Contents - Book XII
Chapter I The Discovery of Truth is Difficult, but God Has promised that he who seeks shall find. Chapter II Of the double heaven,—the visible, and the heaven of heavens. Chapter III Of the Darkness upon the deep, and of the invisible and formless earth. Chapter IV From the Formlessness of matter, the beautiful world has arisen. Chapter V What may have been the form of matter. Chapter VI He confesses that at one time he himself thought erroneously of matter. Chapter VII Out of nothing God made heaven and earth. Chapter VIII Heaven and Earth were made "In the beginning;" afterwards the world, during six days, from shapeless matter. Chapter IX That the Heaven of Heavens was an Intellectual creature, but that the Earth was invisible and formless before the days that it was made. Chapter X He begs of God that he may live in the true light, and may be instructed as to the mysteries of the sacred books. Chapter XI What may be discovered to him by God. Chapter XII From the formless Earth God created another Heaven and a visible and formed Earth. Chapter XIII Of the intellectual Heaven and formless Earth, out of which, on another day, the firmament was formed. Chapter XIV Of the depth of the Sacred Scripture, and itS enemies. Chapter XV He argues against adversaries concerning the Heaven of Heavens. Chapter XVI He wishes to have no intercourse with those who deny divine truth. Chapter XVII He mentions five explanations of the words of Genesis I. Chapter XVIII What error is harmless in sacred scripture. Chapter XIX He enumerates the things concerning which all agree. Chapter XX Of the words, "in the beginning," Variously understood. Chapter XXI Of the explanation of the words, "The Earth was invisible." Chapter XXII He discusses whether matter was from eternity, or was made by God. Chapter XXIII Two kinds of disagreements in the books to be explained. Chapter XXIV Out of the many true things, it is not asserted confidently that Moses understood this or that. Chapter XXV It behoves interpreters, when disagreeing concerning obscure places, to regard God the author of truth, and the rule of charity. Chapter XXVI What he might have asked of God had he been enjoined to write the Book of Genesis. Chapter XXVII The style of speaking in the Book of Genesis is simple and clear. Chapter XXVIII The words, "In the beginning," and, "The Heaven and the Earth," are differently understood. Chapter XXIX Concerning the opinion of those who explain it "At first he made." Chapter XXX In the great diversity of opinions, it becomes all to unite charity and divine truth. Chapter XXXI Moses is supposed to have perceived whatever of truth can be discovered in his words. Chapter XXXII First, the sense of the writer is to be discovered, then that is to be brought out which divine truth intended.