The Creation of the world and the birth of chronology

May combine two claims.

The Jewish tradition was of little help because it stressed the mystery of the creative operation and associated the beginning with the presence of Yahweh and the ensuing Alliance.

“As for the Jewish tradition, it was of little help, because it was rather stressing the mystery of the creative operation and at the same time closely associating with this beginning the presence of the One who is [Yahweh] and conferring a special importance to the ensuing Alliance with the elected people.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

At the time Creation ex nihilo was enunciated and defended, it represented a thesis whose total absurdity was unanimously agreed upon.

“It is thus useful to summarize how it was enunciated and defended at a time where it was representing a thesis whose total absurdity was unanimously agreed upon.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The 5228 years derived by Eusebius did not prevail.

“The 5228 years derived by Eusebius did not prevail.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A major issue in the debate was whether matter was itself eternal.

“Actually, a major issue was to know whether or not matter was itself eternal.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Eusebius of Caesarea derived a younger age of 5228 years at the beginning of Christ's public life, yielding about 5199 years for the Nativity.

“Among other dates, a younger age of 5228 years at the beginning of Christ's public life was derived by Eusebius of Caesarea, yielding about 5199 years for the Nativity.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Aristotle's picture of a small universe remained accepted for two millennia without being really questioned in the Middle Ages, either in Islam or the Latin West.

“Aristotle's picture of a small universe remained accepted for two millennia without having been really questioned in the Middle Ages, either in Islam or in the Latin West.”

May combine two claims.

Theophilus of Antioch described a two-step Creation from nothing and gave a real philosophical justification for it.

“In a letter written to Autolycus, which included the brief but most ancient known commentary on Genesis, the pagan-born bishop Theophilus of Antioch (d.190) likewise described a two-step Creation from nothing for which he gave a real philosophical justification:”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Tatian claimed matter was not a principle and was originated and brought into being by the sole creator.

“Matter was not a principle, did he claim, ''for matter is not without beginning like God, nor because of having beginning is it also of equal power with God''.Instead ''it was originated and brought into being by none other, projected by the sole creator of all that is''.”

May combine two claims.

Augustine most clearly spelled out the break with cyclical conceptions, stating Christ died once and the wicked walk in a circle not because life recurs but because their false doctrine is circuitous.

“This major break with previous conceptions was most clearly spelled out by Augustine in his City of God: ''For once Christ died for our sins; and, rising from the dead, He dieth no more'', so that only ''the wicked walk in a circle not because their life is to recur by means of these circles, which these philosophers imagine, but because the path in which their false doctrine now runs is circuit”

May combine two claims.

Despite fundamental disagreements, both Atomists and Stoics assumed the world was endlessly going through cycles of formation and destruction, caused by chance atomic collisions or divinely ordained conflagrations, respectively.

“In spite of really fundamental disagreements (Table 1), both the Atomists and Stoics assumed that the world was endlessly going through cycles of formation and destruction, the latter being caused either by chance atomic collisions or divinely ordained general conflagrations, respectively.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Theophilus claimed that at the death of Roman emperor Aurelius Verus in 169, the total number of years from the creation of the world is 5695, with additional months and days.

“As claimed by Theophilus, at the death of the Roman emperor Aurelius Verus in 169, ''the total number of years from the creation of the world is 5695, with the additional months and days''.”

May combine two claims.

The Gospels were silent about the origin of matter, and the first words of Genesis were ambiguous.

“The Gospels, in particular, were silent in this respect, whereas the very first words of Genesis ''In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.The Earth was formless and void'', were ambiguous.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Half a century later, the Chronological canons were translated into Latin, complemented and extended until 378 AD by Saint Jerome (347-420).

“Half a century later, the Chronological canons were translated into Latin, complemented and extended until 378 AD by Saint Jerome (347-420).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Irenaeus argued that God Himself invented the matter of His work, since previously it did not exist, contrary to men who cannot make anything out of nothing.

“By postulating a transcendent God who had first created formless matter, and then a Demiurge creator of all things, the Gnostics declined to admit that, contrary to men, who ''cannot make anything out of nothing; only out of matter that exists'', God ''Himself invented the matter of His work, since previously it did not exist''.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The arguments in the debate were not scientific but philosophical and theological.

“The arguments put forward in the debate were of course not scientific, but philosophical and theological.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The Greek original of the Chronicle was lost.

“Whereas the Greek original was lost”

May combine two claims.

Disagreements remained irremediable between Pagans and Christians, a case in point being the eternity of the world defended by Pagans and denied by Christians.

“But disagreements remained of course irremediable between Pagans and Christians.A case in point was the eternity of the world defended by the former, which kept being vigorously denied by the latter.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The method followed by Theophilus had previously been used by Flavius Josephus within the framework of Alexandrian polemics between Greeks and Jews about the relative antiquities of Plato and Moses.

“The method followed by Theophilus has previously been put to use by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37-100) within the framework of the Alexandrian polemics between Greeks and Jews about the relative antiquities of Plato and Moses.”

May combine two claims.

The main difficulty in geology's heroic age was recognizing that the Earth's surface had a history, making depiction via stratigraphic column the main purpose of the new science.

“The main difficulty had been to recognize that the Earth's surface had a history, so that depicting it, first and foremost through reconstitution of the stratigraphic column, became the main purpose of the new science.”

May combine two claims.

Plato in Timaeus claimed the world was created and purposely created by a Demiurge out of the khora, later identified with formless matter.

“In the great cosmological account given in his Timeaus, only did Plato claim that the world was created and that it was purposely created by a Demiurge out of the kho ˆra, a third kind or receptacle that was later identified with formless matter.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Historically, the idea that the world came into existence at a given moment seemed ludicrous to almost all ancient philosophers, who posited an eternal world and cyclical time.

“Historically, however, such an idea would have actually seemed ludicrous, if not outright absurd to almost all ancient philosophers who posited instead a world eternal along with a time of cyclical nature.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In accordance with Theophilus' calculations, the world was from 5600 to 5700 years old.

“In accordance with Theophilus' calculations, the world was from 5600 to 5700 year old.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

It took only a few generations for belief in Creation ex nihilo to prevail among Christians.

“It took only a few generations for belief in Creation ex nihilo to prevail among Christians.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The original text of the Chronicle is otherwise known by a 5th-century Armenian translation.

“the original text of the Chronicle is otherwise known by a 5th-century Armenian translation.”

May combine two claims.

For early Christians, the Creation of the world was neither a matter of dogma nor a cosmological problem.

“For early Christians, however, the Creation of the world was neither a matter of dogma nor a cosmological problem.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Eusebius published his work in two installments.

“He published his work in two installments.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The methods developed by early 19th-century geologists to set up a relative chronological scale from the fossil record had already been designed by Eusebius of Caesarea for establishing a universal chronology applicable to human history in relation to the age of the world.

“Of particular interest will be that the methods developed by the early 19th-century geologists to set up a relative chronological scale from the fossil record had already been designed by Eusebius of Caesarea (265-339), of early Church-history fame, for establishing a universal chronology applicable to human history in relation to the age of the world.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Since God could not have created the world out of Himself, the only reasonable way to explain evil was to keep a Demiurge-like Creation made out of preexisting matter.

“And since God could not have created the world out of Himself, in view of His indivisibility and immutability, the only reasonable way to explain the existence of evil was to keep a Demiurge-like Creation made out of preexisting matter.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Dating the Big Bang and the formation of a planetary system approximate dating the creation from nothing and from formless matter, respectively.

“Dating the Big Bang and the formation of a planetary system in effect approximate dating the creation from nothing and from formless matter, respectively, if the latter is meant to designate the product of element nucleosynthesis in stars.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Any historical account necessarily rests on an adequate chronology that should extend back to its starting point.

“But any historical account necessarily rests on an adequate chronology, which should in particular extend back in time up to its starting point.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The issue of Creation ex nihilo came back to the foreground at the end of the 19th century as a result of problems raised by the second law of thermodynamics and then by the expansion of the universe, which contradicted the idea of an eternal or cyclic world.

“Jumping finally to the end of the19th century, we will briefly mention how the issue Creation ex nihilo came back to the foreground as a result of the problems raised by the second law of thermodynamics and then by the expansion of the universe, which were both contradicting the philosophically grounded idea of an eternal or cyclic world.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The second law of thermodynamics and the expansion of the universe contradict the idea of an eternal or cyclic world.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The Creation had taken place on the 23rd of March, 15 days before the Moon first appeared, 5509 years before the Passion of Christ.

“It was claiming that the Creation had taken place on the 23rd of March, 15 days before the Moon first appeared, 5509 years before the Passion of Christ.”

• cites Grumel, 1958Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

According to R.M. Berchman, the Church Fathers became philologists, text-critics, historians, ethnographers, chronologists in accord with the best standards of their times.

“As summarized by R.M. Berchman (2005), ''first reactive, then proactive, the Church Fathers became philologists, text-critics, historians, ethnographers, chronologists in accord with the best standards of their times''.”

• cites R.M. Berchman (2005) sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

As reported by Eusebius, the flood arose above the highest mountains.

“As we are writing this chronicle we have received confirmation that the flood arose above the highest mountains -a contemporary eyewitness account of the veracity of the account.”

• cites EusebiusNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The first words of Genesis could have meant that formless matter was preexisting at the Creation, as understood in the Septuagint where God's creative act was described with the verb poiein previously used by Plato for his Demiurge.

“They could have meant that formless matter was preexisting at the Creation of the world, as actually understood when, in the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Torah), the Jewish translators described God's creative act with the verb poı ¨ein previously used by Plato for that of his Demiurge.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Jerome's translation would meet in Occident with a long success.

“which would meet in Occident with a long success.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Tertullian stressed that the world's return to nothingness at the end of times would not make sense if matter were eternal, concluding that all things produced from nothing will in the end come to nothing.

“And since the world would return to nothingness at the end of times, as stated by the Scriptures, Tertullian stressed that such an epilogue would not make any sense if matter were eternal.One thus had to conclude that ''all things produced from nothing will in the end come to nothing''.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Tatian, Theophilus, Irenaeus and Tertullian independently transformed the initial cosmological question of the formation of the world into the theological problem of the divine power of Creation.

“Whether in Rome, Lyons or Antioch, Tatian, Theophilus, Irenaeus and Tertullian independently transformed the initial cosmological question of the formation of the world into the theological problem of the divine power of Creation.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

As reported by Eusebius, fossils of ocean fish were discovered up Mt. Lebanon, pressed into the mud, and preserved as evidence that the old story of the flood is credible.

“In our day, [the fossils of] fish were discovered up Mt.Lebanon.It happened that while rocks were being quarried there for construction in the valley, [the fossils of] various types of ocean fish were uncovered, pressed into the mud.These [fossils] had been preserved to the present, thus providing evidence that the old story [of the flood] is credible.”

• cites EusebiusNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Eusebius founded chronography, the science to date any event of human history with reference to a universal chronological system.

“the science which Eusebius founded to date any event of human history with reference to a universal chronological system.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A haunting concern for chronology appeared within this context to accompany the new sense of history that was emerging.

“As illustrated by the first apologists, a haunting concern for chronology appeared within this context to accompany the new sense of history that was emerging.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Des Vignoles gathered more than 200 different calculations of the time from the creation of the world to Jesus Christ, ranging from 3483 to 6984 years.

“As summarized with some disappointment by A. Des Vignoles (1649-1744), director of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin, in 1738, ''I myself have gathered more than 200 different calculations, of which the shortest counts only 3483 years from the creation of the world to Jesus Christ, and the longest counts 6984''.”

• cites Des Vignoles (1649-1744)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Creation from nothing represented a unique and unambiguous chronological starting point, while the Passion of Christ and the perspective of the Last Judgment gave time an irreversible linear orientation.

“Whereas Creation from nothing represented a unique and unambiguous chronological starting point, the Passion of Christ and the perspective of the Last Judgment were giving time an irreversible linear orientation as it was unthinkable to assume that such events could happen twice or more.”

May combine two claims.

The philosophical problems raised by Creation ex nihilo were still lingering at the end of the 19th century when the second law of thermodynamics met with strong opposition in materialist and positivist circles because entropy increase implied heat death and an initial state of minimum entropy identifiable with Christian creation.

“In this respect, it is worth reminding that the philosophical problems raised by Creation ex nihilo were still lingering on at the end of the 19th century when the second law of thermodynamics met with strong opposition in materialist and positivist circles because a continuous increase in the entropy of the universe was implying at one end the ultimate heat death of the universe and, at the other”

May combine two claims.

The Byzantine Era of the world was defined by this solution and became the official calendric reference up to the end of the Byzantine Empire and even later in Russia.

“It was in this way that the Byzantine Era of the world got defined, which would become the official calendric reference up to the end of the Byzantine Empire and even later in Russia.”