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Welcome to Lesson 200 of the Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course. This milestone lesson focuses on one of the most theologically significant words in the Christian Latin tradition: nihil (nothing, zero, nothingness).
What does “nihil” mean in Ecclesiastical Latin?
In Classical Latin, Roman mathematics had no symbol for zero—the concept was unknown in Western antiquity. When division produced zero as a remainder, the Romans used the word nihil, meaning “nothing.” It was the monk Dionysius Exiguus who, in 525 AD, first used nulla (”none”) alongside Roman numerals in his Easter calculation tables. The mathematical concept of zero arrived in medieval Europe through Arabic transmission of Indian mathematics, eventually giving us Medieval Latin terms like zephyrum (from Arabic ṣifr) and cifra. However, in Ecclesiastical Latin, nihil remained the standard theological and liturgical term for nothingness.
The word nihil holds extraordinary doctrinal weight in Catholic theology. The phrase creatio ex nihilo (creation from nothing) became the cornerstone of Christian cosmology, distinguishing the Biblical account from Greek philosophical traditions that assumed eternal matter. This doctrine, defended by Church Fathers from Theophilus of Antioch through Augustine and Aquinas, asserts that God created the universe not from pre-existing material but from absolute nothingness—ex nihilo.
In the Vulgate, nihil appears in some of the most profound passages of Scripture. The Prologue of John’s Gospel declares: sine ipso factum est nihil, quod factum est (”without Him nothing was made that was made”). Christ Himself uses the word when He tells His disciples: sine me nihil potestis facere (”without me you can do nothing”). The word also appears in the ecclesiastical approval formula Nihil Obstat (”nothing stands in the way”), indicating that a text contains nothing contrary to faith and morals.
In this lesson, we shall explore the word nihil through 30 examples drawn from authentic Catholic texts, the Vulgate, Church Father writings, and traditional doctrine.
Key Takeaways: -
Nihil is an indeclinable noun meaning “nothing” or “nothingness” -
It represents the Latin concept of zero before Arabic numerals reached Europe -
The phrase ex nihilo expresses the fundamental Christian doctrine of creation from nothing -
Nihil appears in foundational Vulgate passages (John 1:3, John 15:5, Hebrews 11:3) -
The ecclesiastical phrase Nihil Obstat uses this word in church approval of texts
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nihil [ˈni.hil] - In Ecclesiastical pronunciation, the ‘h’ is silent, so it sounds like “NEE-eel”; stress falls on the first syllable. Some speakers pronounce it [ˈni.il].
ex nihilō [eks ˈni.hi.loː] - “from nothing”; the ablative form uses the older stem nihilō
nihilum [ˈni.hi.lum] - An alternative form of the word, declined as a second-declension neuter noun
ad nihilum [ad ˈni.hi.lum] - “to nothing, to nought”
prō nihilō [proː ˈni.hi.loː] - “for nothing, as nothing”
Note: The word nihil is typically indeclinable, though the forms nihilō (ablative) and nihilum (accusative) occasionally appear when case is required.
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200.1 Sine without ipsō Him factum made est is nihil nothing ·
200.2 Deus God creāvit created mundum the world ex from nihilō nothing ·
200.3 Sine without mē me nihil nothing potestis you are able facere to do ·
200.4 Nihil nothing obstat stands in the way ·
200.5 Ex from nihilō nothing nihil nothing fit is made ·
200.6 Omnia all things ex from nihilō nothing Deus God fēcit made ·
200.7 Nihil nothing est is impossibile impossible apud with Deum God ·
200.8 Tē you sine without nihil nothing sumus we are ·
200.9 Cor a heart mundum clean creā create in in mē me · Nihil nothing immūndum unclean intrābit shall enter in into regnum the kingdom caelōrum of heavens ·
200.10 Nihil nothing novī of new sub under sōle the sun ·
200.11 Prō as nihilō nothing dūcēbant they considered eum him ·
200.12 Ad to nihilum nothing redigentur they shall be reduced omnēs all inimīcī enemies ēius his ·
200.13 Nihil nothing mihi to me dēest is lacking ·
200.14 Sine without cāritāte charity nihil nothing sum I am ·
200.15 Nihil nothing intulimus we brought in into hunc this mundum world ·
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200.1 Sine ipsō factum est nihil. → “Without Him nothing was made.”
200.2 Deus creāvit mundum ex nihilō. → “God created the world from nothing.”
200.3 Sine mē nihil potestis facere. → “Without me you can do nothing.”
200.4 Nihil obstat. → “Nothing stands in the way.”
200.5 Ex nihilō nihil fit. → “Nothing comes from nothing.”
200.6 Omnia ex nihilō Deus fēcit. → “God made all things from nothing.”
200.7 Nihil est impossibile apud Deum. → “Nothing is impossible with God.”
200.8 Tē sine nihil sumus. → “Without You we are nothing.”
200.9 Cor mundum creā in mē. Nihil immūndum intrābit in regnum caelōrum. → “Create a clean heart in me. Nothing unclean shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
200.10 Nihil novī sub sōle. → “There is nothing new under the sun.”
200.11 Prō nihilō dūcēbant eum. → “They considered him as nothing.”
200.12 Ad nihilum redigentur omnēs inimīcī ēius. → “All his enemies shall be reduced to nothing.”
200.13 Nihil mihi dēest. → “Nothing is lacking to me.”
200.14 Sine cāritāte nihil sum. → “Without charity I am nothing.”
200.15 Nihil intulimus in hunc mundum. → “We brought nothing into this world.”
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200.1 Sine ipsō factum est nihil.
200.2 Deus creāvit mundum ex nihilō.
200.3 Sine mē nihil potestis facere.
200.4 Nihil obstat.
200.5 Ex nihilō nihil fit.
200.6 Omnia ex nihilō Deus fēcit.
200.7 Nihil est impossibile apud Deum.
200.8 Tē sine nihil sumus.
200.9 Cor mundum creā in mē. Nihil immūndum intrābit in regnum caelōrum.
200.10 Nihil novī sub sōle.
200.11 Prō nihilō dūcēbant eum.
200.12 Ad nihilum redigentur omnēs inimīcī ēius.
200.13 Nihil mihi dēest.
200.14 Sine cāritāte nihil sum.
200.15 Nihil intulimus in hunc mundum.
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Grammar Rules for This Passage:
The following are the grammar rules governing the use of nihil in these texts.
1. The Nature of Nihil
Nihil is an indeclinable substantive noun meaning “nothing” or “nothingness.” It derives from ne- (not) + hilum (a small thing, a trifle). In Classical Latin, it typically does not decline, though alternative forms exist: -
Nominative/Accusative: nihil or nihilum -
Genitive: nihilī (rare) or use nūllīus reī (of no thing) -
Dative: typically replaced by nūllī reī (to no thing) -
Ablative: nihilō (from/by nothing)
2. The Phrase Ex Nihilō
The theological formula ex nihilō (from nothing) uses the ablative case after the preposition ex. This phrase became the technical term for the Christian doctrine of creation. Note that while nihil is normally indeclinable, ex nihilō uses the declined ablative form nihilō for grammatical correctness after ex.
3. Nihil as Subject
When nihil serves as the subject of a sentence, the verb takes the third person singular: -
Nihil obstat (Nothing stands in the way) -
Nihil est impossibile (Nothing is impossible) -
Nihil fit (Nothing is made)
4. Nihil with Genitive
The construction nihil + genitive partitive is common in Latin: -
Nihil novī (nothing of new = nothing new) -
Nihil bonī (nothing of good = nothing good)
This is the partitive genitive, indicating “nothing of the category of [noun].”
5. The Preposition Sine with Nihil
The word sine (without) frequently appears with nihil to express total dependence: -
Sine ipsō factum est nihil (Without Him nothing was made) -
Sine mē nihil potestis facere (Without me you can do nothing) -
Tē sine nihil sumus (Without You we are nothing)
Note that sine takes the ablative case. When the object precedes sine (Tē sine), it is for emphasis.
6. Phrases Using Nihil
Several fixed phrases employ nihil: -
Prō nihilō + verb of considering = “to regard as nothing” -
Ad nihilum redigere = “to reduce to nothing, to annihilate” -
Nihil obstat = “nothing stands in the way” (the ecclesiastical approval) -
Ex nihilō nihil fit = “from nothing, nothing comes” (pre-Christian philosophical axiom)
7. Nihil vs. Nūllus
While nihil means “nothing” (a substantive), nūllus, -a, -um means “no, none” (an adjective). Compare: -
Nihil est = “Nothing exists” or “It is nothing” -
Nūlla rēs est = “No thing exists”
The adjective nūllus was used by Dionysius Exiguus in his Easter tables where we might write “0” today.
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The Theological Significance of Nihil in Catholic Doctrine
The word nihil stands at the heart of one of Christianity’s most distinctive theological claims: that God created the universe ex nihilō—from nothing. This doctrine marked a decisive break with Greek philosophy, which held that matter was eternal and that “from nothing, nothing comes” (ex nihilō nihil fit). The Church Fathers, beginning with Theophilus of Antioch in the late second century and reaching full articulation in Augustine of Hippo, insisted that God’s creative power was so absolute that He required no pre-existing material.
The Development of the Doctrine
The phrase creātio ex nihilō does not appear verbatim in Scripture, but the Church derived it from passages such as 2 Maccabees 7:28 (”God made them out of things that did not exist”) and Romans 4:17 (God “calls those things that are not, as those that are”). The doctrine was formally articulated against Gnostic heresies that posited eternal matter as evil. Irenaeus of Lyon, Tertullian, and later Augustine and Aquinas all defended and refined this teaching, which became dogmatically affirmed at the Fourth Lateran Council (1215).
Zero and Medieval Mathematics
Before Arabic numerals reached Europe through figures like Fibonacci in the thirteenth century, Latin had no symbol for zero. The monk Dionysius Exiguus, when calculating Easter dates in 525 AD, used the Latin word nulla (”none”) where we would write “0.” The word nihil also served this function in mathematical contexts. When Arabic ṣifr (zero, empty) arrived in Europe, it was Latinized as zephyrum or cifra—giving us both “zero” and “cipher.”
Nihil Obstat and Church Approval
The phrase Nihil Obstat (”Nothing stands in the way”) is familiar to readers of Catholic books. It appears alongside the Imprimatur (”Let it be printed”) as part of the Church’s pre-publication review process. When a censor librorum determines that a text contains nothing contrary to faith or morals, he writes “Nihil obstat quominus imprimātur“ (Nothing stands in the way of its being printed). This practice reflects the Church’s careful stewardship of doctrine.
The Mystical Dimension
In mystical theology, nihil takes on additional meaning. The concept of the via negativa (negative way) emphasizes what God is not—acknowledging that human concepts cannot adequately describe the Divine. Meister Eckhart and other mystics spoke of the soul’s need to become “nothing” (nihil) before God, emptying itself of created attachments to receive divine grace. This spiritual annihilātio paradoxically leads to the fullness of union with God.
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From the Prologue of St. John’s Gospel (Vulgate, John 1:1-5)
This passage from the Vulgate represents the theological high point of nihil in Scripture.
Part F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
In in prīncipiō the beginning erat was Verbum the Word · et and Verbum the Word erat was apud with Deum God · et and Deus God erat was Verbum the Word · Hoc this erat was in in prīncipiō the beginning apud with Deum God · Omnia all things per through ipsum Him facta made sunt are · et and sine without ipsō Him factum made est is nihil nothing · quod that which factum made est is · In in ipsō Him vīta life erat was · et and vīta life erat was lūx the light hominum of men · Et and lūx the light in in tenebrīs the darkness lūcet shines · et and tenebrae the darkness eam it nōn not comprehendērunt comprehended ·
Part F-B: Natural Translation
In prīncipiō erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc erat in prīncipiō apud Deum. Omnia per ipsum facta sunt, et sine ipsō factum est nihil, quod factum est. In ipsō vīta erat, et vīta erat lūx hominum. Et lūx in tenebrīs lūcet, et tenebrae eam nōn comprehendērunt.
→ “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
Part F-C: Latin Text Only
In prīncipiō erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc erat in prīncipiō apud Deum. Omnia per ipsum facta sunt, et sine ipsō factum est nihil, quod factum est. In ipsō vīta erat, et vīta erat lūx hominum. Et lūx in tenebrīs lūcet, et tenebrae eam nōn comprehendērunt.
Part F-D: Grammar Commentary
This Johannine Prologue presents some of the most elevated Latin in the Vulgate. The phrase sine ipsō factum est nihil, quod factum est employs nihil with devastating theological force: the Word (Verbum) is not merely important to creation—without Him, nihil, absolute nothingness, is all that could have come to be.
Note the punctuation question that occupied medieval commentators: Does the phrase read sine ipsō factum est nihil. Quod factum est, in ipsō vīta erat (making “what was made” the beginning of the next thought)? Or does it read as we have it here? The Vulgate punctuation influences meaning, but either reading affirms the Word’s essential role in all creation.
The construction omnia per ipsum facta sunt uses the perfect passive (facta sunt - “have been made”) to indicate completed action—creation is accomplished. The phrase quod factum est (that which was made) is a relative clause clarifying the scope of nihil: the nothing in question is not absolute void but specifically the category of created things.
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The following examples are drawn from credal statements, hymns, prayers, and doctrinal formulations, demonstrating how nihil functions in formal theological discourse.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text Part F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
In in prīncipiō the beginning erat was Verbum the Word · et and Verbum the Word erat was apud with Deum God · et and Deus God erat was Verbum the Word · Hoc this erat was in in prīncipiō the beginning apud with Deum God · Omnia all things per through ipsum Him facta made sunt are · et and sine without ipsō Him factum made est is nihil nothing · quod that which factum made est is · In in ipsō Him vīta life erat was · et and vīta life erat was lūx the light hominum of men · Et and lūx the light in in tenebrīs the darkness lūcet shines · et and tenebrae the darkness eam it nōn not comprehendērunt comprehended ·