St Thomas's position in these eight chapters, XXXI-XXXVIII, is that the existence of creatures from eternity can neither be proved nor disproved by philosophy. He considers it certain from revelation, and from revelation only, that creation has not been from eternity. This excited the surprise and indignation of some, who were confident that their a priori arguments, which see in Chap. XXXVIII, proved to a demonstration the impossibility of any creation from eternity. Against them St Thomas directed one of his Opuscula, n. xxiii, De AEternitate Mundi, contra Murmurantes.

The eternity of creation was a leading principle with that master of thought in St Thomas's day, and for many succeeding centuries, Averroes the Commentator, of whom we shall have much to say presently.

Of God and His Creatures: 2.31