Biblical Hebrew Forum

[John Ronning <ronning AT ilink.nis.za>]

"Jonathan D. Safren" wrote:

> John Ronning wrote:
>
> >
> > I agree that Genesis 1 does not explictly teach ex nihilo (even if Gen
> > 1:1 is an independent clause, or "title" of the account).  On the other
> > hand, it does not express a creation from eternally pre-existent matter.
>
> Then how do you explain the wording of Gen. 1:2, "And the EARTH (land) was 
> tohu wabohu
> and the spirit of God was hovering over the WATER"?
>

Your point is valid that Gen 1:2 seems to presume pre-existent matter,
but my point is
that this matter is not said to be eternal - was it previously created
or not?  I don't
think Genesis 1 addresses the issue, and I would rather say "Genesis 1
doesn't address the question of ex-nihilo" than "Genesis 1 doesn't teach
creation ex-nihlo."  After all, one could say, "Genesis 1 doesn't say
that God is eternal," but what would be the point?

Yours,

John Ronning