Maimonides' Guide: Creation vs. Eternity

• The interpretation of Maimonides’s Guide of the Perplexed often revolves around the question of God’s creation of the universe, influencing understandings of divine providence, miracles, and the relationship between revelation and philosophy.
• Analyzing Maimonides's stance on creation (ex nihilo) versus the eternity of the universe is crucial for interpreting his writings.
• The literal Guide suggests Maimonides argues against Aristotelian eternity in Part 2, Chapters 14–31, favoring the possibility of creation.
• Many readers interpret Maimonides's arguments about creation as his exoteric position, believing his esoteric view leans towards the eternity of the universe.

Medieval Interpretations

• Medieval readers of the Hebrew translation by R. Samuel ibn Tibbon or the original Judeo-Arabic text debated Maimonides's stance on creation versus eternity.
• Readers of the Latin translation and its source (Al-Harizi's Hebrew translation) viewed Maimonides as a defender of creation ex nihilo.
• Christian scholastics often used Maimonides's work to support the belief in creation ex nihilo.

Translation Differences

• Interpretation disagreements stem from differences between the original Judeo-Arabic/R. Ibn Tibbon translation and the Al-Harizi/Latin translation.
• The focus is on different translations of Guide 2.25, a key chapter for understanding Maimonides's view on creation.
• Analysis of Guide 2.25 will highlight internal tensions suggesting Maimonides may have favored an esoteric eternalist view.
• Al-Harizi's translation made the text more coherent and supportive of a creationist interpretation of Maimonides.

Guide 2.25 Overview

• Chapter 25 of Part 2 in the Guide summarizes Maimonides's opinion on creation.
• Maimonides presents reasons supporting a creationist view in this chapter.
• Commentators have identified contradictions in the chapter, suggesting Maimonides may have secretly favored eternity.
• Examining the original text and translator deviations is necessary to understand Maimonides's true opinion.

Arguments For and Against Eternity

• Maimonides states shunning the affirmation of the eternity of the world is not due to the Torah indicating the world was created.
• Figurative interpretation of texts regarding creation is possible, similar to interpretations denying God's corporeality.
• Belief in creation resolves questions regarding the Law, for example, the timing and reasons behind God's revelations and commandments.
• Supporters of an esoteric interpretation suggest Maimonides answered these questions naturalistically elsewhere in his writings.

Summarized Arguments

• Maimonides acknowledges the possibility of figuratively interpreting biblical texts about creation, similar to how God's corporeality is dismissed.
• The non-corporeality of God is demonstrable, necessitating figurative interpretation of contradictory texts, while the eternity of the world lacks demonstration.
• Belief in God's incorporeality doesn't undermine the Torah's foundations, whereas Aristotelian belief in eternity contradicts the Law, miracles, and divine threats/promises.

Contradictions

• There exist contradictions in Maimonides' arguments.
• Passages I and II imply Maimonides would accept eternity if it were demonstrated.
• Passage III contradicts the previous passages, stating that eternity contradicts the Torah's principles, regardless of philosophical proof.
• These contradictions suggest an esoteric meaning, with Maimonides hinting at a secret belief in eternity.
• Al-Harizi's translation aims to align passages I and II with passage III.

Al-Harizi's Translation of Passage I

• Al-Harizi uses words from the root ס-ב-ר, implying logical inference or opinion, instead of "figurative interpretation".
• Al-Harizi reopens possibility of choosing creation over eternity, suggesting scientific and philosophical assertions should be open to reassessment, not necessarily biblical assertions.
• Al-Harizi's translation suggests that philosophical opinions can evolve from Aristotelian eternity towards scientific creationism, rather than from literal creation to esoteric eternity.

Latin Translation of Passage I

• The Latin translation of the first תאויל mirrors Al-Harizi's Hebrew, allowing for the possibility of changing one's philosophical opinion from creation to eternity.
• The second תאויל is translated as "arbitrari," suggesting the interpreter can decide in favor of creation, similar to the decision regarding God's incorporeality.
• Al-Harizi's translation, along with its Latin version, allows for the possibility of shifting from philosophical eternity to creation.

Al-Harizi's Translation of Passage II

• Al-Harizi changes the sentence in the passage pertaining to following biblical text even if it contradicts demonstrated truth.
• Al-Harizi's translation suggests always thinking according to the Bible’s literal sense, even if it contradicts demonstrated truth.
• Al-Harizi's translation shifts the focus to the literal interpretation of the Bible affirming creation, not divine corporeality.
• Al-Harizi emphasizes accepting the textual sense of the Bible in all cases, even against demonstrated truth.

Latin Translation of Passage II

• Latin translation closely follows Al-Harizi's text, with only one sentence differing after the major transformation of Passage II.
• Latin translation goes further, saying that we must interpret the demonstrated truth according to the biblical text.
• Bible should be taken literally, and any demonstrated truth that negates it ought to be interpreted to match the Bible.
• Latin translation emphasizes interpreting demonstrated truth according to the Bible's literal meaning if they conflict.
• Latin emphasizes the need to interpret demonstrated truth in light of biblical text.

Al-Harizi's Translation of Passage III

• Al-Harizi's translation of the third passage is substantially similar to the original.
• Modifications in the first two passages ensure they align with the third passage.
• Al-Harizi modified the first two passages to harmonize them with the third passage and the chapter's conclusion.

Conclusion

• Al-Harizi’s translation and its Latin version alter text to create agreement between the two first passages and the continuation of the chapter.
• Al-Harizi's changes align the text to support the literal meaning of the Bible.
• The changes made by Al-Harizi are probably one of the reasons that readers of Al-Harizi see no possibility of interpreting Maimonides as a supporter of eternity.