Revision #13205
Doctrine of Creation
Localized for English-speaking readers (msgbatch_01GvFKF6zaroxwZ2RCatyoPp)
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
- The doctrine of creation is a topic within the doctrine of God that addresses the confession that God made the world. Its core teachings are as follows:
+ The doctrine of creation is a topic within the doctrine of God that concerns the confession that God made the world. Its core teachings are as follows:
=
= - **Creation out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo)**: God made the world without using any preexisting material.
- - **Distinction between Creator and creature**: What has been made (creatures) is not God and depends on God for its existence.
- - **The work of the triune God**: Creation is understood as the joint work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
+ - **Distinction between Creator and creature**: What has been made (the creature) is not God and depends on God for its existence.
+ - **The work of the triune God**: Creation is understood as the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together.
=
- The doctrine of creation is connected with providence, the teaching that God continues to care for the world he made, and with the teaching that human beings were created in the image of God. In Korea, the term "creationism" (*changjoron*) is also widely used to denote a position opposed to the theory of evolution; this scientific debate is treated in the article Creation and Evolution.
+ The doctrine of creation is closely connected with providence, the teaching that God continues to care for the world he made, and with the teaching that human beings were created in the image of God. In Korean usage, the corresponding term for "creationism" is also widely used to denote a position opposed to the theory of evolution; that scientific debate is treated in the article Creation and Evolution.
=
= ## Biblical Background
- The Bible opens with the words, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Genesis 1–2 recounts the process of creation and the creation of humanity. Psalm 33:6 sings that the heavens were made by the word of the Lord. The New Testament testifies that Christ took part in creation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Hebrews 11:3 states that it is through faith that we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.
+ The Bible opens with the words "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Genesis 1–2 recounts the process of creation and the creation of humanity. Psalm 33:6 declares, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made." The New Testament testifies that Christ took part in creation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Hebrews 11:3 states, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God."
=
= ## Historical Background
- In the period of the early church, Gnosticism and Marcionism regarded the material world as evil or as the work of an inferior deity. In response, the church confessed that the one good God made the world. The Apostles' Creed confesses God as "Maker of heaven and earth," and the Nicene Creed confesses him as the Maker "of all things visible and invisible." Augustine held that time itself began together with creation. John Calvin is known for likening the created world to a theater in which the glory of God is displayed. Chapter 4 of the Westminster Confession of Faith states that God created the world "in the space of six days."
+ In the early church, Gnosticism and Marcionism regarded the material world as evil or as the work of an inferior deity. In response, the church confessed that the one good God made the world. The Apostles' Creed confesses God as "Maker of heaven and earth," and the Nicene Creed confesses him as the Maker "of all things visible and invisible." Augustine held that time itself began with creation. John Calvin is known for likening the created world to a theater in which the glory of God is displayed. Chapter 4 of the Westminster Confession of Faith states that God created the world "in the space of six days."
=
- ## Practice in the Korean Church
- Most Korean Protestants confess God the Creator through the Apostles' Creed in Sunday worship. Genesis 1 is also treated as foundational material in Sunday school and Bible study.
+ ## Practice in Korean Churches
+ Most Korean Protestants confess God the Creator by reciting the Apostles' Creed in Sunday worship. Genesis 1 is also treated as foundational material in Sunday school and Bible study.
=
- Faith in creation itself is shared across denominations. There are, however, differences in how the text of Genesis is read.
+ Among Korean Protestants, faith in creation itself is shared across denominations, though denominations differ in how they read the text of Genesis.
=
- - **Conservative Presbyterians (Hapdong, Kosin, Hapshin, and others)**: Drawing on the Westminster Confession of Faith and biblical inerrancy, they tend strongly to read Genesis 1 as a historical record. Churches holding this position sometimes host lectures on creation science.
- - **Tonghap Presbyterians, Methodists, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (Kijang), and others**: They tend to emphasize the theological message of Genesis 1 and to accept a broad range of interpretations. They also show interest in ecotheology, which connects faith in creation with environmental issues.
+ - **Conservative Presbyterians (the Hapdong, Kosin, and Hapshin denominations, among others)**: Drawing on the Westminster Confession of Faith and biblical inerrancy, they tend strongly to read Genesis 1 as a historical record. Churches holding this position sometimes host lectures on creation science.
+ - **The Tonghap Presbyterians, Methodists, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (Kijang), and others**: They tend to emphasize the theological message of Genesis 1 and to accept a broad range of interpretations. They also show interest in ecotheology, which connects faith in creation with environmental issues.
=
= Some churches include a Season of Creation in their liturgical calendar to emphasize care for the created world.
The doctrine of creation is the Christian teaching that God made the world and everything in it out of nothing, as well as the theological field that studies this teaching.
The doctrine of creation is the Christian teaching that God made the world and everything in it out of nothing, and also the theological field that studies this teaching.
Full revision
The doctrine of creation is the Christian teaching that God made the world and everything in it out of nothing, and also the theological field that studies this teaching.
Definition and Meaning
The doctrine of creation is a topic within the doctrine of God that concerns the confession that God made the world. Its core teachings are as follows:
- Creation out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo): God made the world without using any preexisting material.
- Distinction between Creator and creature: What has been made (the creature) is not God and depends on God for its existence.
- The work of the triune God: Creation is understood as the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together.
The doctrine of creation is closely connected with providence, the teaching that God continues to care for the world he made, and with the teaching that human beings were created in the image of God. In Korean usage, the corresponding term for "creationism" is also widely used to denote a position opposed to the theory of evolution; that scientific debate is treated in the article Creation and Evolution.
Biblical Background
The Bible opens with the words "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Genesis 1–2 recounts the process of creation and the creation of humanity. Psalm 33:6 declares, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made." The New Testament testifies that Christ took part in creation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Hebrews 11:3 states, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God."
Historical Background
In the early church, Gnosticism and Marcionism regarded the material world as evil or as the work of an inferior deity. In response, the church confessed that the one good God made the world. The Apostles' Creed confesses God as "Maker of heaven and earth," and the Nicene Creed confesses him as the Maker "of all things visible and invisible." Augustine held that time itself began with creation. John Calvin is known for likening the created world to a theater in which the glory of God is displayed. Chapter 4 of the Westminster Confession of Faith states that God created the world "in the space of six days."
Practice in Korean Churches
Most Korean Protestants confess God the Creator by reciting the Apostles' Creed in Sunday worship. Genesis 1 is also treated as foundational material in Sunday school and Bible study.
Among Korean Protestants, faith in creation itself is shared across denominations, though denominations differ in how they read the text of Genesis.
- Conservative Presbyterians (the Hapdong, Kosin, and Hapshin denominations, among others): Drawing on the Westminster Confession of Faith and biblical inerrancy, they tend strongly to read Genesis 1 as a historical record. Churches holding this position sometimes host lectures on creation science.
- The Tonghap Presbyterians, Methodists, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (Kijang), and others: They tend to emphasize the theological message of Genesis 1 and to accept a broad range of interpretations. They also show interest in ecotheology, which connects faith in creation with environmental issues.
Some churches include a Season of Creation in their liturgical calendar to emphasize care for the created world.