Anthony’s Cell
YouTube
Creation Out of Nothing: The Orthodox Study Bible on Genesis and St. Basil
4:49
What the video says
The video presents an article from the Orthodox Study Bible on creation. It opens with the Nicene Creed's affirmation that the one true God is the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. Saint Basil the Great is quoted on Moses engraving the awesome name of God in our hearts with the words 'In the beginning God created.' God was not forced to create but freely chose to do so out of goodness and loving-kindness, creating the universe out of nothing.
The video states the roles of Christ the Word and the Holy Spirit in creation, and that the Orthodox Church has not dogmatized any particular view on evolution or the scientific accuracy of Genesis. What is dogmatically proclaimed is that the triune God created everything and that man alone is made in the image and likeness of God.
Key moments
- The Nicene Creed affirms the one true God as the source of everything that exists, both physical and spiritual, animate and inanimate.
- Saint Basil the Great says Moses engraved the awesome name of God in our hearts as a seal and safeguard: 'In the beginning God created.'
- God was not forced to create the universe; in his goodness and loving-kindness he freely chose to create out of nothing, in contrast to the creation myths of surrounding ancient cultures.
- John's Gospel states that all things were made through the Word, and Genesis 1:2, Psalm 103:30, and Psalm 32:6 show the Holy Spirit's role in creation.
- The Orthodox Church has not dogmatized any particular view on the scientific accuracy of Genesis or evolution; what is proclaimed is that the triune God created everything and man alone is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27).
- The Church Fathers affirm each species came into existence instantaneously at God's command with its seed within itself; development of life was not by accident but the work of supreme intelligence and wisdom.
- Saint Basil the Great, discussing scientific theories of his day, says to keep admiration for the source of such perfect order, the wisdom of God, and to recognize that all that exists is sustained by the creator's power.
- The repeated 'And God saw that it was good' in Genesis 1 shows the fundamental goodness of matter and the created order, the basis for a sacramental worldview, and creation's beauty and vastness are intended to draw mankind to worship the creator.
An audio reading from Anthony's Cell presents the article on Creation from the Orthodox Study Bible, drawing on Scripture and St. Basil the Great. The reading opens with the Nicene Creed's confession that the one true God is the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. St. Basil is quoted on Moses engraving the awesome name of God in our hearts as a seal and safeguard with the words 'In the beginning God created.' God was not forced to create; in his goodness and loving-kindness he freely chose to create the universe out of nothing, in contrast to the creation myths of surrounding ancient cultures.
The reading sets out the roles of Christ the Word, through whom all things were made according to John's Gospel, and of the Holy Spirit, shown in Genesis 1:2, Psalm 103:30, and Psalm 32:6. On the question of science, the reading states that the Orthodox Church has not dogmatized any particular view on the scientific accuracy of Genesis or on evolution.
What is dogmatically proclaimed is that the triune God created everything and that man alone is made in the image and likeness of God, citing Genesis 1:26-27. The Church Fathers affirm that each species came into existence instantaneously at God's command with its seed within itself, and that the development of life was not accident but the work of supreme intelligence and wisdom.
St. Basil, discussing the scientific theories of his day, counsels keeping admiration for the wisdom of God, the source of such perfect order, and recognizing that all that exists is sustained by the creator's power. The reading closes on the repeated 'And God saw that it was good' in Genesis 1, which shows the fundamental goodness of matter and the created order, the basis for a sacramental worldview, with creation's beauty and vastness intended to draw mankind to worship the creator.
Main points
- The Nicene Creed affirms God as maker of all things visible and invisible; St. Basil quotes 'In the beginning God created' as a seal engraving God's name on our hearts.
- God freely chose to create out of nothing in goodness and loving-kindness, unlike the creation myths of ancient cultures.
- John's Gospel names the Word through whom all things were made; Genesis 1:2, Psalm 103:30, and Psalm 32:6 show the Holy Spirit's role in creation.
- The Church has not dogmatized a view on Genesis's scientific accuracy or evolution; it proclaims the triune God created all and man alone bears God's image (Genesis 1:26-27).
- The Fathers say each species appeared at God's command with its seed within itself, and 'And God saw that it was good' grounds the goodness of matter and a sacramental worldview.