Let's assume that he wasn't serious when he said, "from nothing," but that he meant only "from no matter." So Hawking says that once upon a time the universe [space-time manifold] did not exist. There is a "beginning" or "finiteness" to time," and therefore an "outside" to time. And the laws of physics somehow exist outside of time. He equates the "creation of the universe" with the "becoming of matter." And logically prior to this "becoming" stands a principle, a set of laws described by quantum theory. (This is logically prior, not prior in time. Time commences with the becoming of matter.)
So: Law precedes Matter and is the cause of it. This makes the Law the formal cause - i.e., "the form-specifying principle" - of that which would otherwise be formless. By bringing form to "formless matter" the Law brings matter as we know it into being. And we're back to Aristotle!
Formless matter, the πρώτη ὕλη (prote hyle),is incorporeal because it is no actual body -- though it is the necessary underlying condition for bodies. So the prime matter is formless or chaotic and because it has no physical existence we can call it a "void."
So according to Hawking, there was a beginning; and in the beginning was the Law and the Law was all there was; and without the Law nothing came to be. And the Law was an immaterial being that was pure λογοϛ. And this Law gave form to the void of pure potency, prime matter.
Wait a minute.....
Something about that sounds awfully familiar. Didn't someone say all that and say it more poetically a long time ago?
But I don't think Hawking realized he was paraphrasing that.
Heh.
BTW, I radically shortened and simplified this from Mike Flynn's Journal.
Making heads and tails of Flynn's much fuller and more painstakingly logical presentation, he concludes that Hawking proves the existence of God. Great fun! So, quantum this: