Creation ex nihilo refers to the theological doctrine that God created the universe out of nothing. The Latin phrase “ex nihilo” means “out of nothing”. This doctrine is foundational to much of Christian theology and affirms that God uniquely brought forth all of existence, material and spiritual, without using any pre-existing materials or relying on any other beings. Several key biblical passages point to this understanding of creation.
Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The Hebrew word for “create” here is “bara”, which implies creation out of nothing. The verse suggests that before God’s creative act, nothing existed except God Himself. John 1:3 also affirms this by stating that “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” God created everything through Christ, His eternal Word. There was no “anything” before creation for God to work with.
Hebrews 11:3 further clarifies that “the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” What we see around us today was not made from visible, pre-existing materials. Rather, God spoke creation into being ex nihilo. Colossians 1:16 also points to Christ being the one through whom “all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible”. The completeness of this statement implies creation out of nothing.
Several early church fathers such as Theophilus of Antioch, Irenaeus, and Tertullian affirmed creation ex nihilo based on these and other biblical texts. The Fourth Lateran Council of 1215 officially declared creation ex nihilo to be church doctrine. Thomas Aquinas provided philosophical arguments supporting this view. The doctrine is now a core tenet of orthodox Christian belief about origins.
Creation ex nihilo underscores several key theological truths. First, it highlights God’s omnipotence. He needed no pre-existing materials to create the cosmos. This points to His almighty power. Second, it suggests that only God is eternal. All other reality depends on Him for its existence. Third, it implies that creation is wholly distinct from the Creator. There is no blurring of the distinction between the Creator and the created order. Fourth, it provides a foundation for the goodness of creation. Since God alone brought it into being, it must originally have been “very good” as Genesis 1 affirms.
Critics have argued that something cannot come from nothing. However, Christian theology makes room for God’s creative power transcending this limitation. God’s Word alone was sufficient to call the universe into being. Other objections deal with perceived conflicts between creation ex nihilo and modern science. However, these fail to recognize that the doctrine speaks to the metaphysical origins of matter and energy, not their physical development over time. Science deals with secondary and proximate causes within the created order, not ultimate origins.
In summary, the doctrine of creation ex nihilo teaches that God alone, through His Word, brought forth the entire cosmos out of nothing. This core tenet of Christian theology upholds God’s omnipotence, eternality, and distinction from creation. It also supports the original goodness and dependance of the creation. No pre-existing materials were required for God to create the universe we inhabit. His divine power and authority were sufficient.
Key Biblical Support for Creation Ex Nihilo
Several key biblical texts directly support or imply the doctrine of creation out of nothing:
- Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The Hebrew word for “create” (bara) implies creation from nothing.
- John 1:3 – “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Affirms God creating everything through Christ without anything existing prior.
- Hebrews 11:3 – “The universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Created order did not come from visible, pre-existing matter.
- Colossians 1:16 – “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.” The completeness of this statement implies ex nihilo creation.
- Revelation 4:11 – “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” God’s will alone brought all things into existence.
These and other verses emphasize God’s exclusive role in bringing forth all of creation through His divine Word and power alone, not from any previously existing materials. This biblical evidence grounds the doctrine of creation out of nothing.
Historical Development of the Doctrine
The doctrine of creation ex nihilo developed over time in church history:
- 2nd century – Early church fathers like Justin Martyr, Tatian, and Theophilus of Antioch advocated creation from nothing based on Genesis 1:1 and other texts.
- 3rd century – Irenaeus and Tertullian affirmed creation ex nihilo against Gnostic views of pre-existing matter.
- 4th century – Athanasius and Augustine developed the doctrine more fully in their writings.
- 1215 – The Fourth Lateran Council officially declared ex nihilo to be church doctrine.
- 13th century – Thomas Aquinas provided philosophical arguments supporting creation from nothing.
From Scripture seeds to mature doctrine, the church progressively articulated over many centuries the view that God alone brought forth the entirety of creation without anything existing prior. This became enshrined as orthodox Christian teaching.
Theological and Philosophical Implications
Some key implications of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo include:
- God’s Omnipotence – Creation from nothing displays God’s immeasurable power. He needed no pre-existing matter to create the cosmos.
- God’s Eternality – God alone is eternal and uncreated. All other reality depends on Him for its existence.
- Distinction from Creation – Creation is wholly dependent on God but also separate from Him. Clear differentiation exists between Creator and creation.
- Goodness of Creation – Since God directly created the material world, it must have originally been “very good” as Scripture says.
- Against Dualism – No pre-existing matter implies creation is not the result of an eternal dualistic struggle between spirit and matter.
These and other implications arise from understanding God’s origins of the universe as creation from nothing. It establishes foundational Christian teaching on God, creation, and their relationship.
Objections and Counterarguments
Some common objections to creation ex nihilo include:
- “Nothing comes from nothing” – Critics argue creation from nothing defies logic and experience. However, Christian teaching upholds God’s omnipotence to transcend this limitation.
- “Matter is eternal” – Some claim matter must be eternal. However, this erroneously imposes limitations on an all-powerful God.
- “It contradicts science” – Critics argue creation from nothing conflicts with the Big Bang and cosmic evolution. However, this fails to distinguish origins of matter/energy from their development over time.
Christian apologists have offered robust counterarguments to these and other objections. Affirming God’s omnipotent, eternal nature addresses objections based on materialist assumptions. The doctrine refers to metaphysical origins rather than physical processes, avoiding conflict with science.
The Significance of Understanding Creation Ex Nihilo
Understanding the doctrine of creation out of nothing is significant for several reasons:
- It anchors Christian theology in God’s omnipotence and sovereignty over all creation.
- It establishes creation’s dependance on and distinction from the Creator.
- It protects against dualism, pantheism, and other unorthodox views.
- It highlights the supernatural origins of the natural world.
- It supports trust in the goodness of the material order God established.
- It provides a metaphysical foundation for the Christian worldview.
This doctrine enriches Christian theology in many ways when properly understood. It also equips believers to counter objections and engage thoughtfully with non-Christian perspectives on cosmic origins.
Practical Applications for Christian Living
Some practical applications of the ex nihilo creation doctrine include:
- Worshipping God for His awe-inspiring power and creativity in originating the universe.
- Developing absolute trust in God’s sovereignty, providence and care over all creation.
- Approaching nature with wonder, seeing it as the handiwork of a loving Creator.
- Letting go of material things which have their temporary source in God’s spoken Word.
- Being good stewards of resources, time and abilities which originate from God’s gracious creative act.
- Respecting human life as having divinely created worth and dignity.
Creation ex nihilo provides a framework for treasuring all God has brought into existence and living accordingly as faithful stewards.
Conclusion
The theological doctrine of creation ex nihilo teaches that God created the universe and all it contains out of nothing, through His divine power and Word. Rooted in Scripture and developed over church history, it affirms God alone as the eternal source of all finite reality. This doctrine upholds God’s omnipotence, the goodness yet distinctness of creation, and other key Christian beliefs. Christians can be enriched by studying and applying this teaching, marveling in the God “who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17).