Did Early Christians Teach Speech Creates Reality?

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness

while the others, He commanded, and they were created, seem spoken of the qualities by which the substance itself has been moulded.

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

For God made the world to exist by the power of a single word, but us He produced by the efficacy alike of His word and working.

Psalms 148:5 Supporting witness

Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.

Jeremiah 32:9 Supporting witness

For he spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created.

Jeremiah 32:6 Supporting witness

By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching

...onomy 5. And so on. These things must be kept, along with whatever else is commanded in reading the Bible. And by Isaiah He commands us: "Wash yourselves, and make yourselves clean. Put away wickedness from your souls before my eyes. Learn to do good. Seek judgment. Rescue the wronged. Judge for the orphan, and justify the widow. And come, and let us reason together," says the Lord. And we will find many examples in other places also. For example, about prayer, Scripture says, "Good works are an acceptable prayer to the Lord." And the manner of prayer is described: "If you see the naked, cover him, and do not overlook those who belong to your own seed. Then your light shall break forth early, and your healing shall spring up quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of God shall surround you." What, then, is the fruit of such prayer? "Then you shall call, and God will hear you; while you are still speaking, He will say, 'I am here.'"

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

... of words you shall not escape sin, but in sparing your lips you shall be wise.” Here I ask whether speaking many words of any kind is a multitude of words in the sense meant by the Preacher, even if the many words a man speaks are sacred and connected with salvation. If this is so, and if the man who uses many health-giving words is guilty of a multitude of words, then Solomon himself did not escape this sin. For he spoke three thousand proverbs, and five thousand songs, as 1 Kings 4:32 says. He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that springs out of the wall. He also spoke of beasts and birds, and creeping things and fish. How, I ask, can anyone give instruction without a multitude of words, using the phrase in its simplest sense? Does not Wisdom herself say to those who are perishing, in Proverbs 1:24, “I stretched out my words, and you did not heed”? Do we not also find Paul extending his discourse from morning to midnight, in Acts 20:7-9, when Eutychus was overcome by sleep and fell down, to the alarm of the hearers, who thought he had been killed? If, then, the words are true, “In much speaking you will not escape sin,” and yet Solomon was not guilty of

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness

In the same way, our mind sends out a word from itself, as the prophet says, "My heart has uttered a good word." These two are distinct from each other, each keeping its own proper place, and each being different from the other. The first remains and moves in the heart, while the second has its place on the tongue and in the mouth. Yet they are not separated from each other or deprived of each other. The mind is not without the word, and the word is not without the mind. Rather, the mind produces the word and is made known in the word, and the word shows the mind in which it was produced. The mind is, as it were, the word dwelling within, while the word is the mind coming forth. The mind passes into the word, and the word carries the mind to the hearers around it. And so, by means of the word, the mind takes its place in the souls of the hearers, entering at the same time as the word. Indeed, the mind is, as it were, the father of the word, existing in itself. But the word is like the son of the mind, and it cannot be made before it or without it, but exists with it, from where it has taken its seed and origin. In the same way, the Almighty Father and Universal Mind has, before all

Tatian, Connection to 1 Corinthians 2:13 Supporting witness

while we say these things not from mere hearsay, nor from probable conjectures and sophistical reasoning, but using words of a certain diviner speech.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

Wherefore cease not speaking these things into the ears of the saints.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

...s in a certain place, “The Spirit of the Lord is a candle searching the secret parts of the belly.” Let us consider how close He is, and that none of our thoughts or reasonings are hidden from Him. It is right, therefore, that we should not abandon the position His will has assigned us. Let us rather offend those who are foolish, inconsiderate, and prideful, and who boast in the arrogance of their words, than offend God. Let us honor the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us respect those who lead us; let us honor the elders among us; let us train the young men in the fear of God; let us guide our wives to what is good. Let them display the lovely habit of purity in all their conduct; let them show the genuine disposition of meekness; let them demonstrate self-control in their speech; let them show their love, not by preferring one over another, but by showing equal affection to all who piously fear God. Let your children receive true Christian training; let them learn how valuable humility is with God—how much the spirit of pure affection can prevail with Him—how excellent and great His fear is, and how it saves all those who walk in it with a pure mind. For H

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

"And the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In the section before this, my revered brother Ambrosius, brother formed according to the Gospel, we discussed, as far as we are able at present, what the Gospel is, and what the beginning is in which the Word was, and what the Word is that was in the beginning. Now we come to consider the next point before us: how the Word was with God. For this purpose, it will help to remember that what is called the Word came to certain persons. For example, "The Word of the Lord," in Hosea 1:1, came to Hosea the son of Beeri; and "The Word," in Isaiah 2:1, came to Isaiah the son of Amos, concerning Judah and concerning Jerusalem; and "The Word which came to Jeremiah," in Jeremiah 14:1, was concerning the drought. We must ask how this Word came to Hosea, and how it also came to Isaiah the son of Amos, and again to Jeremiah concerning the drought. The comparison may help us find out how the Word was with God. Most people will simply look at what the prophets said, as if that were the Word of the Lord, or the Word, that came to them. But perhaps, just as we say that one person comes to another, the Son, the Word, of whom we are now speaking theol

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Trinity Supporting witness

...et us see whether it is in our power to find out in what manner thoughts are born of the heart, and words of the tongue, and the like. Now if we can by no means understand things that are done in ourselves, how could it ever be that we should understand the mystery of the uncreated Creator, which goes beyond every mind? Assuredly, if this mystery were one that could be penetrated by man, the inspired John would by no means have affirmed this: "No man has seen God at any time." John 1:18 He then, whom no man has seen at any time, whom can we reckon Him to resemble, so that by this we should understand His generation? And we, indeed, without ambiguity understand that our soul dwells in us in union with the body. But still, who has ever seen his own soul? Who has been able to discern its union with his body? This one thing is all we know certainly, that there is a soul within us joined with the body. Thus then we reason and believe that the Word is begotten by the Father, although we neither possess nor know the clear rationale of the fact. The Word Himself is before every creature, eternal from the Eternal, like spring from spring, and light from light. The word Word, indeed, belo

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

With good reason, therefore, is He called the Speech and the Word of God, because God, by a certain incomprehensible energy and power of His majesty, enclosed the vocal spirit proceeding from His mouth, which he had not conceived in the womb, but in His mind, within a form which has life through its own perception and wisdom, and He also fashioned other spirits of His into angels.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

The other works of creation He made by the word of command alone, but man He framed by Himself, by His own hand, and breathed into him what was peculiar to Himself.

1 Peter 4:11 Direct teaching

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:13 Direct teaching

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

The animals also which are upon it He commanded by His own word into existence.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching

...eation was light, since light makes the things that are created visible. Therefore it is said, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." And God saw that the light was good, clearly made good for man. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the middle of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters," and it was so. And God made the firmament, and separated the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament. And God called the firmament Heaven, and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, "Let the water under heaven be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear," and it was so. And the waters were gathered together into their places, and the dry land appeared. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas, and God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed after its kind and in its likeness, and the fruit

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

... time. His power and goodness are evident in that He, by His own will, called into being and shaped things that did not exist before; His wisdom is shown by making creation a harmonious and consistent whole. Those things that, through His great kindness, receive growth and a long life reflect the glory of the uncreated One, of that God who generously gives what is good. The mere fact that these things were created means they are not uncreated. However, by continuing to exist over long ages, they shall receive a trait of the Uncreated, through God’s free gift of eternal existence. Thus, in all things, God has the pre-eminence, being the only uncreated one, the first of all things, and the primary cause of everything that exists, while everything else remains under God’s authority. Being subject to God means continuing in immortality, and immortality is the glory of the uncreated One. Through this arrangement, these harmonies, and this sequence, man, a created and organized being, is made in the image and likeness of the uncreated God—the Father plans everything well and gives His commands, the Son carries them out and performs the work of creation, and the Spirit nurtures and inc

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching

These things He created through the Logos, it not being possible for things to be generated otherwise than as they were produced.

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Direct teaching

He commanded, and they were created. For the words, He spoke, and they were made, appear to show that the substance of those things which exist is meant;

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

...y itself, but already prepared for use. No, it should not. For God would have less power if He made things from materials already provided, and that is the part of man. A builder can put up nothing without wood, because he cannot make the wood itself. Not being able to do that belongs to human weakness. But God makes His own materials for Himself, because He has the power. For having power belongs to God. If He is not able, He is not God. Man makes his works out of what already exists, because in his mortality he is weak, and because of his weakness his power is limited and moderate. But God makes His works out of what does not exist, because in His eternity He is strong, and because of His strength His power is immeasurable. It has no end or limit, just like the life of the Maker Himself. What wonder is it, then, if God, when He was about to make the world, first prepared the material from which to make it, and prepared it out of what did not exist? For it is impossible for God to borrow anything from another source, since all things are in Him and from Him. For if there is anything before Him, and if anything has been made but not by Him, then He will lose both the power and t

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

And God said, Let there be light; and it was so.” So that both Plato and they who agree with him, and we ourselves, have learned, and you also can be convinced, that by the word of God the whole world was made out of the substance spoken of before by Moses.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II Supporting witness

It too, therefore, was made by His Word, as Scripture tells us in the book of Genesis that He made all things connected with our world by His Word.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

And so John also, describing the birth of Christ, says, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Moreover, His name is called the Word of God in Revelation 19:13, and not without reason. "My heart has emitted a good word." Afterward he then calls that word by the name of the King by implication: "I will tell my works to the King." For by Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made, as John 1:3 says. Whether they are thrones or dominions, or powers, or mights, visible things or invisible, all things subsist by Him, as the apostle says in Colossians 1:16. Moreover, this is that Word which came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. For the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him, as John 1:10-11 says. Moreover, this Word was in the beginning with God, and God was the Word, as John 1:1 says. Who then can doubt, when it is said in the last clause, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," that Christ, whose birth is being described, is man because He was made flesh? And because He is the Word of God, who can shrink from declaring without hesitati

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

And so John also, while describing the birth of Christ, says, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” For His name is also called “the Word of God,” in Revelation 19:13, and not without reason. “My heart has uttered a good word.” He then afterward calls this word by the name of the King indirectly: “I will tell my works to the King.” For by Him all works were made, and without Him nothing was made, as John 1:3 says. “Whether,” says the apostle, “they are thrones or dominions, or powers, or mights, visible things and invisible, all things subsist by Him,” as Colossians 1:16 says. Moreover, this is that Word which came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. For the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him, as John 1:10-11 says. Moreover, this Word was in the beginning with God, and God was the Word, as John 1:1 says. Who then can doubt, when in the last clause it is said, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” that Christ, whose birth is being described, is man because He was made flesh? And because He is the Word of God, who can shrink from declaring with

Hermas, Connection to Hebrews 11:3 Supporting witness

believe that there is one God who created and finished all things, and made all things out of nothing.

Genesis 1:3 Direct teaching

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.