What was God doing before creation?

Quick answer

While little is known about God’s work prior to creation, we can be certain that God has always existed. From eternity past to eternity present, God has always been and will always be active, all-knowing, and perfect in community, love, and glory as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Before creation, God existed eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, perfectly complete in love, community, and glory. The Bible reveals that Jesus, the Word, was with God and actively involved in creation, sharing the Father’s love and glory before the world began (John 1:1-3, 17:5). From eternity past, God planned His creation and salvation, choosing Jesus as the Lamb to redeem humanity from sin (1 Peter 1:19-20; Revelation 13:8). His sovereign plan includes offering eternal life and writing the Book of Life before creation (Titus 1:2; Revelation 17:8). This reminds us that God, who existed before creation, is intentional, in control, and created us to know Him, glorify Him, and live according to His purpose.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis begins with the words, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2). This Scripture shows that God the Father and God the Holy Spirit existed prior to the universe's creation.

Psalm 90:2 confirms that God existed prior to creation, holding the power and wisdom to create and design all things .

God’s Word is eternal and was established prior to creation (Isaiah 40:12-31).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

God the Son, Jesus Christ, existed prior to creation as well and was actively engaged in the creation of the universe. John wrote, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him” (John 1:1-3).

Jesus shared the love and glory of God with His Father before the world began (John 17:5, 24).

Paul affirms Jesus as the Creator of all: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together” (Colossians 1:15-17).

God chose Jesus as our ransom before creation (1 Peter 1:19-20).

Jesus was the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

God promised eternal life in eternity past (Titus 1:2).

God chose to save people and make them holy (Ephesians 1:4), and the Book of Life was written by God prior to creation (Revelation 13:8, 17:8).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

It is fascinating to think about what God was doing before the creation of the world. Why did God make the universe? What was His plan for creation? What is our purpose? The good news for us is that God reveals the answers to these questions and more in His written W ord, the Bible. The Bible communicates God’s intentionality in planning beforehand the course of events that would take place in the world He created. His plan was complete from beginning to end, and nothing that happens today takes Him by surprise. He rules and reigns sovereignly over the world, and everything He wills always comes to pass.

God knew beforehand that the human beings He made to have fellowship with Him would ultimately choose to sin and rebel against Him. The effects of our sin and rebellion are felt today through death, disease, immorality, lawlessness, selfishness and destruction. Yet God, in His love for the world, sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, on a rescue mission to save the people of the world from sin (John 3:16). From eternity past, Jesus Christ was chosen to be the Savior of the world. He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead to destroy the power of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anyone who believes in Jesus, receiving Him as their Savior from sin, is forgiven of all sin, given eternal life, and born again as a child of God (John 1:12, 3:16; Acts 13:38-39).

As Christians, we can take comfort in knowing God has been and always will be in control of the universe. We can also take comfort in knowing that He created us for a purpose – to know Him, to make Him known to others, and to glorify Him in everything we do (1 Corinthians 10:31).

UNDERSTAND

God, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, existed eternally in perfect community.

Jesus was involved in creating the universe, showing that He existed eternally.

The plan of salvation to redeem humanity was created before the creation of the world and humanity.

REFLECT

How does knowing that God had a plan for creation and salvation before the world began impact your view of that plan?

How can you live intentionally, knowing that God is in control and that He is sovereign over all things?

How does the eternal love and community within the Trinity impact the way you live?

ENGAGE

How does God’s eternal existence challenge our understanding of time and creation?

What implications does the fact that Jesus was chosen to redeem humanity before creation have for the way we understand salvation?

How do the biblical teachings about God's sovereignty and intentionality in creation shape the way we view the world’s unfolding events?