Creation out of nothing?

[RCWarrior821]

I’ve been told by numerous people that the idea of creation out of nothing was not in the original interpretation of genesis by the Jews and that the idea did not arise until around the 400’s by St. Augustine. The catholic answers website refutes this well by giving quotes from church fathers that preceded St Augustine but the don’t have any answers for the accusation that it is only a Christian idea. If it is only a Christian idea why? and how do i refute Jewish peers that claim that it wasn’t originally in the text?

 

[Contarini]

I’ve been told by numerous people that the idea of creation out of nothing was not in the original interpretation of genesis by the Jews and that the idea did not arise until around the 400’s by St. Augustine. The catholic answers website refutes this well by giving quotes from church fathers that preceded St Augustine but the don’t have any answers for the accusation that it is only a Christian idea. If it is only a Christian idea why? and how do i refute Jewish peers that claim that it wasn’t originally in the text?

It’s not only a Christian idea. It’s definitely in Jewish tradition as well. I don’t think it’s clearly taught in the OT, though. It’s an extrapolation based on philosophical reflection on the text.

Edwin

 

[Dolphincrc]

All you have to do is read the very first line of the Hebrew Scriptures:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…” Genesis 1:1

We take these words for granted, but ancient Greeks to modern scientists always thought the universe had no beginning and no end. The “Big Bang” was actually a derogatory name given to that scientific theory that the universe had a beginning. If something had a beginning, someone or something must have caused to begin, matter cannot create or “begin” by itself.

I’m not a theologian or a scientist, so dont know how to explain it any better!

 

[Le_Chiot_Noir]

All you have to do is read the very first line of the Hebrew Scriptures:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…” Genesis 1:1

We take these words for granted, but ancient Greeks to modern scientists always thought the universe had no beginning and no end. The “Big Bang” was actually a derogatory name given to that scientific theory that the universe had a beginning. If something had a beginning, someone or something must have caused to begin, matter cannot create or “begin” by itself.

I’m not a theologian or a scientist, so dont know how to explain it any better!

I think you summed it up very nicely.

 

[Verbum]

Hi RC,

Creation out of nothing is not explicit in Genesis, although philosophical reasoning could deduce it from the whole context. It is however explicit in 2 Macchabees 28 :

… look at heaven and earth and see all that is in them and know that God made them out of nothing and that the race of men is made the same way.

Verbum

 

[Dolphincrc]

Hi RC,

Creation out of nothing is not explicit in Genesis, although philosophical reasoning could deduce it from the whole context. It is however explicit in 2 Macchabees 28 :

Verbum

Funny, I love that story but hadn’t really thought about that specific quote… BTW it’s 2 Mc 7:28- you forgot the chapter.

Unfortunately 1 and 2 Maccabees are not in the Hebrew or Protestant canon, but in the apocrypha, so the original poster may not be able to use on his “Jewish peers”. I imagine they could be used anyway just not with the same authority.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Dolphin,

Thanks for pointing out the chapter.

The claim was that this was a Christian invention dating from the 400’s. Whether you accept Macchabees as inspired or not, it does show that the idea came from the Jews hundreds of years before.

Verbum