Athens and Jerusalem, Alexandria and edessa: Is there a metaphysics of scripture?

Did the church Fathers baptize Aristotle? Were the classic divine attributes simply lifted from Greek philosophers? This article does not set out to find a single metaphysic advocated by scripture but instead draws attention to the unique 'unhellenic' doctrine of creatio ex nihilo found in both Jewish and Christian teaching on metaphysics. Creatio ex nihilo marks a decisive break with ancient Greek cosmology. Philo is used as an example of the influence that creatio ex nihilo has upon his language about God. The essay concludes that the church Fathers did not simply baptize Aristotle but rather that their language is deeply rooted in a particular Judeo-Christian understanding of creation. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2006.

Duke Scholars

Author Janet Soskice Divinity School