The term "non-existent" refers to that which does not exist or is absent from reality. In a biblical context, the concept of non-existence can be explored through various themes, such as the nature of God, creation, and the spiritual state of humanity.

God and Non-existence

The Bible affirms the eternal existence of God, contrasting Him with the concept of non-existence. God is described as the "I AM" (Exodus 3:14), emphasizing His self-existence and eternal nature. Unlike created beings, God has no beginning or end, and His existence is independent of anything else. In Isaiah 44:6, God declares, "I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God," highlighting His unique and unchanging existence.

Creation and Non-existence

The act of creation itself is a transition from non-existence to existence. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Before this divine act, the universe was non-existent. The creation narrative underscores God's power to bring forth existence from nothingness, a concept known as "creatio ex nihilo" (creation out of nothing). Hebrews 11:3 further affirms this by stating, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

Spiritual Non-existence

In a spiritual sense, non-existence can be associated with separation from God. Ephesians 2:1 describes humanity's state before salvation as being "dead in your trespasses and sins." This spiritual death signifies a form of non-existence in relation to the life and fellowship found in God. The Bible teaches that through faith in Jesus Christ, individuals are brought from this state of spiritual non-existence into new life (John 5:24): "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life."

Eternal Non-existence

The concept of eternal non-existence is often associated with the final judgment and the fate of the unrighteous. Revelation 20:14-15 speaks of the "second death," which is the lake of fire, a state of eternal separation from God. This ultimate form of non-existence is not annihilation but rather an eternal state of being cut off from the presence and blessings of God.

Existence in Christ

Conversely, the Bible promises eternal existence with God for those who are in Christ. John 3:16 assures believers of everlasting life: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This promise of eternal life stands in stark contrast to the concept of non-existence, offering hope and assurance of a future with God.

In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly use the term "non-existent," it addresses the concept through its teachings on God's eternal nature, the act of creation, the spiritual state of humanity, and the eternal destinies of individuals.(a.) Not existing; lacking; as, non-existent courage.657. ephes -- a ceasing
... dearth (1), ends (14), however (2), lack (1), less...nothing (1), neither (1),
nevertheless* (3), no more (1), no one (6), no other (1), non-existent (1), nor ...
/hebrew/657.htm - 6k

Basilides.
... the non-existent Deity. There was, then, he says, in the seed itself a threefold
Sonship, in all respects of the same substance with the nonexistent God, which ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter x basilides.htm

The Problem of Evil
... Since evil is ultimately non-existent; a totally evil thing would be simply
non-existent, and thus the evil in the world, wherever it becomes complete ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/rolt/dionysius the areopagite/iv the problem of evil.htm

Origin of the World; Basilides' Account of the "Sonship. "
... For every nature desires that (nonexistent one), on account of a superabundance
of ... And it approaches the refined Sonship, and the non-existent God, [825] even ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter x origin of the world.htm

Basilides Adopts the Aristotelian Doctrine of "Nonentity. "
... particoloured, and much compounded substances; so, he says, the nonexistent seed
of the world, which has been deposited by the non-existent God, constitutes at ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter ix basilides adopts the aristotelian.htm

God's Figure: Simon's Objection Therefrom Refuted.
... The space of God is the non-existent, but God is that which exists. But that which
is non-existent cannot be compared with that which is existent. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter viii gods figure simons objection.htm

Thereafter He Discusses the Divergence of Names and of Things
... a cause, but has also a proper application to that which is nonexistent. ... is the others,
those which are equivocally employed either of the non-existent or of ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 3 thereafter he discusses.htm

Synodical Letter to the Emperor Jovian Concerning the Faith.
... for its destruction, alleging the Son of God to be of the nonexistent, a creature ...
He was begotten He was not; that He was made out of the non-existent, or that ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter iii synodical letter to the.htm

The Epistle of Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria to Alexander ...
... when at some time He came into existence He became such as every other man is."
God, they say, created all things out of that which was non-existent, and they ...
/.../chapter iii the epistle of alexander.htm

Answer to the Question He is Always Asking, "Can He who is be ...
... for the formation of the child: in a word Nature, advancing through all these processes
by which a human life is built up, brings the non-existent to the birth ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 39 answer to the.htm

Dissolution and Inherence According to the Manich??ans; this is ...
... First, indeed, they do not perceive that nothing existent can be destroyed into
a nonexistent. For that which is non-existent does not exist. ...
/.../of the manichaeans/chapter xviii dissolution and inherence according.htm

Non-existent (1 Occurrence)
Non-existent. None, Non-existent. Non-greeks . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(a.) Not existing; lacking; as, non-existent courage. ...
/n/non-existent.htm - 6k

Non-greeks (1 Occurrence)
Non-greeks. Non-existent, Non-greeks. Nonimmersionist . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See NIV). Non-existent, Non-greeks. Nonimmersionist . Reference Bible
/n/non-greeks.htm - 6k

Journey (214 Occurrences)
... hours and days. This is natural in a country where roads are mere bridle paths
or non-existent, as in the desert. The distance traveled ...
/j/journey.htm - 42k

Day's (19 Occurrences)
... hours and days. This is natural in a country where roads are mere bridle paths
or non-existent, as in the desert. The distance traveled ...
/d/day's.htm - 17k

Canneh (1 Occurrence)
... Ezekiel 27:23. Cornill thinks Canneh is the Calneh of Amos 6:2, but Cheyne
thinks the name is really non-existent. He says the words ...
/c/canneh.htm - 8k

Creation (35 Occurrences)
... The New Testament seems to favor the derivation of matter from the non-existent-
that is to say, the time-worlds were due to the effluent Divine Word or ...
/c/creation.htm - 34k

Contend (56 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 41:12 You will seek them, and won't find them, even those who contend with
you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a non-existent thing. ...
/c/contend.htm - 24k

None (573 Occurrences)

/n/none.htm - 35k

Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... and the latter as absolutely, the only term in use to express the idea of "Deity."
Theotes is very rare in classical Greek, "Deity" non-existent in classical ...
/g/godhead.htm - 22k

Images (158 Occurrences)
... and false gods are synonymous; but as early as the 8th century BC Hebrew prophets
begin to reach the lofty conception that heathen gods are non-existent, or at ...
/i/images.htm - 70k

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