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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Theophylact of Ohrid
"Out of water," as the material cause, and "by water," as the perfecting cause, for water holds the earth together, binding its dust and giving it solidity, and were it not for this, the earth would turn into dust and air. Some idle talker might perhaps object to us: why did God, who created the visible world, not create it solid from the beginning, so that it would be necessary to bring it to perfection under Noah through the flood, and at the end of the world, as Peter now says, through fire? …
Oecumenius
For they willingly do not know that the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water by the word of God. "and the earth standing out of the water." The earth indeed from water as from a material principle, but through water as through a perfecting principle. For water contains the earth like a certain glue that is to it; unless it were to touch it, it would necessarily dissolve and be carried into the air. …
Western Saints
Bede
For this is hidden from them willingly, that the heavens existed long ago and the earth, out of water, etc. The earth consists out of water, for at the beginning of creation God said: "Let the waters be gathered together in one place, and let the dry land appear;" and it was so (Gen. I). …
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