In this proposed topic I would like to discuss existence.
From dictionary.com:
quote:
—noun
1. the state or fact of existing; being.
Source
From the free dicgtionary:
quote:
1. The fact or state of existing; being.
Source
From Wikipedia:
quote:
Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality in general, as well as of the basic categories of being and their relations.
Source
For this thread Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth". is to be accepted as a declarative statement of completed action.
Genesis 1:2, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." is to be accepted as a disjunctive as translated in the LXX and marked by the Masoretes.
Thus it would begin with 'Now' or 'But' the earth...
Now to a very controversial word.
היה is translated 'was' in verse 2 means 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
I find only 4 times
היה is translated 'was'. Genesis 1:2, 3:1, Exodus 5:13, and Judges 20:3.
Since the word does not have 'was' in the definition I don't know why the translators chose 'was' unless it suited their bias.
In Genesis 1:2 my bias would prefer become, or come to pass. But I believe a form of exist (existed) would be better.
In Genesis 3:14 "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
אהיה אשר אהיה This statement was translated "I AM THAT I AM'.
But should have been translated 'I EXIST THAT I EXIST'. 'I' comes from the prefix
א.
Thus God claims to be existence.
In Genesis 1:1 Moses declared God caused the Heavens and the Earth to exist.
In Isaiah 40:26 Isaiah declared God caused all things to exist.
In Isaiah 42:5 God declared He caused the Heavens to begin to exist and streached them out.
In Isaiah 45:12 God declared He caused the earth to begin to exist and man upon it.
These are just a few scriptures that declare Existence caused everything to begin to exist.
Observations:
The Heavens (universe) exists.
The Earth exists.
Mankind as well as all living creatures exist.
The question is:
Is existence responsible for bringing into existence all that exists?
If not, then what is responsible for bringing into existence all that exists.
The Bible declares existence is responsible for bringing into existence all that exists.
I agree.
What say you?
If existence is not responsible for bringing into existence all that exists, then what is?
There is existence (all things exist) and the opposite of that is non-existence (no thing exists). There is no known mechanism whereby existence can begin to exist from non-existence.
Can anyone present a case for existence without it being brought about by existence?
God Bless,
Your choice.
"John 5:39 (KJS) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
™ Version 4.2