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Doctrine of creation

Doctrine of creation. introduction. Psalm19

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Doctrine of creation

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  1. Doctrine of creation introduction

  2. Psalm19 • The heavens declare the glory of God;    the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech;    night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words;    no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,    their words to the ends of the world.

  3. Biblical perspectives • Some introductory remarks • Passages concerning creation are not answering scientific questions but theological interpretations of origins

  4. Biblical perspectives • Old Testament • Genesis 1 • Genesis as demythologizing earlier creation myths • Ancient cultures discussed creation extensively • Provided a framework the present order, often linked to the social order • Example of Hindu creation myth • But for Genesis • Heavenly bodies are not gods and goddesses • Even the sea monsters are created by God • Genesis 2.4-24 • Anthropological focus • Other passages • Isaiah 43; Amos 4.13; Jeremiah 31.35-37

  5. Biblical perspectives • New Testament • Creation closely related to work of Christ • Creation and redemption • I Cor. 15.45-49; Romans 8.18-23 • And, of course, John 1.1-3, 17.5 • See also Hebrews 1.3 • Creation and new creation in Christ

  6. Biblical perspectives • Background of post-biblical discussion on creation takes place in a Judeo-Hellenistic context • Creation for Greek cosmology meant creation out of already existing material • Universe as eternal • Tendency to regard matter as evil • Problem for Christians because creation is the result of the free agency of God (nor does creation create itself) • Question still being discussed today: Was there anything before creation? • Creation ex-nihilo • God relied on nothing outside himself • Preserves divine sovereignty and freedom • Contra Greek idea of eternal universe • We will return to this later • Order and disorder

  7. Biblical perspectives • Implications of God’s creative activity • Creation exists by God’s love and will with a purpose • Teleology, eschatology • Creation is moving towards something; it has been made to go somewhere • Transformation • Redemption is not a return to primal perfection (Eden?) but takes us to an end that is greater than the beginning • Ethical implications • redemption involves entire creation • Ethics involves a way of being in the world and understanding the way in which the world is related to the creator

  8. Creation as the act of the triune God • God is ecstatic love and out of this love creates • Again our picture of God becomes important here • Notable that God is not a God of domination • God creates as a relational God • A personal God with personal commitment to his creation • Creation is not out of necessity • Creation is not left to its own devices but continues to be upheld by God as God stands in continual relation to the world • We must be careful to hold together God’s creative activity and God’s sustaining activity

  9. Creation is through and to Christ • Creation is structured by the one who became incarnate and becomes part of the created order • God continues to act in creation through the persons of the Son and the Spirit • All of creation is bound up together

  10. Some implications of a trinitarian perspective • Creation exists by God’s love and will, with a purpose • If sustained by a relational God, from our end we cannot view creation outside of this divine love • Our interdependence and interconnection with the rest of creation • We are not apart from the rest of creation • It is a world created with risk

  11. Creation in contemporary theology With thanks to Dr. Veli-Matti Karkkainen

  12. Introduction: contemporary perspectives • Vatican I: • The holy, Catholic, Apostolic Roman Church believes and confesses that here is one true, living God, Creation and Lord of Heaven and earth, omnipotent, ,eternal, immense, incomprehensible, infinite in intellect and will, and in every perfection, who, although He is one, singular, altogether simple and unchangeable spiritual substance, must be pure and distinct in reality and essence from the world, most blessed in Himself and of Himself, and ineffably most high above all things which are or can be conceived outside himself.

  13. Introduction • Vatican I • Notice distance of God-world relationship • Contemporary Creation Theology • Affirms more mutual, dialogical relationship between world and God • A theme of science and contemporary theology is more dynamic, relational view of reality • Grenz’s view of creation echoes C. Pinnock and W. Pannenberg in developing a dynamic, pneumatological doctrine of creation in a trinitarian framework

  14. pannenberg • Creation as the Free and Sovereign Act of God • It is an act by the triune God • Creation as an expression of divine love originating in the love between Father, Son and Spirit • God’s self-distinction (contrast w/self-limitation) • Role of the Holy Spirit as medium of participation of creatures with God • Spirit as the Spirit of life, connecting creation to God’s life • Spirit as omnipotent “Force Field” that sustains all life • Despite impersonal language, Pannenberg very much affirms the distinct personhood and activity of the Spirit

  15. Pannenberg (cont.) • Humanity’s Place in Creation and Incarnation • On one hand, creatures were not created in order that God should receive glory • But our highest purpose of life from our perspective is to submit to the loving lordship of the Creator • On the other hand, Participation of humanity in the trinitarianfellowshipis the goal of creation, since Christ’s own incarnation is the ultimate goal of creation • However, destiny of all creation is bound up in the incarnation • “whole history of the universe is prehistory to the coming of humanity” • Incarnation nor primarily result of sin, but union between God and humanity • Can there be anything beyond humanity? • Not clear but if it is, it must be related to Jesus and the incarnation.

  16. Pannenberg (cont.) • Creation and Science • Completion of creation awaits the eschaton

  17. Towards an evangelical theology of creation • Biblical basis • Creation as the Free Act of the Triune God • Creation as an act of past, present and future • The meaning of creatio ex nihilo • God acts without preconditions (contrast with process theology) • Creation, Science and Evolution

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