Who created God?

The question "Who created God?" is a profound one that touches on the very nature of the divine and the foundational beliefs of Christianity. As a non-denominational Christian pastor, I will explore this question by delving into the nature of God as described in the Bible, the philosophical implications of God's existence, and the understanding that has been developed through centuries of Christian thought.

At the heart of the Christian faith is the belief in one God who is eternal, uncreated, and self-existent. This belief is rooted in the Bible, which consistently portrays God as the ultimate, uncaused cause of everything that exists. In the opening verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, we read, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This verse sets the stage for the entire biblical narrative, establishing God as the Creator of all things. Importantly, it does not suggest that God Himself was created; rather, it affirms that God was already present "in the beginning."

The concept of God's eternal nature is further emphasized in passages such as Psalm 90:2, which declares, "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." This verse underscores the belief that God exists outside of time and has no beginning or end. Similarly, in the New Testament, Revelation 1:8 records Jesus saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Here, Jesus identifies Himself with the eternal nature of God, affirming that God transcends time and creation.

From a philosophical perspective, the question "Who created God?" can be addressed by considering the concept of necessary existence. In philosophical terms, a necessary being is one whose existence is not contingent on anything else. In other words, a necessary being exists by the very nature of its own essence and cannot not exist. This contrasts with contingent beings, whose existence depends on something else. The traditional Christian understanding is that God is a necessary being. This means that God exists inherently and eternally, without any external cause or creator.

The idea of God as a necessary being is closely related to the classical argument from contingency, which has been articulated by theologians and philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas, in his "Summa Theologica," presents the argument from contingency as one of his Five Ways to demonstrate the existence of God. He argues that everything in the universe is contingent, meaning that it depends on something else for its existence. However, this chain of dependency cannot go back infinitely; there must be a first cause, a necessary being that itself is not contingent. This necessary being, Aquinas concludes, is what we call God.

C.S. Lewis, a well-known Christian apologist, also touches on this concept in his book "Mere Christianity." He explains that the very idea of a created god is contradictory because it implies a higher being that created the god, leading to an infinite regress. Instead, Lewis argues, there must be a being that exists outside this chain of causation, a being that is self-existent and eternal. This understanding aligns with the biblical portrayal of God as the ultimate, uncreated Creator.

Moreover, the doctrine of God's aseity, or self-existence, is a key aspect of Christian theology. Aseity refers to God's independent and self-sufficient nature. God does not rely on anything outside of Himself for His existence or sustenance. This concept is beautifully expressed in Exodus 3:14, where God reveals His name to Moses as "I AM WHO I AM." This name, often rendered as Yahweh, signifies God's self-existence and eternal presence. It conveys the idea that God's existence is not derived from anything else; He simply is.

The question of who created God also touches on the limitations of human understanding. As finite beings, our comprehension is bound by time, space, and causality. We naturally think in terms of beginnings and causes because that is how we experience the world. However, God, being infinite and transcendent, exists beyond these limitations. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us of this divine transcendence: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" This passage encourages humility in acknowledging that some aspects of God's nature are beyond our full understanding.

In addition to biblical and philosophical considerations, the doctrine of the Trinity also provides insight into the nature of God. Christianity teaches that God is one being in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully and equally God, sharing the same divine essence. This triunity of God further underscores the idea that God is self-existent and uncreated. The relationship within the Trinity is eternal and does not imply any form of creation or causation within the Godhead. John 1:1-3 speaks to this eternal relationship: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." Here, the Word (identified as Jesus in John 1:14) is described as both with God and as God, participating in the act of creation while being eternal Himself.

Furthermore, the Nicene Creed, a foundational statement of Christian faith formulated in the fourth century, affirms the eternal nature of the Son, Jesus Christ, as "begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father." This creed reflects the early church's understanding of the Trinity and the eternal, uncreated nature of God.

In summary, the question "Who created God?" is addressed within Christianity by affirming that God is eternal, uncreated, and self-existent. The Bible consistently portrays God as the ultimate Creator who exists outside of time and causality. Philosophical arguments, such as the concept of necessary existence and the argument from contingency, support this understanding. The doctrine of God's aseity and the Trinitarian nature of God further reinforce the belief that God is not a created being but the eternal source of all that exists. As finite beings, we may struggle to fully grasp the infinite nature of God, but the biblical revelation and centuries of Christian thought provide a compelling and coherent answer to this profound question.