he was absent of something prior to creation. to be absent of something means that one has the capacity to add something. for instance, if i am missing a tooth, i have the capacity to gain a tooth. if i am missing an eye, i have the capacity to gain an eye. were i to gain an eye then something about my being would change. thus, if i have the capacity to gain something, i have the capacity to change (if a then b, if b, then c, therefore if a then c). if god had a need then he had the capacity to fulfill that need and therefore had 