God as CreatorRevision

Genesis One: First Creation Story

• God creator of the Universe. • God’s Word is the creating agent • World comes about through his command.

1. Light, day, night2. Separation of waters – heaven and earth3. Dry land, vegetation4. Sun, moon, stars, seasons, days, years5. Birds, fish6. Animals, man (in God’s image)7. Rest

Genesis Two: Second Creation Story

• Relationship between God and man, • God gave man stewardship over the animals and

plants • Lead to the epistemic distance or the Fall of man

from paradise and God's Grace.

• Even though this may seem a passage of a vengeful and bitter God, God clothes them before sending them out of paradise and gives humans free will to turn back to God and freely love him.

• God guides mankind through life on earth by granting the Decalogue.

• Throughout both stories, God is seen to be working to a Plan.

• There is purpose and intention behind his creation. • He is not only a creator but a craftsman.

• In both stories God is completely responsible for the creation of the world.

• God is seen to take certain pride over His creation.

• If you compare the story with other ‘Creation Myths’ the Biblical account is remarkably restrained.

• E.g Chinese myth ‘Pan Ku’ in which the giant’s body decomposes after his death. Various parts of his body become parts of the world (the parasites living in his hair become the people of the World.)

Creation StoriesIn essay you must:• Show how God is involved in creation. • God as a craftsman. • Qualities of God in relation to the two Genesis stories.

E.G. God creates by his word (shows omnipotence - explain); as He speaks the universe comes to be (shows he is transcendent, external- explain) and all that comes to be is good (Omni benevolent.) The second creation story speaks of the relationship between God and man and how the epistemic distance between God and man happened.

• It is not enough just to put the words in brackets you must explain these ideas!

• Focus on creation of mankind not just universe.• Second account deals with what may seem as flaws in

God's creation – fall of mankind (don’t forget that man did not turn away from God though.)

• Discuss creatio ex nihilo.

We have not studied biblical passages in great detail because in the exam you do not need to describe the stories. All you need to do is relate key quotes to the outlines of stories e.g. Creation and Egyptians. It is the quotes and the explanation that gets marks.

Explain all quotes. What do they mean? Why are they relevant?? E.g. ‘in other words this quote means……’ ‘therefore’ ‘this shows’ ‘this demonstrates the idea that…’

Creation is not just mentioned in Genesis one and two but throughout the bible. Why?

Mark 10:"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.

Romans 1:For since the creation of the world God's invisible

qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen.

Isiah 40:The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

Goodness of God:• Psalm 145• The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has

made. • (In a question looking at goodness of God you can look at Plato’s

Euthroytho dilemma as well. )

All powerful omnipotent:• Exodus 14• And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed

against the Egyptians.• (link to the idea of God as Guide/ Saviour – mention the 10

plagues sent in order to free his people from slavery)

All Loving Omni - Benevolent: • Psalm25• All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who

keep the demands of his covenant. (Link to the 10 commandments)

Eternal: Deuteronomy 33The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting

arms.

Guide: • Exodus 15 • In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Protector: • Psalm 116• The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need,

he saved me.

All knowing - Omniscience: • Hebrews 4:• Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.

Perfect:• 2 Samuel 22• "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.

Lawgiver: • Concept of God as lawgiver (Decalogue, Covenant, 613 Mitzvot) and as a

judge (pharaoh, Egyptians)• James 4:

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.

Creatio Ex Nihilo = Creation from nothing.It is the belief that God created the whole universe, along

with everything in existence, out of nothing.

This is a deliberate action by God and one that is Good.

It means that God is the master of the world, God is active, yet remains outside of his creation.

Augustine of Hippo argued that time was also created when God created ex nihilo. There was no ‘before’ creation because there was no time.

Creatio Ex NihilioExample answer:

God created everything out of nothing. This is called Creation Ex Nihilio. It is the idea that there was nothing in existence before God, God created everything from nothing.

If God himself is good then all the universe and mankind which he created will also be good and we will be able to experience the Goodness of God through his creation (mention aspiring to God’s goodness/ perfection in this life.)

Continue answer:

This is shown in Genesis 1:10: “God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.”

In other words if God saw everything as good and creation started from nothing, solely from God, then God too must be good in order to create goodness in his creation.

This not only shows God as good but God as creator, craftsman and thus protector over his people. (– link to how God good to his people.)

(This could easily be the answer to a question on creation or Creatio Ex Nihilio as well.)

“In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was formless and

desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the power of God was moving over the

water.” Genesis 1:1-2

Write in your own words what this is saying.

• Is the passage an example of Creatio Ex Nihilio

Or is this a description of God bringing order to chaos that already exists?

• Can something come from nothing?

• What are the implications of different interpretations?

Consider:

Critics:-

Many argue creation was started out of eternally pre-existent matter or “Creatio ex materia.“

This not only removes God’s omnipotence but also God’s deliberate action.

TheologiansBultmann: Creation stories are not to be

taken literally, but are myths constructed to communicate important truths regarding humanity.

De Chardin: Creation is a process of evolution. Through Jesus, human history can reach the climax of existence (Omega Point.) God is not unchanging but active in the here and now.

Key Stories:• Creation: Creation stories one and two - Genesis

• Noah= Genesis 6:13So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.”

• Moses/ Egyptians: Exodus is all about Moses. Exodus 14:26Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."

• This story in Exodus includes: the 10 plagues set on Egypt because God sent Moses to have the slaves (Israelites) freed when Pharaoh said no, the plagues started. Each time there was a plague Moses went back to Pharaoh who kept saying no. This shows God’s patience, God gave pharaoh the chance. After the death of the first born son (last plague), pharaoh sets the slaves free who escape out of Egypt. They come to the Red Sea which Moses parts through the power of God – miracle and then crashes the sea back on the Egyptians and Pharaoh who were following (possible seen as vengeful). Whilst in the desert Moses goes to Mount Sinai to receive the 10 commandments (Decalogue) – relationship between God and man established– God lawgiver.

• Miracles: Matthew 9 “The blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe

that I am able to do this?“ "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored.”

• Miracles that Christ performs = God acting through Christ. Goodness of God shown in the miracles stories e.g. New Testament feeding of 5000 (Matthew 15:29 ) Old Testament: The Flood Noah (Genesis 7:6) Parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14) Creating Everything (Genesis 1:1)

• Ten Commandments (Decalogue): Exodus 24 “The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and

stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction.”

(1. You shall have no other gods before me. 2. You shall not make for yourselves an idol. 3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. 4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 5. Honour your father and your mother. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour. 10. You shall not covet.)

The first four commandments are about the relationship between God and mankind. The other 6 are how mankind should treat each other.

How to answer a question

• Examiners have noted that in the past people’s answers have been ‘woolly’ only describing stories with no references.

• You must use references from the Bible BUT do not list lots of examples of e.g. God’s goodness from Biblical passages, you have to explain what they mean.

Plato Judeo• Ideal Forms of all things

exist.• Abstract Form of Good as

the supreme form.• Emphasis on knowledge

• Best life = as philosopher

• Phenomenal world not real

• World of forms changeless

• No belief in forms• Belief in God who is

supremely good but active and personal.

• Emphasis on fellowship and trust in all power God

• Best life = harmonious relationship with God

• Phenomenal world real and created by God.

• God is actively involved in change and human history.

Aristotle Judeo• The ultimate is the

Prime Mover

• Prime Mover is impersonal

• Final cause is Prime Mover

• Emphasis on nature

• God moves an is active in the world

• God is personal

• Final cause is God

• Emphasis on nature and human relationship with it