Part 1: The Doctrine of Creation
The book of Genesis stands as the foundational text for many core doctrines of the Christian faith. This series, “Genesis: The Foundation of Biblical Doctrines,” aims to establish the profound importance of this ancient book in shaping our understanding of fundamental biblical truths and to explore the very bedrock upon which these doctrines are built.
To begin, let us define what we mean by “creation.” The term carries two primary senses: it refers both to the act or process of creating, and to the thing that is created. In the biblical narrative, specific Hebrew words illuminate the distinct nature of God’s creative work.
- Heb. bara’ (Grk. ktizein): This word means “to create” in an absolute sense, implying creation ex nihilo – out of nothing. Significantly, bara’ is exclusively used to describe God’s creative activity, never that of humans (Genesis 1:1).
- Heb. asah (Grk. poiein): Meaning “to make,” this word often refers to shaping or forming from existing material.
- Heb. yatsar (Grk. plasso): This term means “to form,” emphasizing the shaping of something, as seen in the creation of man.
Our focus for this article is The Doctrine of Creation, which can be defined as the act of God whereby He, according to His sovereign will, in the beginning brought forth the whole visible and invisible universe without the use of pre-existing material, for His own glory. This doctrine primarily centers on God’s creative act as described in Genesis chapters 1 and 2.
Creation is an Act of God
A central truth of creation is that God alone is the Creator.
Isaiah 44:24 (NASB 2020): “This is what the Lord says, He who is your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb: ‘I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth alone.'”
Isaiah 45:12 (NASB 2020): “It is I who made the earth, and created mankind upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands, And I ordained all their lights.”
This stands in stark contrast to the polytheistic beliefs prevalent in the ancient world, where various deities were often responsible for different aspects of creation. Babylonian and Canaanite stories, for example, depict their gods struggling in chaotic creative acts. Genesis, however, presents one supreme God who simply speaks things into existence, effortlessly bringing order out of chaos. Furthermore, ancient myths often portray deities as being indifferent or even hostile to the existence of humanity. The “Atrahasis epic,” for instance, describes humans being created out of necessity and then subsequently targeted for annihilation due to overpopulation. In stark contrast, Genesis describes God creating man as the culmination of His work, with deliberate intention and joy (“Let Us make mankind…”), and immediately bestowing His blessing upon them.
Creation is a Free Act of God
God’s creative work was not a compelled act but a free expression of His will and for His pleasure.
Revelation 4:11 (NASB 2020): “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Colossians 1:16 (NASB 2020): “for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
God’s Creative Act in Three Stages
The biblical account of creation can be understood in three distinct stages, moving from the vast cosmic universe to a habitable earth, and finally to the pinnacle of creation: humanity.
First Stage: The Heavens and the Earth – The Cosmic Universe
Genesis 1:1 describes the creation of the universe itself: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This initial stage of creation was ex nihilo (out of nothing).
Hebrews 11:3 (NASB 2020): “By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.”
The universe was brought into existence by the powerful Word of God.
Psalm 148:2–5 (NASB 2020): “Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His heavenly armies! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! They are to praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created.”
John 1:1–3 (NASB 2020): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.”
This creation by the Word implies that it was made by things not seen.
Romans 4:17 (NASB 2020): “(as it is written: “I have made you A father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that do not exist.”
Psalm 33:6–9 (NASB 2020): “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their lights. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He puts the depths in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood firm.”
The word “beginning” introduces the concept of time itself. It is a starting point, establishing a distinction between the eternal Creator, who has no beginning or end, and His creation, which does. This initial act of creation thus bears three distinct marks:
- Time: “in the beginning”
- Space: God created “the heavens”
- Matter: “and the earth”
Second Stage: The Earth – To Make it Habitable for Mankind
The second stage of creation involved transforming the earth from a state of chaos to one of order and habitability.
Genesis 1:2 (NASB 2020): “And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”
While the universe was already a cosmos (an ordered system), the earth itself was “formless and empty,” a chaotic state not yet prepared for human habitation. God does not create waste places but forms them to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18 (NASB 2020): “For this is what the Lord says, He who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it as a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited): ‘I am the Lord, and there is no one else.'”
By the end of this stage, God declared everything He had made to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). How did God achieve this orderly creation? Through several key principles:
- Separation: God separated things that must not be joined, bringing distinction and order.
- Light from darkness (Genesis 1:3–5)
- Waters above from waters below (Genesis 1:6–8)
- Life and Production: God created life that could reproduce “according to its kind,” ensuring continuity and diversity.
- Plant life (Genesis 1:11–12)
- Animal life (Genesis 1:20–25)
- Times and Seasons: God established celestial bodies to mark seasons, days, and years, creating rhythm and predictability in the created order.
- Sun, moon, and stars for signs and seasons (Genesis 1:14–19)
- Dominion or Rule: God determined that humanity would be in charge of His creation, exercising stewardship over it.
- Mankind to rule over all living creatures (Genesis 1:26–28)
- Rest: God instituted the principle of rest, completing His creative work and establishing a pattern for His creation.
- God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:1–3)
These principles are essential for life in order and in accordance with God’s design. Remove any one of them, and the result is chaos. Take away the separation of light and darkness, the authority of rule, reproduction by kind, or the seasons, and disorder ensues.
Third Stage: The First Man and Woman in Eden – Man, a New Creation
Genesis 2:4 marks the beginning of the third stage of creation, focusing specifically on humanity’s unique creation.
Genesis 2:4 (NASB 2020): “This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven.”
Man was created in a new and distinct way:
Genesis 1:27 (NASB 2020): “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Genesis 2:7 (NASB 2020): “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person.”
Humanity bears the image of the Creator, yet was also a secondary creation, formed “out of the ground.” The ultimate purpose of this third stage of creation, particularly the creation of man and woman, was fellowship. God desired to have a family, beings who bore His image and with whom He could have a relationship.
Creation for God’s Glory
Ultimately, the entire purpose of creation is to celebrate the attributes of God and bring Him glory.
Revelation 4:11 (NASB 2020): “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Isaiah 43:7 (NASB 2020): “Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”
Conclusion
The Doctrine of Creation, as revealed in Genesis, firmly establishes these foundational truths:
- God is the only Creator. He alone possesses the absolute power to bring forth existence.
- God created the heavens and the earth ex nihilo – out of nothing. His power is not limited by pre-existing materials.
- God created the earth to be inhabited by His people. His design is purposeful and benevolent.
- God created man to become His own children, bearing His image. This highlights the unique relationship God desires with humanity.
- God is the final end of all creation. Everything exists for His glory and pleasure.
This understanding of creation sets the stage for all other biblical doctrines, laying the groundwork for our comprehension of God’s character, His plan for humanity, and His ultimate sovereignty over all things. In our next article, we will delve into another crucial doctrine revealed in Genesis.
