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Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky Orthodox dogmatic theology IntraText CT - Text |
Concerning the motive for the creation in the mind of God, the Orthodox Confession and
the Longer Orthodox Catechism express it thus: The world was created by God “so that other
beings glorifying Him, might be participants of His goodness.” The idea of the mercy and goodness
of God, as expressed in the creation of the world, is to be found in many Psalms, such asPsalms 102 and 103 (“Bless the Lord, O my soul”), which call on one to glorify the Lord and
give thanks for one's existence and for all of God's providence. The same thoughts are expressed
by the Fathers of the Church. Blessed Theodoret writes, “The Lord God has no need of anyone
to praise Him; but by His goodness alone He granted existence to angels, archangels, and the
whole creation.” Further, “God has need of nothing; but He, being an abyss of goodness,
deigned to give existence to things which did not exist.” St. John Damascene says (as we have
just seen), “The good and transcendentally good God was not content to contemplate Himself,
but by a superabundance of goodness saw fit that there should be some things to benefit by and
participate in His goodness.”