CRST 290
QUIZ 2
MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
Questions and Answers | 2026 Update
Creation Ex Nihilo, Genesis Exegesis, Worldview Analysis, and Apologetic Responses
Liberty University
School of Religion | CRST 290 Creation Conversation
August 2026
Abstract
This study guide and examination document supports students preparing for CRST 290
Quiz 2, which examines the doctrine of God as Maker of heaven and earth. The 30
questions span four domains: the doctrine of creation and attributes of the Creator, exegesis
of Genesis 1 and biblical cosmology, comparative worldview analysis (biblical, naturalistic,
and pantheistic), and apologetic arguments with 2026 updates. Each question includes a
rationale demonstrating biblical, theological, and philosophical reasoning from a
young-earth creationist perspective grounded in the historical-grammatical hermeneutic.
Keywords: Creation Ex Nihilo, Creator, Genesis 1, Historical-Grammatical Method, Six-Day
Creation, Biblical Cosmology, Biblical Worldview, Naturalism, Pantheism, Presuppositions,
Cosmological Argument, Teleological Argument, Multiverse Theory, 2026 Apologetics, CRST 290,
Young-Earth Creationism, Intelligent Design, Worldview Analysis
, Section 1: The Doctrine of Creation & Attributes of the Creator (Q1-Q8)
Q1: What does the Latin phrase creatio ex nihilo mean, and why is it theologically significant
for the biblical doctrine of creation?
A. A. Creation from pre-existing matter that God organized into its current form, demonstrating
God's skill as a cosmic architect.
B. B. Creation out of nothing, meaning that God did not use any pre-existing material but
spoke the universe into existence by His sovereign will and word alone (Heb. 11:3),
establishing that everything in the physical universe is contingent upon God and that matter
itself is not eternal. [CORRECT]
C. C. Creation through an ongoing evolutionary process that continues to shape the universe over
billions of years.
D. D. Creation by committee, referring to the Trinitarian cooperation in the work of creation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Creatio ex nihilo means God created without pre-existing material, affirmed in Hebrews 11:3
and John 1:3. This distinguishes biblical theism from all ancient cosmogonies that assumed eternal
matter. Option A describes formation, not creation. Option C confuses creation with providential
processes. Option D misuses the phrase.
Q2: A campus ministry leader is discussing origins with a student who argues that God used
the Big Bang as His method of creating the universe. Which response best reflects the CRST
290 creationist position?
A. A. The Big Bang is fully compatible with Genesis 1 because both describe a beginning of the
universe from nothing.
B. B. While the Big Bang proposes a beginning, it also entails billions of years of naturalistic
cosmic and biological evolution, death before sin, and a process that contradicts the six-day
creation sequence and the goodness of the original creation as described in Genesis 1, making
it fundamentally incompatible with a straightforward reading of the biblical text.
[CORRECT]
C. C. The Big Bang should be accepted without reservation because it was proposed by a Catholic
priest (Georges Lemaitre).
D. D. The Big Bang is irrelevant to theology because science and religion operate in completely
separate domains.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Big Bang model requires billions of years, death before the Fall, and naturalistic
processes inconsistent with the literal Genesis chronology. CRST 290 maintains the biblical text
describes actual history. Option A ignores chronological contradictions. Option C is a genetic fallacy.
Option D retreats into unbiblical compartmentalization.
Page 2
, Q3: A theology student claims that since God is spirit (John 4:24), He could not have created
a physical material universe. Which response best applies CRST 290 theological principles?
A. A. The student is correct; a spiritual God could only create other spiritual beings.
B. B. The student confuses God's nature with God's power; God's spirituality means He is not
limited by or composed of matter, but His omnipotence enables Him to create material reality
ex nihilo, and the biblical text explicitly affirms that the spiritual God created the physical
universe (Gen. 1:1, John 1:3, Col. 1:16), with the material creation reflecting His glory and
goodness rather than being incompatible with His nature. [CORRECT]
C. C. God created the physical universe but it is inherently evil because matter is opposed to spirit.
D. D. God only created the spiritual realm, and the physical universe came into existence through
natural processes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: God's omnipotence transcends His own ontological category. He created both spiritual and
material realities, and Genesis 1 repeatedly declares the material creation 'good.' Option A contradicts
Genesis 1. Option C reflects Gnostic dualism. Option D is deistic, not theistic.
Q4: What does it mean that God is eternal, and how does this attribute relate to His role as
Creator?
A. A. God has existed forever and is not bound by time, meaning He is the uncaused cause of
all things and existed before the universe was created, making Him the only self-existent being
and the sufficient explanation for all contingent reality. [CORRECT]
B. B. God was created before the universe by a higher power and then created everything else.
C. C. God will exist forever but had a beginning point before which nothing existed.
D. D. God exists within time just as humans do but has simply lived longer than the universe.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: God's eternality means He is without beginning or end, the self-existent I AM (Exod. 3:14),
who created time itself. As the uncaused cause, He alone is the sufficient explanation for the universe.
Option B makes God a creature. Option C and D place God within time, contradicting His
transcendence (Psalm 90:2).
Page 3
QUIZ 2
MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
Questions and Answers | 2026 Update
Creation Ex Nihilo, Genesis Exegesis, Worldview Analysis, and Apologetic Responses
Liberty University
School of Religion | CRST 290 Creation Conversation
August 2026
Abstract
This study guide and examination document supports students preparing for CRST 290
Quiz 2, which examines the doctrine of God as Maker of heaven and earth. The 30
questions span four domains: the doctrine of creation and attributes of the Creator, exegesis
of Genesis 1 and biblical cosmology, comparative worldview analysis (biblical, naturalistic,
and pantheistic), and apologetic arguments with 2026 updates. Each question includes a
rationale demonstrating biblical, theological, and philosophical reasoning from a
young-earth creationist perspective grounded in the historical-grammatical hermeneutic.
Keywords: Creation Ex Nihilo, Creator, Genesis 1, Historical-Grammatical Method, Six-Day
Creation, Biblical Cosmology, Biblical Worldview, Naturalism, Pantheism, Presuppositions,
Cosmological Argument, Teleological Argument, Multiverse Theory, 2026 Apologetics, CRST 290,
Young-Earth Creationism, Intelligent Design, Worldview Analysis
, Section 1: The Doctrine of Creation & Attributes of the Creator (Q1-Q8)
Q1: What does the Latin phrase creatio ex nihilo mean, and why is it theologically significant
for the biblical doctrine of creation?
A. A. Creation from pre-existing matter that God organized into its current form, demonstrating
God's skill as a cosmic architect.
B. B. Creation out of nothing, meaning that God did not use any pre-existing material but
spoke the universe into existence by His sovereign will and word alone (Heb. 11:3),
establishing that everything in the physical universe is contingent upon God and that matter
itself is not eternal. [CORRECT]
C. C. Creation through an ongoing evolutionary process that continues to shape the universe over
billions of years.
D. D. Creation by committee, referring to the Trinitarian cooperation in the work of creation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Creatio ex nihilo means God created without pre-existing material, affirmed in Hebrews 11:3
and John 1:3. This distinguishes biblical theism from all ancient cosmogonies that assumed eternal
matter. Option A describes formation, not creation. Option C confuses creation with providential
processes. Option D misuses the phrase.
Q2: A campus ministry leader is discussing origins with a student who argues that God used
the Big Bang as His method of creating the universe. Which response best reflects the CRST
290 creationist position?
A. A. The Big Bang is fully compatible with Genesis 1 because both describe a beginning of the
universe from nothing.
B. B. While the Big Bang proposes a beginning, it also entails billions of years of naturalistic
cosmic and biological evolution, death before sin, and a process that contradicts the six-day
creation sequence and the goodness of the original creation as described in Genesis 1, making
it fundamentally incompatible with a straightforward reading of the biblical text.
[CORRECT]
C. C. The Big Bang should be accepted without reservation because it was proposed by a Catholic
priest (Georges Lemaitre).
D. D. The Big Bang is irrelevant to theology because science and religion operate in completely
separate domains.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Big Bang model requires billions of years, death before the Fall, and naturalistic
processes inconsistent with the literal Genesis chronology. CRST 290 maintains the biblical text
describes actual history. Option A ignores chronological contradictions. Option C is a genetic fallacy.
Option D retreats into unbiblical compartmentalization.
Page 2
, Q3: A theology student claims that since God is spirit (John 4:24), He could not have created
a physical material universe. Which response best applies CRST 290 theological principles?
A. A. The student is correct; a spiritual God could only create other spiritual beings.
B. B. The student confuses God's nature with God's power; God's spirituality means He is not
limited by or composed of matter, but His omnipotence enables Him to create material reality
ex nihilo, and the biblical text explicitly affirms that the spiritual God created the physical
universe (Gen. 1:1, John 1:3, Col. 1:16), with the material creation reflecting His glory and
goodness rather than being incompatible with His nature. [CORRECT]
C. C. God created the physical universe but it is inherently evil because matter is opposed to spirit.
D. D. God only created the spiritual realm, and the physical universe came into existence through
natural processes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: God's omnipotence transcends His own ontological category. He created both spiritual and
material realities, and Genesis 1 repeatedly declares the material creation 'good.' Option A contradicts
Genesis 1. Option C reflects Gnostic dualism. Option D is deistic, not theistic.
Q4: What does it mean that God is eternal, and how does this attribute relate to His role as
Creator?
A. A. God has existed forever and is not bound by time, meaning He is the uncaused cause of
all things and existed before the universe was created, making Him the only self-existent being
and the sufficient explanation for all contingent reality. [CORRECT]
B. B. God was created before the universe by a higher power and then created everything else.
C. C. God will exist forever but had a beginning point before which nothing existed.
D. D. God exists within time just as humans do but has simply lived longer than the universe.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: God's eternality means He is without beginning or end, the self-existent I AM (Exod. 3:14),
who created time itself. As the uncaused cause, He alone is the sufficient explanation for the universe.
Option B makes God a creature. Option C and D place God within time, contradicting His
transcendence (Psalm 90:2).
Page 3
