creation ex nihilo

Creation ex nihilo is a religious doctrine asserting that the universe was created by God out of nothing, rather than from pre-existing matter. This concept is central to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.12

Unlike some creation myths that describe the world evolving from primordial matter like water or chaos, the ex nihilo doctrine emphasizes the absolute dependence of the universe on a divine creator. This means the universe has no independent existence and is entirely contingent on God's creative power.13

This idea highlights the distinctness and transcendence of the creator from the created world. It also implies that the universe's ultimate purpose and destiny are determined by the deity, not by any inherent qualities of primordial matter. The concept of creation ex nihilo underscores the value of the material world as a free expression of God's creative love.231