Catechism Paragraph 296
Part 1:
THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
Section 2: THE CREEDS
Chapter 1: I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER
Article 1: I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
Section 2: THE CREEDS
Chapter 1: I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER
Article 1: I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
We believe that God needs no pre-existent thing or any help in order to create, nor is creation any sort of necessary emanation from the divine substance.[144] God creates freely "out of nothing":[145]
If God had drawn the world from pre-existent matter, what would be so extraordinary in that? A human artisan makes from a given material whatever he wants, while God shows his power by starting from nothing to make all he wants.[146]
š Footnotes
[144]
Cf. Dei Filius, cann. 2-4: DS 3022-3024.
[145]
Lateran Council IV (1215): DS 800; cf. DS 3025.
[146]
St. Theophilus of Antioch, Ad Autolycum II, 4: PG 6, 1052.