Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 - Shedd - XXXI - Chapter 7 Creation commenced

Required reading

Dogmatic Theology Vol 1 by William G.T. Shedd (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 7 Creation by reading up to the paragraph commencing, 'Between the single comprehensive act of the creation of the angels and of chaotic matter...' (page 474 in my edition).

My summary

This week we begin Shedd's chapter on creation.

We learn what it means that God created the universe out of nothing, ex nihilo.  

Shedd shows that other philosophical theories of creation fall short of this truth, and at best descend into pantheism.

Whereas creation out of nothing shows:

(i) creation had a beginning;

(ii) creation is optional, not necessary, for God;

(iii) creation originates another new substance.

Shedd finishes by looking at verses 1 and 2 of Genesis chapter 1 and the description of the creation of heaven and earth.

What grabbed me

I liked the emphasis that the conception of creation from nothing is purely intellectual:  

'The conception of creation from nothing is purely intellectual, like that of a mathematical point, line, or surface. These latter cannot be explained or even illustrated by sensuous images, and are held as valid conceptions by a purely rational act of the mind unassisted by sensation. The atheistic mathematician who denies the being of God and creation ex nihilo, because he cannot image them, should upon the same principle deny the validity of the mathematical conceptions of a point, line, and surface. Owing to man's strong propensity to image his knowledge, and explain conceptions by a sensuous method, he attempts to account for the universe by postulating an eternal substance of some ethereal kind, out of which it is made.'

Once we understand that creation ex nihilo is an intellectual matter, we can accept it far more easily.

Next week's reading

Continue Chapter 7 Creation by reading up to the paragraph commencing, 'The first theory antagonistic to creation ex nihilo is that of the eternity of matter' (page 487 in my edition).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.