Creation

Creation may be defined as the act of bringing the world, the animals and the human beings into existence.

According to the biblical texts, God created all things _ex nihilo_, which means there was nothing from which to create (_v.g._ Ps. 33:9; Ps. 148:5). This creative act is attributed (i) to the Godhead as a whole (Gen. 1:1,26), (ii) to the Father (1 Cor. 8:6), (iii) to the Son (John 1:3; Col. 1:16,17) and (iv) to the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Job. 26:13, Ps. 104:30), which adds to the confirmation of a triune God.

Two different Hebrew words are used for the creation act in the Old Testament. When referring to the _ex nihilo_ creation, the verb used is _bara’_, a verb used throughout the Old Testament only for God’s creative action (Isa. 42:5; Am. 4:13). The reference to the creation of Man (in which God used pre-existing matter) is made with the verb _’asah_, which is also used for human actions (Gen. 13:4; 1 Sam. 6:5).

Interestingly, the LXX makes no distinction between the two verbs, translating both by the Greek verb _poieo_, thus failing to convey the important difference between _ex nihilo_ and _ex materia_ creation.

In 1844, the naturalist Charles Darwin finished his research on the origin of species, published shortly afterwards (1886), in which he tried to prove that mankind was the result of genetic mutations. Through those mutations the primeval cells would have evolved into what we know today as planet Earth and all its life. Since the, evolution is said to have become the dogma of the scientific establishments.

The scientific geologic research required to demonstrate the fact that evolution could not occur (and did not occur), has, nevertheless, been accomplished, providing also strong support to the theory of a supernatural willing intervention of a Supreme Being in creation. The well-established theological teaching of creation is, therefore, matched by the scientific theory.

Creation traditions are found in the records of ancient civilizations. Greece, Egypt, Babylon, Mesoamerica (Mexico / Peru) and China have known creation traditions. With the exception of the Miautso, a Chinese people that have a poetic tradition closely related to the Genesis history, these traditions present substantial differences from the biblical history probably caused by human creativity and lack of acceptance of the true God.

Bible authors are consistent in their belief about creation. From Moses (Gen, 1:1; Deut. 4:32) to Malachi (2:10), from the prophet (Isaiah 41:20) to the Wise (Eccl. 12:1), from the Singer (Ps. 89:12,47) to the prophet (Am. 4:13), from Marc (10:6) to the Angel (Rev. 14:7), every one of God’s spokesmen acknowledges creation as the first blessing given by God.