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This article seeks to determine the meaning of the words,
"In the beginning God created heaven and earth." St.
Thomas points out that these words are explained in three
ways:
1. In the beginning of time, according to St. Basil
and St. Ambrose in opposition to the older
philosophers.
2. In the principle, that is, in the Son, who is the
exemplary principle, according to St. Augustine and
St. Jerome against the Manichaeans.
3. Before all things, that is, in the beginning of
time all things, including the angels, were created at
one time.
The first and third explanations are literal; the second
is mystical or spiritual. St. Augustine tried to see a
twofold literal sense in the words, "in the beginning,"
and also in the word "heaven," that is, a corporeal
heaven and a spiritual heaven.[889] This is not
repugnant because these words are analogical, and God and
the sacred writer, who was illuminated by divine
inspiration, could have had in mind both the lower and the
higher analogy, as when Christ taught us to say, "give
us this day our daily bread," He understood ordinary
bread, and the "supersubstantial bread" mentioned by
St. Matthew.[890]
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