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Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
Oct 139 min read

What Are First Principles and How Do They Relate to Our Knowledge of God?

Defining First Principles: The Foundation of Knowledge


First principles are the most basic, self-evident truths that serve as the foundation for all other knowledge. These truths are not derived from any other principles but are the very building blocks of thought and reality. Without first principles, it would be impossible to know or demonstrate anything, for they undergird the entire structure of human reasoning and understanding. The Bible supports the idea of fundamental truths upon which all others rest. For example, Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” This affirms that God’s Word, and by extension His truth, forms the unshakeable foundation upon which all other truths must be built.


First principles are indispensable for understanding the nature of reality itself. Everything we know about existence is predicated upon them. For example, the principle of non-contradiction, one of the most basic first principles, asserts that something cannot both be and not be at the same time in the same respect. This principle is affirmed in Scripture, where God is revealed as consistent and unchanging: “For I, Jehovah, do not change” (Malachi 3:6). Thus, God’s nature itself reflects the first principles of reality.



The Principle of Existence: Being Is


One of the most foundational of all first principles is the principle of existence, often expressed as "Being is" (or "B is"). This simply affirms that something exists—there is being. Without this principle, no other truths could be established because, without existence, there is nothing to reason about. The Bible opens with an affirmation of existence: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The existence of God and His creation of the universe are fundamental truths that the rest of Scripture builds upon.

This principle of existence is undeniable. Anyone who tries to deny that something exists must exist in order to make the denial. For instance, if a person claims, "I do not exist," the very act of making such a statement proves that they do exist, for one must exist in order to make a claim or denial of any sort. In essence, existence is the most basic fact of reality, and no rational argument can refute it.



The Principle of Identity: Being Is Being


Another critical first principle is the principle of identity, which asserts that a thing is what it is. For example, if something is a tree, then it is a tree and not something else. This principle affirms that every being is identical to itself, and this is a foundational concept in logic and reasoning. This is mirrored in Scripture, where Jehovah reveals Himself as the "I AM" (Exodus 3:14), emphasizing His self-existent and unchanging nature. The principle of identity is self-evident; without it, no meaningful communication or thought would be possible, for everything would be in a state of confusion.


The Bible reflects the importance of this principle in God's immutable character. Hebrews 13:8 declares, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." The consistency of God's nature reflects the principle that He is always identical to Himself, unchanging and faithful, just as the principle of identity asserts that a being must be what it is.



The Principle of Non-Contradiction: Being Is Not Nonbeing


The principle of non-contradiction is one of the most crucial first principles. It states that being cannot be nonbeing; that is, something cannot both exist and not exist at the same time and in the same respect. This principle is fundamental to rational thought because, without it, there would be no difference between truth and falsehood. The Bible affirms this principle in its declaration of God’s unchanging nature and truthfulness. Titus 1:2 describes God as one “who never lies,” meaning that God is always consistent and truthful, never acting in a way that contradicts His nature.


The principle of non-contradiction also underpins much of the moral reasoning in Scripture. For example, 1 John 1:5 says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” This affirms the absolute distinction between good and evil, light and darkness. Just as a thing cannot be both itself and its opposite, God cannot be both light and darkness; He is entirely good and without any evil.



The Principle of the Excluded Middle: Either Being or Nonbeing


Closely related to the principle of non-contradiction is the principle of the excluded middle, which asserts that there is no middle ground between being and nonbeing. A thing either exists, or it does not. There is no third option. This principle is reflected in the binary nature of much of biblical teaching regarding truth and salvation. Jesus states clearly, “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30), emphasizing that there is no neutral position when it comes to following Him.


The principle of the excluded middle is crucial for clarity in understanding and discerning truth. Just as there is no middle ground between being and nonbeing, so there is no neutral ground between truth and falsehood, righteousness and wickedness, or salvation and condemnation. Joshua 24:15 famously challenges the people of Israel, "Choose this day whom you will serve," highlighting that the decision to follow God is an either-or proposition, with no third option.



The Principle of Causality: Nonbeing Cannot Cause Being


The principle of causality is another indispensable first principle, which asserts that nonbeing cannot cause being. In other words, something cannot come from nothing. This is an essential truth in understanding the nature of God as Creator. Genesis 1:1 declares that God brought the universe into existence, and Hebrews 11:3 elaborates by stating, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” This affirms that only a being that already exists (God) could bring other beings into existence.


This principle also rules out any possibility of spontaneous creation from nothing. Since nonbeing cannot cause anything to exist, the universe must have been caused by a Being that is eternal and self-existent—God. This aligns perfectly with the biblical teaching that God is the uncaused First Cause, the Necessary Being who brings all contingent beings into existence. Revelation 4:11 echoes this truth: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”



The Principle of Contingency: Contingent Beings Cannot Cause Other Contingent Beings


The principle of contingency builds upon the principle of causality by asserting that contingent beings—those that can either exist or not exist—cannot cause other contingent beings. Contingent beings depend on something else for their existence, and that something else must ultimately be a Necessary Being, which is not contingent but exists by its very nature. This principle is critical in understanding the relationship between God and creation.

Psalm 90:2 declares, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” God is not a contingent being; He is eternal and self-existent, and all contingent beings, including the universe and everything in it, depend on Him for their existence. This is further emphasized in Acts 17:28, where Paul proclaims, “In him we live and move and have our being.” All of creation is contingent upon God, who alone is the uncaused Cause.



The Necessity of a Necessary Being


The Bible teaches that God is a Necessary Being, meaning that He must exist and cannot not exist. Unlike contingent beings, which depend on something else for their existence, God exists by the necessity of His own nature. This is affirmed in Exodus 3:14, where God reveals Himself to Moses as “I am what I am,”[1] signifying His self-existence and eternal nature.


The principle of existential necessity affirms that if anything exists—and something clearly does, as we ourselves exist—then there must be a Necessary Being that accounts for the existence of all other beings. This aligns with the biblical portrayal of God as the eternal Creator, upon whom all things depend for their existence. Isaiah 40:28 describes God as “the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth,” underscoring His necessary and eternal nature.



The Principle of Analogy: The Creator-creation Relationship


The principle of analogy holds that the effect must bear some resemblance to its cause. Since God is the ultimate cause of all things, the creation reflects aspects of His nature, though in a finite and imperfect way. Romans 1:20 affirms this, stating, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Creation provides an analogy of God’s power and wisdom, even though it does not fully encapsulate His infinite nature.


This principle is also reflected in the creation of mankind in God's image, as described in Genesis 1:27. Humans, as contingent beings, reflect certain aspects of God's character, such as rationality, morality, and the capacity for relationships. However, while we are made in God's image, we are finite and dependent beings, whereas God is infinite and self-sufficient.



Demonstrating the Existence of God from First Principles


By applying the first principles of existence, causality, and contingency, we can logically arrive at the conclusion that God exists. The argument can be summarized as follows:


  1. Something exists (for example, we ourselves exist).

  2. This something is a contingent being, meaning it could either exist or not exist.

  3. A contingent being cannot cause itself to exist, nor can it be caused by another contingent being, for all contingent beings depend on something else for their existence.

  4. Therefore, there must be a Necessary Being, one that exists by the necessity of its own nature and does not depend on anything else for its existence.

  5. This Necessary Being must be personal, rational, and moral, for we as contingent beings possess these attributes and must reflect, to some degree, the nature of our Creator.

  6. Therefore, the Necessary Being, which we call God, exists and possesses the characteristics traditionally ascribed to Him—eternality, self-existence, omnipotence, and moral perfection.


This argument aligns with the biblical teaching that “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). The very existence of the universe and the order within it point to the reality of a Creator who is both powerful and purposeful.



The Inescapability of First Principles in All Knowledge


As demonstrated, first principles are the foundation of all knowledge, and they cannot be denied without being affirmed. The Bible, as God’s revelation, affirms these basic truths about existence, identity, causality, and contingency, providing the ultimate foundation for understanding the nature of reality and our relationship to God. Romans 1:19-20 speaks of the inescapability of these truths, declaring that what can be known about God is evident because God has made it evident through creation. The denial of these first principles is not merely a rejection of philosophical reasoning but a rejection of the very God who created and upholds all things.


In conclusion, first principles serve as the undeniable foundation upon which all knowledge of reality—and ultimately knowledge of God—rests. These principles affirm that God is the Necessary Being upon whom all contingent beings depend and that His nature is revealed through His creation, His Word, and His eternal power and divine nature.


[1] Or, based on grammar and context, an alternative reading could be, I will be what I will be.


About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).



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