CCC 296

We believe that God needs no pre-existent thing or any help in order to create, nor is creation any sort of necessary emanation from the divine substance.¹⁴⁴ Cf. Dei Filius, cann. 2-4: DS 3022-3024DS — Denzinger–Schönmetzer (Enchiridion Symbolorum). God creates freely "out of nothing":¹⁴⁵ Lateran Council IV (1215): DS 800DS — Denzinger–Schönmetzer (Enchiridion Symbolorum); cf. DS 3025DS — Denzinger–Schönmetzer (Enchiridion Symbolorum).

If God had drawn the world from pre-existent matter, what would be so extraordinary in that? A human artisan makes from a given material whatever he wants, while God shows his power by starting from nothing to make all he wants.¹⁴⁶ St. Theophilus of Antioch, Ad Autolycum II, 4: PG 6, 1052PG — Patrologia Graeca (Migne).