What is the creation story in the Bible?

featured article image

TL;DR:

The creation story describes the origin of the universe, the creation of life, and the relationship between God and humanity. It is foundational to knowing how we came to be and why we are here.

from the old testament

  • "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
  • Genesis 1 gives the order of creation. Genesis 1:1-2 sets the scene with the creation of the heavens and earth, followed by the six days of creation:
  • Day 1: Light is separated from darkness (1:3-5)
  • Day 2: The sky and atmosphere are created (1:6-8)
  • Day 3: Land and sea are separated; plants are created (1:9-13)
  • Day 4: God made the Sun, Moon, and stars (1:14-19)
  • Day 5: Sea creatures and birds are created (1:20-23)
  • Day 6: Land animals and Adam and Eve are created (1:24-31). Mankind is special above all other creatures because he bears the image of God (1:27) and has the responsibility to steward the earth (1:28)
  • Genesis 2 sees the ending of God's creative work with His rest the seventh day (2:1-3) followed by a more detailed account of the creation of man. In verses 2:4-25, God places Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, a paradise where they can live and thrive. God commands them to care for the garden and prohibits them from eating from the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” (2:17).
  • Genesis 3-4 turns to the tragedy of paradise lost. Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God (3:1-6), thus losing their innocence and having their nature corrupted (3:7-12). Their punishment is described in 3:13-19, followed by their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. In His great mercy, God covered Adam and Eve’s shame (3:21) and gave them a message of hope in the promise of a Redeemer. The Bible’s first mention of the coming Messiah is found in Genesis 3:15. So, an integral part of the creation story is a promise of Christ, the Son of God, and His ultimate victory over Satan on behalf of humanity.
  • Creation displays the glory and handiwork of God (Psalm 19:1), the wisdom of God (Psalm 104:24), and the power of God (Isaiah 40:28).

from the new testament

  • John 1:1-3 establishes that Jesus, also called the Word, is God. Not only was Jesus with God before the beginning of creation, but all things were made through Jesus (see also Colossians 1:16-17).
  • Creation displays the existence and power of God (Romans 1:20).
  • Hebrews 11:3 affirms that God created the universe out of nothing; He did not use preexisting material: "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."

implications for today

The Bible clearly asserts that the universe had a definitive beginning, and that beginning was a deliberate act of creation by God, as stated in Genesis 1:1. This foundational claim is supported by modern scientific evidence, which aligns with the biblical view. Several independent lines of astronomical evidence, such as the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation, the red-shift of galaxies indicating the expansion of the universe, and the success of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, all point to a finite universe that had a distinct origin. Additionally, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that systems move toward disorder (entropy), supports the idea that the universe is running out of usable energy, further indicating a starting point. These scientific principles affirm the logical conclusion that everything which has a beginning must have a cause, and for the universe, that cause is the Creator.

In contrast, naturalism—often associated with atheism—attempts to explain the universe through a purely physical, self-originating process. It relies on the Big Bang model, which describes the universe’s expansion from a state of high density and temperature. However, the Big Bang theory, while describing the universe's expansion, does not explain its actual origin; it fails to account for how the universe came into existence from nothing. Furthermore, the Big Bang does not explain the origin of life itself. The origins of life remain an unsolved mystery in cosmology and biology. Despite extensive research, the field of origin of life studies has not yielded any convincing answers, and the idea of Darwinian evolution—evolution driven by random, unguided natural processes—has been thoroughly discredited in terms of explaining the origin of life. It lacks biological viability and is not supported by the fossil record, which does not show the gradual transition of species as evolution would predict.

In light of this, it takes more faith to embrace atheistic naturalism than to accept the creation story found in the Bible. The biblical account of creation not only provides a rational explanation for the universe’s existence but also invites us to consider our place within it. It calls us to reflect on our foundation as created beings with purpose, meaning, and a Creator who designed us with intention. The alternative, naturalism, offers no such answers and relies on unproven assumptions. The creation story in Genesis not only answers the question of where we came from but also challenges us to recognize the intentional purpose behind our existence and the call to live in relationship with our Creator.

understand

  • God created the universe and humanity in His image.
  • Humanity's sin introduced separation from God.
  • God promised redemption through a Savior.

reflect

  • How does understanding that God created the universe with purpose shape how you view your own life and role in creation?
  • How does the creation story challenge your understanding of God’s interaction with humanity?
  • How does the promise of redemption in Genesis 3:15 impact your view of God's mercy and the hope we have in Christ?

engage

  • How can we as believers live out our calling to steward God's creation?
  • What does the creation story reveal about the nature of humanity's relationship with God, and how does that affect our daily lives?
  • How does the story of humanity's fall in Genesis 3 challenge us to understand sin, and how does the promise of redemption offer hope for restoration?