1.1 Catholic beliefs and teachings on creation

Question 1

Catholic beliefs on origins of the universe (AB)

Answer 1

Answer it
God created ex nihilo since He is:
- Transcendant (out of space and time) so He is not limited.
- Omnipotent (all powerful) so can create out of nothing.
- Eternal (everlasting) so existed before everything else.

Back it up
- “God alone created the universe, freely, directly and without any help.” - CCC.
- “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth” - Genesis
- St Augustine Confessions XII, 7 (God is eternal, transcendant, creator and omnipotent)

Question 2

St Augustine’s explanation of the origins the universe (Confessions XII,7).

Answer 2

God is eternal - “You were, and besides you nothing was” - existed before everything.
God is transcendant - “in the Beginning… created this thing out of nothing.” - existed out of space and time.
God is creator - “You created Heaven and Earth.”
God is omnipotent - “there is nothing that you cannot do.” - able to create something out of nothing.
God is omnibenevolent - “You are good and all you make must be good.” - loves creation into being.