De Moor VIII:5: The Definition of Creation

Athanasius (artist's depiction)

It is defined; etc.[1] A similar definition of Creation, which is then admirably explained, is related in ’t Examen van ’t Ontwerp van Tolerantie, part 9, pages 158-162. Concerning the Creation, ATHANASIUS wrote vigorously, de Incarnatione Verbi Dei, opera, tome I, page 55: Ἡ δὲ ἔνθεος διδασκαλία, καὶ ἡ κατὰ Χριστὸν πίστις—οὔτε—αὐτομάτως, διὰ τὸ μὴ ἀπρονόντα εἶναι, οὔτε ἐκ προϋποκειμένης ὕλης, διὰ τὸ μὴ ἀσθενῆ εἶναι τὸν Θεὸν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐξ οὐκ ὄντων καὶ μηδαμῶς ὑπάρχοντα τὰ ὅλα εἰς τὸ εἶναι πεποιηκέναι τὸν Θεὸν διὰ τοῦ Λόγου οἶδεν· ᾗ φησι διὰ μὲν Μωσέως· ἐν ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸνοὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν, but the inspired teaching and the faith according to Christ is this, that…neither…spontaneously, as if they were not considered beforehand; nor of existing matter, as if God were weak; but out of nothing, and without its having any previous existence, God made the universe to exist through His Word: as He says through Moses, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

[1] Marckius’ Compendium theologiæ Christianæ, chapter VIII, § 5: “It is defined as an External Act of God, whereby, by the command of His will alone, He made the whole World out of Nothing in the beginning of time in the space of six days, for the praise of His glory to be demonstrated in it, and the salvation of the elect.