If it were possible for something to which we apply the term ‘events’ to exist without origination and without having come from nonexistence, while nevertheless being truly originated, then the celestial sphere too, along with these accidents, would have to exist without origination and without having come from nonexistence, while nevertheless being originated rather than eternal. The same argument applies to the remaining bodies of the world, which are composed of these elements. If this were possible, it would be possible for all the bodies of the world.

If, however, this is impossible, and the celestial sphere must be eternal because it has not come from nonexistence and exists without origination, then whatever among events has not come from nonexistence, and whatever among them exists without origination, must likewise be eternal. This entails that some events are eternal—the height of contradiction and ignorance for anyone who reaches such a conclusion, since these two descriptions contradict one another. Thus, your assertion that events have always existed, one before another, without any beginning, is impossible.

He said:

“To state the matter precisely: this claim necessarily entails that some of them are eternal. What is eternal cannot be originated, nor can it be composed of events, for our term ‘originated’ is a plural formed from a single word, and it is impossible for the eternal to be included among events. Events must therefore form a whole, a complete totality, and those of them that have elapsed and passed must all have come to an end. Whatever did not precede them and did not exist before them must therefore be originated like them.”