Topical Bible: Creation: The Formation of Things Which had No Previous Existence

◄ Creation: The Formation of Things Which had No Previous Existence ►

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Creation, as described in the Bible, refers to the divine act by which God brought the universe and all its contents into existence. This foundational concept is rooted in the opening chapters of Genesis and is affirmed throughout Scripture. The doctrine of creation underscores the belief that God is the ultimate source of all that exists, having formed everything from nothing (ex nihilo).

Biblical Account of Creation

The primary biblical narrative of creation is found in Genesis 1 and 2. Genesis 1:1-2 states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." This passage introduces the creative work of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and power.

The six days of creation detail the systematic and purposeful formation of the world:

1. Day One: God created light, separating it from darkness, and called the light "day" and the darkness "night" (Genesis 1:3-5).
2. Day Two: God made an expanse to separate the waters, calling it "sky" (Genesis 1:6-8).
3. Day Three: God gathered the waters to reveal dry ground, naming it "land," and brought forth vegetation (Genesis 1:9-13).
4. Day Four: God created the sun, moon, and stars to govern the day and night and to serve as signs for seasons, days, and years (Genesis 1:14-19).
5. Day Five: God filled the waters with living creatures and the sky with birds (Genesis 1:20-23).
6. Day Six: God created land animals and mankind, made in His own image, to rule over the earth and its creatures (Genesis 1:24-31).

On the seventh day, God rested, sanctifying it as a day of rest (Genesis 2:1-3).

Theological Significance

The creation account establishes several key theological principles:

· God's Sovereignty: The narrative affirms God's absolute authority and control over all creation. As the Creator, God is distinct from His creation and exercises dominion over it.
· Order and Purpose: The structured sequence of creation days reflects God's intentional design and purpose. Each element of creation is declared "good," highlighting the inherent value and orderliness of God's work.
· Humanity's Unique Role: Being created in the image of God (imago Dei), humans hold a special place in creation. This status confers dignity and responsibility, as humanity is tasked with stewardship over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28).

Creation in Other Biblical Texts

The theme of creation is echoed throughout the Bible. The Psalms frequently celebrate God's creative power, as seen in Psalm 19:1 : "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Similarly, the New Testament reaffirms creation, with John 1:3 stating, "Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made."

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 1:20 , emphasizes that God's invisible qualities and divine nature are evident in creation, leaving humanity without excuse for unbelief. The book of Revelation also points to creation, ascribing worship to God as the Creator of all things (Revelation 4:11).

Creation and Science

The relationship between the biblical account of creation and scientific explanations of the universe's origins is a topic of ongoing discussion. Many conservative Christians uphold a literal interpretation of the Genesis account, viewing it as a historical and factual description of how God created the world. This perspective often contrasts with scientific theories such as evolution and the Big Bang, which some Christians seek to reconcile with their faith through various interpretative frameworks.

Conclusion

The doctrine of creation remains a central tenet of Christian theology, affirming God's role as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. It provides a foundation for understanding the world, humanity's place within it, and the nature of God's relationship with His creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 4:17
(As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who vivifies the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Power of God Fully Competent to Effect the Resurrection of the ...
... it an origin and a maker, and ascribe its creation to our ... into nothing; or if He
moulded other things out of ... of the flesh is easier than its first formation. ...
/.../tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xi the power of god.htm

The Truth is to be Found Nowhere Else but in the Catholic Church ...
... Heresies are of recent formation, and cannot trace their ... heaven and earth, and all
things therein, by ... His surpassing love towards His creation, condescended to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/irenaeus/against heresies/chapter iv the truth is to.htm

Then, Having Shown that Eunomius' Calumny against the Great Basil ...
... to corruption, or of non-existence before formation: but as ... which was lacking is
added by creation to existing ... reason of a deficiency in the nature of things. ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 4 then having shown.htm

He Further Shows that the Pretemporal Generation of the Son is not ...
... the birth of corporeal beings, or the formation of things ... He gave them as the memorial
of the creation, not the ... If these things are far removed from the point ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 3 he further shows.htm

God Alone Creates those Things which are Changed by Magic Art.
... evil in pretence; [386] so in the creation of visible ... the wisdom of God, by which
all things are created ... inwardly within itself the rule of formation, which it ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 8 god alone creates those.htm

Some Considerations in Reply Eulogistic of the Flesh it was ...
... harshest, accord to our God the entire formation of man ... In the first place, because
all things were made by ... he might not be compared with the rest of creation. ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter v some considerations in reply.htm

Book xii. At Length, with the Holy Ghost Speeding Our Way...
... since the birth precedes causation, but the creation takes place ... was created, on
account of the formation of the ... by the side of Him Who was forming all things. ...
/.../the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book xii at length with.htm

Excerpts of Theodotus;
... then God is the sole author of our creation. ... is thus assumed into conjunction in
the process of formation. ... not the cause of the production of things, but are ...
/.../theodotus/excerpts of theodotus/excerpts of theodotus.htm

Explanation of the Words of Christ, "No Man Knoweth the Father ...
... of the world; and by means of the formation [of man ... from the Spirit, from angels,
from the creation itself, from ... in all things, and through all things, there is ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter vi explanation of the words.htm

The Third Theological Oration.
... before you discover the laws of composition, formation, manifestation, and ... why, but
because humanity does not consist in direct creation? ... Why, of all things. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxix the third theological.htm