Replies

If I had to pick instances of possible ex nihilo events in the Bible other than creation week, I’d go with these:

water to wine

multiplying loaves and fishes

healing any leper insofar as there is the assumption that any missing body parts were restored.

widow’s oil multiplied

Aaron’s rod becoming serpent

water becoming blood (depending on if that means “red” or “blood”)

Actually, dear brother in Christ, I believe each one of those would be a formation from something else, e.g. water to wine, rather than a creation from no thing at all, i.e. ex nihilo.

I suggested that a new soul is not formed from a previous one (reorganization of energy/matter space/time) - but rather is a new creation that God has allowed us to be a part of, on the material side, the reorganizing side, procreation.

I also suggested that knowledge (information content) such as art, literature, scientific theories can be "created" by man. But I withdraw that suggestion because they are not ex nihilo since, at the very minimum, creatures and successful communication must pre-exist their coming into existence in the knowledge base.

Thank you, Sir!

I cherish you as a Brother in Christ, and thank you for your service for all of us! A big USAF salute to you and all your brother Chaplains! IMO, you are the "glue" that holds our military forces together when times really get tough!

~~~~~~~~~

All of your examples/instances consist of manipulation of objects / materials that already existed here on earth, of materials created at the initial (only?) ex nihilo event -- to change them into recognizable materials / objects that had already existed here on Earth. IOW, one created thing was changed in extent or into another created form. Some even may incorporate transmutation of one material into another.

As a physical chemist, I consider your cited items to be instances of what I think of as "Class one (1) maintenance miracles" -- as I described in my #190 0n this thread:

But, personal experience has proved to me that He, on occasion, does directly intervene in the progress of His creation. There are instances where He, IMHO, "puts things back on plan" by overruling his own physical laws and making adjustments that ignore those laws. We believers call those events, "miracles"...

Transmutation (the goal of ancient alchemists) is a known and demonstrated class of phenomena -- and is routinely observed in natural processes: nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. What I find particuarly "miraculous" about the items you cited is that they occurred with no reported release or consumption of excess energy!! Can you say, "putting E - MC² on hold"?

Bottom line: "Miracles" -- most certainly. "Ex nihilo creation" -- IMHO, no.

Again, Thank You!!

Whatever label we put on your examples, none but our Creator God could have accomplished them as observed. IMO, There is no more obvious -- publicly witnessed and documented -- proof of the deity of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, than His miracles.

To Him be all the praise and glory!!

You missed (in #228)the most important EX NIHILO event to modern christians.. wonder why..

AKA... the creation of the New Testament by the Roman Catholic Church.. much as the Jews created the Talmud..
and to some extent the Quran for muslims..

Most of the Christians and Jews(and muslims) worship their God-Lore much like idols.. but some worship holy places..
Relegating “God”, to most, a literary and honorary presence..

When Jesus came to and did make quite literally all religion (on this planet)-

1) Obsolete..
2) went on vacation... (otherwise how could he “come back”)
3) delegated all authority (on this planet) to the Holy Spirit..

A good creative (and management) enterprise overlooked by most.. in my search..
raising “having an invisible friend” to an ex nihilo event..
not just for young people but for adults as well..

"healing any leper insofar as there is the assumption that any missing body parts were restored."

~~~~~~~~

Just ran across an interesting FR post which bears on the subject of healing the lepers:

Man who lost nose to cancer will grow a new one on his arm

Probably would have overlooked it you hadn't piqued my curiosity with your question.

~~~~~~~~~~

For those of us who participate in these discussions in the right spirit, I'm convinced that the Lord uses inputs from all similarly-motivated participants to enrich and grow our own lives and witness -- in ways that we may not even recognize...

Again, Thank you!

And, thank You, Lord, for the blessing of fellowship with these FRiends!