Something From Nothing

[Contemplator]

Dale,

I can’t help but notice the paradox in the verses you have chosen to refute my point:

@Dale

@Contemplator

“ex nihilo” – the doctrine of “out of nothing” just that - a doctrine formulated by early theologians? Where do the writings in the Bible actually say that this universe and form of existence we know was created “out of nothing” or that "nothing (material) existed before it? (whatever “before” means here )

You replied:
Early theologians didn’t just make it up however.
 

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.
Hebrews 11:3

…and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
Hebrews 1:3

Those echoing this nicely:

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Psalm 33:6

Such anthropomorphic language must of course be metaphorical - but what it describes is surely not easily defined. Since such verses have had such influence, let’s think about the metaphors more closely: Is breath immaterial? What is a word without a means of transmission and a receiver?

Paul did not dispute the poet who expressed that “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)

I am NOT saying that some form of matter or energy existed apart from God, just that losing one’s faith based on a perceived contradiction between a scientific understanding of the big bang and scripture is totally unnecessary and would be a pretty sad thing.

In fact materiality itself seems to me intrinsically linked with the Person of Christ, who is Himself the Word, “through whom all things were made”, while uncreated, he became incarnate, and after death, resurrected with a glorified body.

There are many puzzling things difficult to grasp or define in Christianity - a fact the Eastern Orthodox churches have long recognised. We should instead focus on the much more readily accessible life and teachings of Jesus.