The Six Days of Creation
The Hexaemeron or work of the six days, the progressive ordering and adorning of the world over six literal days, against Augustine's theory that all was created simultaneously. Moses describes the creation of the world day by day: on the first day heaven, earth, and light; on the second the firmament; on the third sea, land, and plants; on the fourth sun, moon, and stars; on the fifth fish and birds; on the sixth animals and man.
Chapter I (The Six Days of Creation)
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Synopsis of the Chapter
— Synopsis of the six days: day 1 heaven, earth, light; day 2 firmament; day 3 sea, land, plants; day 4 sun, moon, stars; day 5 fish and birds; day 6 animals and man.
"The creation of the world and the work of the six days is described: namely, on the first day heaven, earth, and light were made. On the second day, v. 6, the firmament was made. On the third day, v. 9, the sea and dry land were made, with herbs and plants. On the fourth day, v. 14, the sun, moon, and stars were made. On the fifth day, v. 20, fish and birds were produced. On the sixth day, v. 24, cattle, creeping things, and beasts were produced"
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Verse 5: And He called the light Day
— Against Augustine's view that all things were created simultaneously: all other Fathers teach they were made over six literal days, and the historical narrative of Moses proves it.
"St. Augustine, Book IV of On Genesis Literally, and Book XI of The City of God, ch. 7, wants these days to be understood mystically; for he seems to hold that all things were created simultaneously by God on the first day, and that Moses, through the six days of creation, means the various cognitions of the angels. Philo teaches the same. But all the other Fathers teach the contrary, and the simple and historical narrative of Moses entirely proves it."
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Verse 2: And the earth was without form and void
— God did not adorn heaven and earth on the first day so that nature might proceed from imperfect to perfect, and lest all things, if perfect from the beginning, be thought uncreated.
"The first reason is His holy will: the fitting explanation is that nature (whose author is God) proceeds from imperfect things to perfect things. The second is that we might learn that all things depend on God both as to their beginning and as to their adornment and perfection. The third is lest, if all things were read as perfect from the beginning, they might be thought to be uncreated."
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Verse 24: Let the Earth Bring Forth the Living Creature
— Tropological reading: the six days signify the work of man's justification, from illumination through charity and the virtues.
"Tropologically, the work of creation in six days signifies the work of man's justification. On the first day, therefore, light is created, that is, illumination is poured into the sinner"