uncreated

Uncreated is an adjective meaning not created or not produced by creation. It is used to describe something that has existence outside the act of creating, or that has no origin in time. In religious and philosophical discourse, uncreated often denotes the source of all that exists, distinguished from created beings.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from the prefix un- and the past participle created. In English, uncreated appears primarily in theological and philosophical contexts rather than ordinary speech. When referring to the divine, it is sometimes capitalized as The Uncreated to emphasize a being or principle that cannot be originated by anything else.

Theological usage: In Christian thought, the uncreated nature of God is a common theme, underscoring God’s eternity, simplicity, and primal source of all creation. Creation ex nihilo (creation out of nothing) is frequently paired with the claim that God is uncreated. In Eastern Orthodoxy, the phrase The Uncreated is used to stress God’s transcendence and timelessness. The term also appears in mystical literature; for example, the Uncreated Light refers to a divine radiance experienced in contemplation or in theophanic revelation, described as emanating from God rather than produced by creation.

Philosophical and other uses: Outside theology, uncreated can describe entities considered not produced by any act of creation, such as necessary beings or abstract objects in certain metaphysical frameworks. In literature or popular discourse, the term may be used symbolically to evoke timeless or primordial forces, but such usage is informal and not canonical.

See also: creation ex nihilo, divine simplicity, uncreated light.