Tertullian on creation from Pre-Existant matter

 Tertullian on creation from Pre-Existant matter

Emerging around the second century, Tertullian (160-225AD) indeed appears as one of the most influential Christian theological writers of his days. Tertullian hails from the church category of the Roman Catholic and, in a more excellent way, influenced western philosophy to be what it is today. As an ecclesial writer, his work was the majority based on creation from pre-existent matter. As a son of a centurian, it is believed that Tertullian had garnered quality education and was known by many as a man who had great moral earnestness. That aside, his work on creation from pre-existent matter was highly controversial because of the nature they addressed the nature of creation. The central ideas of his work included creation from nothing, an argument that God has always been good, and an illustration of why God is lord.

Firstly, Tertullian argued that the universe was created out of nothing. Biblically supported in (Gen 1:1) that “in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” In a sense, it was out of nothing that God called the universe into being. God commanded everything to exist and did not form them out of a matter that was already in place. (Rev 4:11) ”  all things exist because you created what you pleased.”.

Furthermore, Tertullian also argued that God has always been good. To support this, he says that because he is right, nothing evil can come from him because that would not be true with his nature. According to him, the concept of sin exists in nature and out of the will. He adds God has always been God because that is divine and only became lord because that points out to the direction of ower, something to be lord over. God is a unique way excised his power when things have come into existence neh 9;6 ” you alone are the lord, you made everything in the world.”

In conclusion, Tertullian indeed captures ideas that pose a threat to Christian faith because not many understand the concept, while it is right for most of us that God is the creator, the question that lingered was from what did God create? Tertullian’s argument convinces remarkably.

2. Augustino of hippo on the relationship between God and Evil

Hailing from the church doctrine of Roman Catholic Augustine of hippo ideas of the trinity is inarguably a masterpiece on its own. Known by many as a doctor of a church, his writings influenced the development of the western church as well as the philosophy of western Christianity. Augustine’s main themes capture an exciting basis. His ideas have had a broader influence on how people view the concept of God and the evil, and he also strives to maintain the integrity of God.

Firstly, Augustine argues on the origin of evil. People have always questioned the root of evil, and he intelligently answers the question. The theologian proposes that evil could not have existed within God. Thus, it is not a product of God’s creation. With this argument, Augustine is shying away from philosophical thinkers such as Manicheism that viewed God in a dualistic way. According to him the integrity of God must be maintained because he is Good

Furthermore, Augustine’s ideas lead to thinking that since every Good thing comes from him like the love, he is, therefore, incapable of creating evil. He continues to observe that God, together with Jesus Christ, is always stretching out there hand to reach the fallen world who are covered in wretchedness. Also, he continues to create a syllogism, which leads us to know that God could not have created evil because it is not a thing but rather a defective movement. Moreover, he invites us to categorize evil in its rightful place as something placed within our will. The only way Humans can avoid evil is to refuse to do its will. Indeed there is no such thing as evil in the world he observes; one can only turn from the Good.

In conclusion, Augustine’s solution has not been a solution to many because he confesses not to be sure himself of his concept. Nevertheless, his work captures ideas that Christian has grappled within a fallen world. His work inarguably gives a ray of hope on the omnipresence of God, who is ever stretching out his hands together with Jesus to receive the wretched people.

3. Anselm of Canterbury on the compassion of God

Also known as Anselm of Aosta, Anselm emerged as one of the best theologians of the 11^th century and was considered a doctor of magnitude. Anselm became an outstanding catholic theologian because of his Christian philosophy that influenced the philosophy of the days. His ideas on the compassion of God is one that has perturbed both ancient and contemporary Christians because of the nature of the fallen world. People have been wondering if God is compassionate about the things that are happening. His main ideas capture the compassionate nature of God and how God expresses his compassion towards humanity.

To understand Anselm’s idea of compassion, we need to realize that compassion means a show of concern towards others. Anselm rhetorically inquires He questions, ” how is it that God is compassion, yet he doesn’t receive misery in his heart.” His answer to this invites us to the knowledge that God is inherently Good. Through this, we are made to understand that compassion flows out of God like a river because it is his nature

Anselm also argues why God is compassionate and gives the following reasons, one; he is humane because it is his nature; he loves himself and not a representation. He also illustrates that God expresses his love and compassion when he saves you from the misery. Indeed compassion is what we see when we understand God. Further, he argues that God is only compassion in terms of our experience and that it would be undignified to think that God suffers in the plight of human beings.

Inclusion, Anselm states very clearly to a question that Christians grapple with that how can God have compassion yet not feel the despair himself. Indeed he says that God responds positively to suffering  because he is love and that despite the lack of capacity to share and be sympathetic he nevertheless react positively to the pain he knows the suffering of his people and portrays that grace psalms 34 18-19

4. Jurgen Moltmann on the plight of God
   

The concept of suffering has always been problematic to Christians theology because not many people understand the tenets quite well. Jurgen Moltmann hails from the church doctrinal of protestant. his major ideas focus on the principle of the cross, thoughts of God, and how the foundation of trinity helps understand the concept of suffering God.

Firstly, he notes that God does not suffer like humans. Moltmann argues that even though God does not experience as a human, he is open to the suffering but only because of the wills and out of true love. One John 4;16 god is love. Further, his argument also helps understand the concept of the suffering God and notes that both father and son’s experiences are suffering in the sense that God is separated from the son. In contrast, Jesus is separated from the father, yet in a unique way, they are united most intimately in that abandonment. In a particular way, according to the foundation of the trinity,both the father and son are just one substance.

Secondly, Jurgen molten amplifies the concept of the cross by stating that it is the testimony of the cross. We must appreciate that God is in the cross inform of Jesus and thus a distinguishing mark from other doctrines. John 3;16 states that for God so loved the world that he fave his only son, whoever believes in him should not perish. Paul echoes the love of God Romans 8;32, “God did not spare his Son, but gave it all.” It is impotent to understand this in the context of Trinity, that it is not like God forced his son, but rather, Jesus gave himself up, and so the will of the father and son are the same.

Inclusion, his ideas are based on the fact that love indisputably implies suffering, and for God to be said to love, then he must have suffered.

5. Response to a thread; Tertullian on creation from Pre-Existant matter

 I must, in a particular way, states that Tertullian topics on the pre-existent matter are one that had been profoundly intriguing. Thus writers surely had a lot of content and brains to write. His ideas cover issues that not many theologians world dare says due to their sensitive nature.

I love the way his theory further indicates that God created out of nothing. As a Christian, I find his theological views in line with mine, and indeed they are issues I resonate with biblically. From genesis to revelation, his ideas are virtually everywhere because we can witness biblical prophets and kings praising the nature of God and his omnipotence.  For example, Psalms 33;6 gives credit as it states, ” by the work of his hands, everything was created.”

Furthermore, I sensed that Tertullian also sheds light on the definition of lord and God and gives the difference, something not many of us is aware of. He states that God refers to the divine nature while lord refers to the power exposed to the creation for example he is is the lord of creation as states by neh 9;6

Bibliography

McGrath, Alister E. The Christian Theology Reader. John Wiley & Sons, 25th Anniversary Fifth Edition, (2016): 1-585.