The creation

Knowing the story

• In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.

• Nothing had any shape or form.

• On the first day God created light, which He called day.

• On the second day God separated the waters and created the sky.

• On the third day God created land, seas and plants.

• On the fourth day God created the stars, the sun and the moon.

• On the fifth day God created birds and sea creatures.

• On the sixth day God created land animals. He created human beings in His

own image.

Themes

1, 2 and 3

• God gave humans responsibility over all creatures.

• God commanded humans to increase and rule the Earth.

• God completed His work on the seventh day and rested. He made this a holy day.

Interpreting the story

Most scholars think that the two Creation stories were written at different times and

therefore make slightly different points.

There are two Creation stories at the start of Genesis: the first (Genesis 1:1-2:4)

focuses on God and the world; the second (Genesis 2:4-25) on God and humans.

The first Creation story teaches that there is a God-given order and design of the

universe.

• God is a majestic creator and creates just by commanding.

• Humans are given control over Creation because they are made in God's image and

share in His power.

• Humans have a responsibility to steward and maintain the God-given order of the world.

• Everything has its proper place in the Creation.

• Creation is viewed as perfect in its original state, reflecting its creator.

• The day of rest is remembered in the fourth of the Ten Commandments as a time of

Teneday of recreation

Evaluating t h e story

Pois the const ef evolution suggest that humans are not specialy created by God?

• On the one hand… humans have evolved naturally as part of God's general plan for

the world; humans are not specially created but are nonetheless a significant aspect

of creation.

• On the other hand …. conservative Christians argue there is no firm evidence that

humans evolved from lower life forms - that there are many so-called 'missing links'

tween simple life forms, apes and humans - and therefore God must have specia

eated intelligent huma

es the universe have a meanin

ints to conside

• On t h e o n e hand … the universe is very well designed so it must have a meaning

giveato work we. As Genesis suggests, the world is ordered, beautiful and things

• On the other hand … many atheists and humanists argue that it is we who give

the universe meaning and impose order on disorder; that we like to see patterns

nature when in fat there are hoe and that