or through other means. The Messenger’s truthfulness is then known through the many methods that demonstrate it. The evidentiary force of miracles is one such method, but the means of recognizing his truthfulness are not confined to miracles. It is then known from the Messenger’s report that the world came into being.

Through reason, it is known (1) that, if the world were pre-eternal, it would be either necessary in itself—which is false, as previously noted (2), since every part of the world depends upon something else, and whatever depends upon something else cannot be necessary in itself—or necessary through another. In the latter case, whatever necessitated it would itself necessitate by its very essence, in the sense (3) that it necessarily entails what it necessitates, whether it is cognizant and willing or (4) not. For if something pre-eternal and beginningless is presumed to be an effect and a product (5), there must be a cause (6) that was complete and necessitated it from pre-eternity. Such is a cause that necessitates by its very essence. Had its originator been a cause that necessitates by its very essence (7)—a complete cause—then no part of its effect (8), or of what it necessitates, could have come after it. Yet temporal events are witnessed in the world, so it is known that its agent is not a complete cause; [and if it were not a complete cause] (9), it would not be pre-eternal.

As for these (10) temporal events in the world, if it is maintained that they are among its inseparable concomitants, it would be impossible for