Creation Week refers to the biblical account of the universe's origin as described in the Book of Genesis, chapters 1 and 2. This foundational narrative outlines a six-day period during which God created the heavens, the earth, and all living things, culminating in a day of rest. The Creation Week is central to understanding the biblical worldview of God's sovereignty, the nature of humanity, and the order of creation.

Day 1: Light and Darkness

The Creation Week begins with God creating light, distinguishing it from darkness. Genesis 1:3-5 states, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'day,' and the darkness He called 'night.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." This act establishes the cycle of day and night, setting the stage for the subsequent creative acts.

Day 2: The Expanse

On the second day, God creates the expanse, or firmament, to separate the waters. Genesis 1:6-8 records, "And God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.' So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. God called the expanse 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day." This division forms the sky and establishes the structure of the heavens.

Day 3: Land, Seas, and Vegetation

The third day involves the gathering of waters to reveal dry land and the creation of vegetation. Genesis 1:9-13 describes, "And God said, 'Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.' And it was so. God called the dry land 'earth,' and the gathering of waters He called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good. Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth vegetation, seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.' And it was so." This day marks the emergence of plant life, providing sustenance for future creatures.

Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars

On the fourth day, God creates the celestial bodies to govern time and seasons. Genesis 1:14-19 states, "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.' And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth, to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good." These lights serve as markers for time and guide the rhythms of life on earth.

Day 5: Marine Life and Birds

The fifth day sees the creation of marine life and birds. Genesis 1:20-23 records, "And God said, 'Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.' So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed, according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them and said, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day." This day introduces the diversity of life in the seas and skies.

Day 6: Land Animals and Humanity

On the sixth day, God creates land animals and humanity. Genesis 1:24-31 states, "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.' God also said, 'Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.' And it was so. And God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day." Humanity, created in the image of God, is given dominion over the earth and its creatures, highlighting the unique role and responsibility of humans in creation.

Day 7: The Sabbath Rest

The seventh day is marked by God's rest, establishing the Sabbath. Genesis 2:1-3 concludes, "Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing, so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished." This day of rest signifies the completion of creation and sets a pattern for the rhythm of work and rest in human life.

The Creation Week narrative is foundational to the biblical understanding of the world, emphasizing God's intentional design, the inherent goodness of creation, and the special place of humanity within it.