Did God Create Our Universe from Nothing? No
Carefully reading the Bible reveals God did not create Our Universe from nothing. God created our observable Universe from things we do not see. Creating Our Universe from things we do not see differs greatly from creation from nothing.
Hebrews 11:3 (ESV): 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.
Historical Theological Views:
If you ask many Christians today, several will share a contrary inaccurate theological viewpoint asserting God created Our Universe from nothing, as stated by the thoughtful Westminster Short Catechism.
“Quest. 9. What is the work of creation? Ans. 9. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.(1) (1) Gen. 1; Heb. 11:3.” Reference: http://www.westminsterconfession.org/confessional-standards/the-westminster-shorter-catechism.php
It’s reasonable to infer that if our Westminster Catechism human authors were still living today with sufficient time & energy to research this finer subtle point more closely, that they’d graciously agree to reconsider & update the Westminster Catechism accordingly. As these authors passed away already, how do useful references like this that people study get updates? As Commentary?
Earlier Technology Era:
Prior to modern technology showcasing words creating worlds via programming languages on physical hardware platforms, it is reasonable to infer creating via words appeared to many like God was speaking our world into existence from nothing and/or simply by supernatural divine powers.
New Lens:
Modern technology provides a new lens (way of seeing & perceiving) to view God’s inspired word as divulging Divine hints into Our Universes’ underlying technical & engineering architecture.
Related Reference: “Words Creating Worlds“, https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/words-create-worlds/
Understanding Our Universe architecture this way explains God’s capabilities, miraculous interventions, and how God knows even our unspoken prayers.
Modern Electronic Era:
Today billions of people hold in their hands modern electronic platforms where words are creating worlds (i.e. words of programming languages & tools for example). These modern electronics include mobile smart phones, tablets, and computers, where game designers create game-play worlds & other virtual worlds to explore. Reason infers that God controls much more robust platforms & capabilities at a much grander scale used to create & sustain Our Universe via underlying data & rules. The platform implements many underlying Universe “physical laws” like gravity, conservation of matter & energy, electricity & magnetism, among others. God’s Universe platform enables God to inspect & control underlying “data”, and even “rules”. Just like a “Game World” on modern electronic devices have a beginning, so too “Our Universe” had a beginning. Just like “Game Worlds” can implement different rule sets, likewise God chose which physical rules to put into operation. Scientists attempt to understand these rules more precisely. Our Universe’s beginning did not violate any rules of physics, yet rather implemented physical rules under which Our Universe operates. Likewise, matter being created is similar to specifying certain types of “data” in the underlying Universe Platform.
Related Reference “Bible Genesis Creation Account Universe Tools Paradigm & Comparison & Literal Creator Days” “https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/bible-genesis-creation-account-universe-tools-paradigm-comparison-literal-creator-days/“
Disappearing Matter:
Once you understand God ‘s Universe Platform Paradigm (also known as Universe Tools Paradigm), you’ll understand how God can make people & matter even disappear from Our Universe.
Genesis 5:24 (ESV): Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
The way to think about this is parallel to how “data” can be arbitrarily changed on electronic platforms, since God has access to underlying data, rather than to think about this as constrained by “Conservation of Matter & Energy”.
Reasonableness:
Even reason itself supports our Universe originating from something rather than nothing. If nothing was all there was, then nothing is all there would be forever. Everyone can observe Our Universe exists, so it is reasonable to conclude something existed for all time. Christians assert that God has existed for all time, with the Bible’s documentary evidence showcasing God’s character & existence & interventions.
The Word of God:
Learn more about The Word of God starting in The Bible’s Book of John Chapter 1 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1&version=ESV):
John 1:1-5 (ESV): 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Related Topical References:
1. “Did God Create Everything Out of Nothing?” by Hank Hanegraaff August 7, 2013: http://www.faithgateway.com/did-god-create-everything-out-of-nothing/#.VWetcmDdVFI
2. “When God made something out of nothing” http://creation.com/when-god-made-something-out-of-nothing-day-1
3. “Creation out of nothing” http://www.theopedia.com/Creation_out_of_nothing
4. “DID GOD CREATE THE WORLD FROM NOTHING?” http://booksnthoughts.com/did-god-create-the-world-from-nothing/
5. “Creation out of Nothing” http://www.catholic.com/tracts/creation-out-of-nothing
6. “Ex nihilo”, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_nihilo
7. “Did God Create the Universe? No” Discovering Religion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r2eE5tHRlA
8. “How could God create a material world out of nothing?” http://evidenceforchristianity.org/how-could-god-create-a-material-world-out-of-nothing/
9. “Did God Create Everything Out of Something or Out of Nothing?” http://churchofchristarticles.com/blog/administrator/did-god-create-everything-out-of-something-or-out-of-nothing/
10. “A Universe from Nothing?” by Jake Hebert, Ph.D. http://www.icr.org/article/universe-from-nothing/
Thank you for your great Blog 🙂
> Hebrews 11:3 (ESV): 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. >
We can’t see cells or atoms by our own eyes. Trey Smith made an interesting video (watch 9:15 – 10:40). Of course the whole video is recommended.
God created Earth before Sun, Moon and stars. I think it’s logical to think that the rest of the universe was created around Earth (watch from 2:12:36).
Thank you for posting these videos. The Bible does not require our planet to be in the middle of Our Universe. People can “see”/”observe” microscopic cells directly in Our Universe with instruments. References here to Our Universe being made from the unseen is different from being made from the microscopic, even though observe bigger objects in Universe from smaller objects in Universe.
Thank you for your reply. I guess I understand what you mean. Before there was anything else, there was God.
While yes, ultimately everything is made by God. Yet, with the Universe Tools Paradigm, the concept here is that God is using tools that are similar to electronic platforms, yet on a grandeur divine scale. These platforms allow creation of “what you see on the screen”, by what “you don’t see in the memory & processing areas”. They also enable creation via “words”, which can be spoken, typed, and generated. They implement rules (think underlying the physics rules or game rules), and operate on data (think energy & matter).
Thank you. I’ll process the information 🙂
Blessings
Jyrki
Blessings to you as well. Please check out the related article on Words Creating Worlds for more background information. Also, check out the presentation at Related Reference “Bible Genesis Creation Account Universe Tools Paradigm & Comparison & Literal Creator Days” https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/bible-genesis-creation-account-universe-tools-paradigm-comparison-literal-creator-days/ for more information on the Universe Tools Paradigm.
You have taken the Hebrews passage out of content. When Heb 11:3 speaks what is seen was not made out of things that are visible it means that the visible things we see in creation was not used by God to create. The invisible you are referring to is that of God. The key text in the beginning of that passage is “the universe was created by the word of God”. That should show you that God created all things by His Word and nothing more. He did not need materials to create invisible or not. That would mean these so called invisible material would have been eternal in nature. No logical Christian would buy into that theory. Here are your options:
1.God created creation out of eternal material which does not hold to logic.
2.God created something(creation)out of nothing by the power of His Word which is standard orthodox belief.
3.God did use invisible material but it too was created which you would still have to end up Him created that invisible matter out of nothing.
#2 is the only logical explanation that our finite minds can come up with. #1 is out of the question and #3 doesn’t make sense.
James, first thanks so much for taking time to read the logical analysis. Recognize also presentation available that analyzes Genesis 1 & 2 verse by verse too.
As a logical Christian, goal many billions Christians to understand deep truths shared here, even if still need additional explanations still need to make this as understandable as common sense.
As a programmer & electronics admirer who appreciates today’s mediums used to create “virtual worlds” within “game platforms” and “digital platforms”, find this knowledge useful to understanding God’s Creation which becomes clearer & clearer as our technology advances.
In studying modern world creating technology, gain further insights into how God spoke (i.e. programmed) our world into existence.
The matter in our world did not exist before God Created our world. The matter in our world governed by the God’s words (i.e. programmed rules).
Physics itself trying to undercover more fundamental forces to understand at least in part rules God put into place to govern our Universe.
Hope in future to share more to help make this more intuitive & understandable you & billions+ more people before it recognized when judgement day happens & every knee bows.
If my explanations too insufficient to make these subtle distinction here clear, please don’t worry, as fundamentally both us agree God Created Our Universe.
Do enjoy your journey of faith in Jesus, The Christ, The Son of God, the image of the God, the Perfecter of Our Christian Faith.
The concept of “nothing” is an impossible one, since any attempt to quantify and define it requires “something”. Scripture does not anywhere say that God created something from nothing. That is an idea typical of our natural inclination to decide for ourselves how things work.
Hebrews 11:3 says “made from what is not visible”.
Compounds, molecules, atoms, sub atomic particles and all forms of energy are in fact visible, if not directly then indirectly via our means to measure them, quantify them, and give them identity. So these are not the things referred to in Hebrews 11:3.
What then what is not visible that in fact can be fundamental to the things which are made? How do we create something that never before existed? It begins with an idea. Ideas (consciousness) are not visible, until we find a way to manipulate the physical world to create that idea into a thing that is made.
Every work of man that involves creating something that did not exist before comes from our consciousness.
This makes sense since we know from Genesis 1:26 God made us in His image. Since that image is not the physical form we have, it has to be in the only other form we have, Consciousnesses.
There is even scientific validation of this in Quantum Science, having to do with properties associated with matter not existing and physically real, until the moment of observation. This has been demonstrated as valid through experimentation. (https://www.sciencealert.com/reality-doesn-t-exist-until-we-measure-it-quantum-experiment-confirms) It is also a whole other discussion. Just consider this, since there is no physical reality until it is perceived, and only in the moment of perception, and since we, as physical beings are made of that matter, Who “observes” us into this physical reality?
Again, Genesis, 1:1 (KJV), In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. and everything therein. Jeremiah 33:25 confirms that the Laws of Nature, the rules and processes that govern physical reality are “ordained” by God. Lots more scriptures as well, but the issue here was God making things from nothing.
No He makes things from His consciousness, just as He gave us an ability to do but on a strictly physical limited platform.
Sooner or later science will finally have to conclude this as well. Some already have, but without specific reference to God, Yahweh, the Creator of all that is.
OK, so this is my opinion. Test it against scripture and correct me where I am wrong. Peace!
Cheers!
Cheers! Sounds like there’s a need to explain reality more so quantum phenomena, observations, matter materializing, consciousness & more become more straight forward to comprehend.
Hello Creationary,
Actually it already is straight forward and comprehensible within the limits of what God allows us to comprehend.
It is science that requires the complexity to explain the Laws of Nature that leads to what is incomprehensible by denying what is obvious and simple. Therefore the quest for newer and newer theories that too often require more faith to believe then God’s word. This despite some scientists conclusions that reality demands a far superior intelligence than our own to exist at all.
I’m not suggesting that science is false. On the contrary. If anything at all, science discovers how God ordered this realty to be as it is.
It’s time for science to start accepting this however, as newer realizations force science to confront what is most fundamental to all experience.
Again, some already have but most have not, at least publicly.
Most notably, to me, are statements made by Max Planck and Irwin Schrodinger, both Physicists who contributed significantly to the discovery of Quantum Mechanics.
Per Max Planck
I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness. Max Planck
As quoted in The Observer (25 January 1931)
In 1937 he stated “Both Religion and science require a belief in God. For believers, God is in the beginning, and for physicists He is at the end of all considerations… To the former He is the foundation, to the latter, the crown of the edifice of every generalized world view.”
In 1944 he said “As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.”
Per Irwin Schrodinger
“Consciousness cannot be accounted for in physical terms. For consciousness is absolutely fundamental. It cannot be accounted for in terms of anything else.”
“The task is…not so much to see what no one has yet seen; but to think what nobody has yet thought, about that which everybody sees.”
So, what is the first and most obvious aspect of being? Consciousness, for nothing, not a single thing, real or imagined or illusory can exist without it.
What’s the next most obvious? We, our physical perception of our physical being, and especially that which gives us awareness, our brains, cannot exist before consciousness creates them. If we cannot be conscious until we are consciously created, then Who’s consciousness is fundamental to our own?
This is the real debate. We who believe in Yahweh, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ know by His word and by faith He is the Creator. His is the Consciousness that has always existed, before this Universe and before anything other then Himself. This is not so obvious otherwise everyone would be believers.
Never the less, discoveries not mentioned here and newer discoveries about our reality and nature will lead to newer things that are obvious so that eventually God’s position as the Creator and Who is most fundamental to all that is, was, or can ever be becomes indisputably obvious. Revelations.
Cheers
Actually, more explanation at this point might make this more confusing. If I may suggest an few “exercises”, one at a time, I believe then things will become very clear as well as very obvious.
Of all that exists, physical, non physical. fact, fiction, sub atomic particles/quanta of energy, all matter up to and including the entire universe, whether objectively perceived or subjectively conceived, identify one thing that exists independent of consciousness. Answer this and then we can go to exercise 2.
Cheers
Our Universe created by God “in the beginning”. God existed prior to Our Universe Creation, plus anything else God made prior to Our Universe Creation. As Our Universe did not exist originally, then no particles existed in Our Universe, No Energy Existed in Our Universe, No Consciousness Existed in Our Universe, and No Quantum particles Existed in Our Universe. To learn more, view SlideShare Presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/creationary/bible-genesis-creation-account
Absolutely agree, with on exception. When you say no consciousness existed, certainly you cannot be including God’s Consciousness, correct?
Correct. God Existed from eternity past before Created Our Universe. Answer allows for anything God Created Outside Our Universe before Created Our Universe too.
Do find brief elaboration of God’s involvement on creation & God’s Eternal Existence at https://bibleopia.wordpress.com/2018/06/09/gods-eternal-existence/
Why are my last two posts deleted? When I hit “Post Comment”, each showed up. I even saw them again after closing this site and later reopening it, but then both have been deleted. Any explanations?
Cheers
Likely attempted approved multiple times which caused to get approved-unapproved-approved.
Wow! After my last post about the deletions was posted, all of a sudden the two previous posts showed up “awaiting moderation”. Please feel free to delete this post and the one questioning post deletions, as I cannot,
Thank you
Cheers.
Likely attempted approved multiple times which caused to get approved-unapproved-approved.
There is no doubt any error originated with me! I am technologically “challenged”! My apology. Cheers!