God the creatorIn this unit I will be able to demonstrate knowledge and

understanding of…

1.The concept of God as the creator

2.The imagery of God as a craftsman

3.The concept of ‘creatio ex nihilo’

4.The way the Bible presents God as involved with his creation

5.The concepts of omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence

6.How this God compares to Aristotle’s Prime Mover

7.Whether God, as its creator, is responsible for everything that happens in the universe

To begin with…

Essential terminology…

Creatio ex deo Creation out of the being of God

Creatio ex nihilo Creation out of nothing

Creator A person or thing that brings something into existence

Deism A belief that God started the world but then leaves it to run by itself

Omnibenevolence All-loving

Omnipotence Having unlimited power

Omnipresence Present everywhere at the same time

Omniscience Knowing everything

Theism A belief in a God who created the world and continues to sustain and be involved with it

To begin with…

Key passages…

Genesis 1:1-2:3 1st Creation story – 7 days

Genesis 2:4-25 2nd Creation story – man and woman

Genesis 3 Fall of Adam and Eve

Psalm 8

Job 38 God shown as the designer and creator of the Earth

Isaiah 40 God is shown in control and watching over his creation

1. The concept of God as the creator

The Bible presents God as…

• The cause of the existence of the universe;

• Responsible for the continuing existence of the universe;

• Responsible for everything that exists within the universe.

This can be seen in the Apostles’ Creed (an early Christian statement of beliefs…

1. The concept of God as the creator

Genesis 1:1 - 2:3…

God separated… God filled…

Light from dark

Light from dark

Water from water

Water from water

Land from water

Land from water

Sun,Moon &

stars

Sun,Moon &

stars

Birds & sea

creatures

Birds & sea

creatures

Animals & peopleAnimals & people

1. The concept of God as the creator

Genesis 2:4-25…This account differs from the first account in the detail

and order of creation. There are, however, two key features the two stories have in common…

1. God is the creative force in each story – in Genesis 1 God creates simply by speaking his command.

2. Humans are identified as the pinnacle of creation – whether created last (‘the cherry on top’) or at the beginning (the world is made for and around the man).Investigation:

• Why are there two creation stories in Genesis? • Check out the Babylonian creation myth as a comparison.

Investigation:• Why are there two creation stories in Genesis? • Check out the Babylonian creation myth as a comparison.

Link oneLink one Link twoLink two Link threeLink three

2. The imagery of God as a craftsman

There are a number of passages where God is compared to a craftsman, e.g.

• Gen 2:7 – “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being.”

• Job 38 - Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone…?”

3. The concept of ‘creatio ex nihilo’…

Traditionally scripture is seen to shown that God created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing), e.g.

Gen 1:1 (Hebrew translation)…“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Gen 1:1 (Greek translation)…“ἐν ἀρχῇ ἐποίησεν - The primary cause caused to be…”

Both talk in terms of nothing pre-existing God.

3. The concept of ‘creatio ex nihilo’…

Other passages that could be used to support this view include…

John 1:1-3…“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

2 Maccabees 7:28…I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence.

3. The concept of ‘creatio ex nihilo’…

However, not everyone agrees…

Professor Ellen van Wolde

“the Hebrew verb "bara", which is used in the first sentence of the

book of Genesis, does not mean "to create" but to "spatially separate.”

“the Hebrew verb "bara", which is used in the first sentence of the

book of Genesis, does not mean "to create" but to "spatially separate.”

Explain your views on the concept of ‘creatio ex nihilo’. Is it possible to create something from

nothing?

Explain your views on the concept of ‘creatio ex nihilo’. Is it possible to create something from

nothing?

ex nihilo nihil fit – nothing comes from nothing

ex nihilo nihil fit – nothing comes from nothing

Parmenides

4. A god involved in his creation?

Write down all the examples you can think of when God is seen to be involved with his creation…

God involved with his creation

God involved with his creation

What do you think this shows about the Judaeo-Christian concept of God? Use examples to support

your answers.

What do you think this shows about the Judaeo-Christian concept of God? Use examples to support

your answers.

5. God vs. the Prime Mover…

Using textbooks and your notes complete the following table showing the similarities and differences between the Judaeo-Christian God and Aristotle’s Prime Mover……

Omnipotent Omniscient Omnipresent

6. God’s responsibility…

Is God, as its creator, is responsible for everything that happens in the universe?

Task: complete the following table:

Yes No ?

Argument

Evidence

Evaluation

7. Assessment…

Practice exam question – to be completed by next lesson:

1. Explain what the creation shows about the nature of God. (AO1 – 25 marks)

2. “If God created the universe then he must be responsible for everything that happens in it.” Discuss. (AO2 – 10 marks)