The concept of "creates" in the Bible is foundational to understanding God's nature and His relationship with the world. The Hebrew word often translated as "create" is "bara," which signifies the act of bringing something into existence from nothing, a divine prerogative attributed solely to God. This entry explores the theological significance of creation as depicted in the Scriptures.

Creation by God

The Bible begins with the profound declaration of God's creative power: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). This verse establishes God as the ultimate Creator, who, by His word, brings forth the universe and all it contains. The creation account in Genesis 1 details a systematic and purposeful act of creation over six days, culminating in the creation of humanity, made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27).

Creation of Humanity

The creation of human beings is a unique act that underscores the special relationship between God and humanity. Genesis 2:7 describes this intimate act: "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being" . This highlights the personal and intentional nature of God's creative work, setting humans apart from the rest of creation.

Sustaining Creation

God's creative work is not limited to the initial act of creation; He continues to sustain and uphold the universe. Colossians 1:16-17 affirms this ongoing role: "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" . This passage emphasizes Christ's preeminence and His sustaining power over creation.

New Creation

The theme of creation extends into the New Testament with the concept of a "new creation" in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" . This transformative act of spiritual renewal is likened to a new creation, signifying the profound change that occurs in a believer's life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Creation and Worship

The act of creation is a central reason for worshiping God. Revelation 4:11 declares, "Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created" . This acknowledgment of God's creative authority inspires reverence and adoration, recognizing His sovereignty over all that exists.

Creation and Redemption

The narrative of creation is intricately linked to the account of redemption. Romans 8:19-21 speaks of creation's eager expectation for liberation from its "bondage to decay" and its participation in the "freedom of the glory of the children of God" . This eschatological hope points to a future restoration of creation, aligning with God's redemptive plan through Christ.

Conclusion

The biblical theme of creation reveals God's omnipotence, wisdom, and love. It serves as a foundation for understanding humanity's purpose, the call to stewardship, and the hope of redemption. Through creation, God not only demonstrates His power but also His desire for a relationship with His creation, ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.2939. ktistes -- a creator
... creator, God. Cognate: 2939 -- properly, one who creates out of nothing
(Latin ); (used only in 1 Pet 4:19). See 2936 (). 1 Pet ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2939.htm - 7k1254a. bara -- to shape, create
... root Definition to shape, create NASB Word Usage brings about (1), clear (2), create
(6), created (32), creates (1), creating (3), Creator (4), cut them down (1 ...
/hebrew/1254a.htm - 5k

God Alone Creates those Things which are Changed by Magic Art.
... Book III. Chapter 8."God Alone Creates Those Things Which are Changed by
Magic Art. 13. Yet it is not on this account to be thought ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 8 god alone creates those.htm

Omnipotence Creates Good Things Differing in Degree. In Every ...
... Against the Epistle of Manich??us Called Fundamental. Chapter 25. "Omnipotence
Creates Good Things Differing in Degree. In Every ...
/.../chapter 25 name creates good.htm

Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
... Passover. (Time: One Year.) XXXIV. Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
^A Matt.VIII.2-4; ^B Mark 1:40-45; ^C Luke 5:12-16. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxiv jesus heals a leper.htm

God not the Author of the Evil in those whom He Creates.
... Book II. Chapter 32 [XVII.]"God Not the Author of the Evil in Those Whom
He Creates. Then, does God feed the children of perdition ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 32 xvii god not the.htm

Whether the Exclusive Word "Alone" Should be Added to the ...
... alone is Father," since man also is a father; nor, again, can it be applied as regards
the latter, for, if this saying were true, "God alone creates," it would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the exclusive word alone.htm

Foundation of Moral Obligation.
... [1] For example, the nature or intrinsic value of the highest well-being of God
and of the universe, creates the relation of intrinsic fitness between it and ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture v foundation of moral.htm

Objections to the Foregoing Proof. Whether, in the Generation of ...
... Or why is it that, on hearing that God has a Son, they deny Him by the parallel
of themselves; whereas, if they hear that He creates and makes, no longer do ...
/.../chapter vii objections to the foregoing.htm

How could the Incorporeal God Breathe Out of Himself a Corporeal ...
... Behold, according to the teaching of this scribe, God creates a breath, not out
of something else which exists in some way or other, and not out of that which ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 9 v how could the.htm

Defense of Eusebius Pamphilus.
... For behold he who confirms the thunder, creates the Spirit, and announces his Christ
unto men": ...has not used the word "he who creates" in the sense of makes ...
/.../chapter xxi defense of eusebius pamphilus.htm

Purity.
... II. The application of the principle. Here we have the same principle again; each
man creates his own world. ... The eye creates the outward world it sees. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/robertson/sermons preached at brighton/x purity.htm

Creates (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Creates (4 Occurrences). ... All things indeed are clean, however
it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. (WEB). ...
/c/creates.htm - 7k

Creation (35 Occurrences)
... For God creates not being that can exist independently of Him, His preserving
agency being inseparably connected with His creative power. ...
/c/creation.htm - 34k

Psychology
... Whichever theory we accept, the difficulties are great either way. For if God creates
a soul, that soul must be pure and sinless and stainless at birth. ...
/p/psychology.htm - 38k

Moses (9295 Occurrences)
... with it. But it seems to very many that the critical analysis creates more
difficulties in the narrative than it relieves. It is ...
/m/moses.htm - 53k

Netophah (2 Occurrences)
... respect it is most plausible to identify it with NEPHTOAH (which see), although
the disappearance of the terminal guttural in the latter creates a difficulty. ...
/n/netophah.htm - 9k

Nephtoah (2 Occurrences)
... The Talmud is not a sufficiently trustworthy guide when unsupported by other evidence,
and the identification creates great difficulty with the boundary line. ...
/n/nephtoah.htm - 9k

Overthrow (48 Occurrences)
... Romans 14:20 Don't overthrow God's work for food's sake. All things indeed are clean,
however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. ...
/o/overthrow.htm - 21k

Jacob's (34 Occurrences)
... patriarch Jacob. This creates a strong presumption in favor of the tradition:
and there is no good reason to doubt its truth. Standing ...
/j/jacob's.htm - 23k

Food's (1 Occurrence)
... Romans 14:20 Don't overthrow God's work for food's sake. All things indeed are clean,
however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. ...
/f/food's.htm - 6k

Treads (19 Occurrences)
... Amos 4:13 For, behold, he who forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares
to man what is his thought; who makes the morning darkness, and treads on ...
/t/treads.htm - 12k

What happened on each of the days of Creation? | GotQuestions.org

Would a human clone have a soul? | GotQuestions.org

Is atheism a religion? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus