whatever He pleases; (To Autolycus, 2, 4)[38]
Theophilus
reached the same conclusion, criticizing Plato for “regarding matter as
uncreated and therefore equal to God”.[39]
ANSELM
Anselm of
Canterbury (1033—1109), gave three different interpretation of the term
“creatio ex nihilo”. He stated;
·
What is said to have been made from nothing has
not been made at all.
·
Something was said to be made from nothing in
this way, that it was made from this very nothing, that is from that which is
not; as if this nothing were something existing, from which something could be
made.
·
When we understand something to be made but that
there is not something from which it has been made.
The first sense, Anselm
says, cannot be properly applied to anything that actually has been made. The
second sense he said is simply false, the third way or sense he took to be the
correct interpretation.
He said
that God derives his existence only from himself, which simply means
that God is not created, nor brought into existence by something else, and that
everything came into being through him (God) who created everything (including
matter) out of nothing.[40]
CONCLUSION
God created this world out of nothing, for if he created it
out of some pre-existing matter, then he is a mere former or arranger, and the
pre-existing matter by implication is eternal like God.
REFERENCE
Andrew
Gregory, “Mythological Accounts of
Creation,” in Ancient Greek Cosmology
(London: Duckworth, 2007),
13-25.
Christian
classics Ethereal library, The First Apology of
Justin, The Martyr. The text, Plea
for a fair hearing. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/richardson/fathers.x.ii.iii.html
Dr. John Millam.
Reasons to believe. Historic age debate,
creation ex nihilo.http://www.reasons.org/articles/historic-age-debate-creation-ex-nihilo-part-3-of-4
Gerhard
May, Creatio Ex Nihilo: The Doctrine of
“Creation out of Nothing” in Early Christian Thought, trans. A. S. Worrall
(London: T&T Clark, 1994), 31-60.
John
D. Zizioulas, “Creation and Salvation,” in Lectures
in Christian Dogmatics (London: T&T Clark, 2008), 88.
Kirby,
peter. Early Jewish writings, Philo of
Alexandria, (On Dreams 1.76).
http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/philo.html
Mark Wauk, meaning in history, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought.
January 13, 2011. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html
McGrath
Alister. “Christian Theology: An
Introduction” Pauline books & Media- Catholic spirituality and
Theology. 1994 37
New advent, Against Heresies (st.
Irenaeus), book 1, chapter 22. Deviations
of heretics from the truth. Translated by Alexander Roberts and Willim
Rambaut.(Against Heresies 1.22.1). http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103122.htm
Paul
Copan, trinity Journal 17.1. Is create ex
nihilo a post-biblical invention? Examination of Gerhard May’s proposal,
(spring 1996): page 77-93. http://earlychurch.org.uk/article_exnihilo_copan.html
Prescription against Heretics, chapter 13, Translated by T. Herbert bindley,
1914.http://www.tertullian.org/articles/bindley_test/bindly_test_07prae.htm
Theopedia,
an encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity. Creation ex nihilo. http://www.theopedia.com/creation-ex-nihilo
WARD,
KEITH, Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. 2003. ”Creatio Ex Nihilo.” Encyclopedia.com (June 2, 2016). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404200120.html
Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_nihilo
. last modified, may 29 2016.
Young,
“Creatio Ex Nihilo”, 142.
Zizioulas,
“Creation and Salvation”, 88-89.
[1]John D. Zizioulas,
“Creation and Salvation,” in Lectures in
Christian Dogmatics (London: T&T Clark, 2008), 88.
[2] Paul Copan, trinity Journal 17.1 Is create ex nihilo a post-biblical
invention? Examination of Gerhard May’s proposal. (spring 1996): page
77-93. http://earlychurch.org.uk/article_exnihilo_copan.html
[3]Gerhard May, Creatio Ex Nihilo: The Doctrine of “Creation
out of Nothing” in Early Christian Thought, trans. A. S. Worrall (London:
T&T Clark, 1994), 31-60.
[4]Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_nihilo
. last modified, may 29 2016.
[5] Paul Copan, trinity Journal 17.1 Is create ex nihilo a post-biblical
invention? Examination of Gerhard May’s proposal. (spring 1996): page
77-93. http://earlychurch.org.uk/article_exnihilo_copan.html
[6]Andrew Gregory, “Mythological Accounts of Creation,” in Ancient Greek Cosmology (London:
Duckworth, 2007), 13-25.
[7] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_nihilo
. last modified, may 29 2016.
[8]Zizioulas, “Creation and
Salvation”, 88-89.
[9] WARD, KEITH, Encyclopedia of Science and
Religion.”Creatio Ex Nihilo.” 2003. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404200120.html,
Encyclopedia.com (June 2, 2016).
[10] Kirby, peter. Early Jewish writings,
philo of Alexandria, (On Dreams
1.76).
http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/philo.html
[11] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_nihilo
. last modified, may 29 2016.
[12]Theopedia,
an encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity. Creation
ex nihilo. http://www.theopedia.com/creation-ex-nihilo
[13] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[14]Christian
classics Ethereal library, the first apology of
Justin,the martyr chapter 59. The
text, Plea for a fair hearing. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/richardson/fathers.x.ii.iii.html
[15] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[16] Dr. John Millam. Reasons to believe.
Historic age debate, creation ex nihilo.http://www.reasons.org/articles/historic-age-debate-creation-ex-nihilo-part-3-of-4
[17]Ibid, 38. McGrath Alister. “Christian Theology: An Introduction” Pauline books & Media-
Catholic spirituality and Theology. 1994 37
[18] New advent, against Heresies (st. Irenaeus), book 1, chapter
22. Deviations of heretics from the truth. Translated by Alexander Roberts and
Willim Rambaut.(Against Heresies
1.22.1). http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103122.htm
[19] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[22] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[23] Theopedia, an encyclopedia of Biblical
Christianity. Creation ex nihilo. http://www.theopedia.com/creation-ex-nihilo
[24]Prescription
against Heretics,
chapter 13, Translated by T.
Herbert bindley, 1914.
http://www.tertullian.org/articles/bindley_test/bindly_test_07prae.htm
[25] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[26] Dr. John Millam. Reasons to believe.
Historic age debate, creation ex nihilo.http://www.reasons.org/articles/historic-age-debate-creation-ex-nihilo-part-3-of-4
[28] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[32] Dr. John Millam. Reasons to believe.
Historic age debate, creation ex nihilo.http://www.reasons.org/articles/historic-age-debate-creation-ex-nihilo-part-2-of-4
[33] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[34] Dr. John Millam. Reasons to believe.
Historic age debate, creation ex nihilo.http://www.reasons.org/articles/historic-age-debate-creation-ex-nihilo-part-2-of-4
[36] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[37] Dr. John Millam. Reasons to believe.
Historic age debate, creation ex nihilo.http://www.reasons.org/articles/historic-age-debate-creation-ex-nihilo-part-2-of-4
[38] Mark
Wauk, Meaning in History, Creation Ex Nihilo in early Christian thought. http://meaninginhistory.blogspot.com.ng/2011/01/creation-ex-nihilo-in-early-christian.html January 13, 2011.
[39]Young, “Creatio Ex
Nihilo”, 142.
[40] Unknown source
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