There are many biblical verses that strongly support the conclusion that God created everything out of nothing. One of my favorites is Revelation 4:11. Though it is less heralded, I love the contrast it draws between us and God.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.” (Rev 4:11 NIV)

The verbs used in these verses paint a complete picture of God’s creative work. He both created all things and brought all things into being according to his will.

The combination of “created” and “have their being” highlights God’s absolute power in creation. This refutes the notion that he merely created by shaping existing matter. Without God nothing would have its being or existence at all.

That is ex nihilo—creation out of nothing

The verb ēsan (ἦσαν) that is used for “have their being” is highly significant. It is the imperfect tense of the verb eimi (εἰμί) which the Bible uses to describe God’s eternal existence. Exodus 3:14; John 8:58. This shows that while we come into existence, God alone is eternal and uncreated. This also shows our utter dependence on God. He is independent and sovereign, we are fully dependent on him for our continued existence.

The verb Epoiesen (ἐποίησεν) that is used for created on the other hand is in the aorist active indicative form suggesting a completed action or a one-time event. This suggests that God created all things in a definitive point in time rather than shaping and reshaping existing matter.

I also love how John links God’s act of creation to our need to worship him. God is worthy of all of our worship because he created and sustains all things out of nothing. He is not merely an architect shaping existing things, but the divine creator of all. And he created us out of his abundance of love so that we could worship him and have joy in him.