God the creator - Christian Flashcards
What 3 things are meant when describing god as Creator?(Judeo-Christian tradition) and where did these ideas come from?
1 - God causes the universe to exist
2 - God is responsible for the universe coming into existence and existing at every moment
3 - God is responsible for everything that exists within nature.
These key things come from the Bible.
List (NAME ONLY) Bible’s portrayal of God being a creator
7 things
- Genesis 1&2 (Transcendent, all powerful)
- Genesis as a myth
- God being a craftsman
- God being in control
- Omni qualities
- Beauty in the creation
- Humans place in creation
Explain Genesis 1 with quotes.
There are 2 main stories.
Genesis 1 : “God created the heavens and the earth”. God’s spirit moves accross the earth and shapes it. He commands there to be light darkness sun stars etc. GOD brings it all together
What is a quote for creation, from genesis 1) what does this show about God?
“God created the heavens and the earth”(Genesis 1:1)
Shows theres one of him: called monotheism
Explain Genesis 2 story of creation
Genesis 2: God creates Adam and Eve, he’s referred to as walking through the garden of Eden (humanlike, called anthropomorphic.
What evidence is there for God being a craftsman?
God is compared to a craftsman in Job 38, he is described as a designer who laid the foundations of the earth and decided its dimensions. He is pictured being in control of the sun and moon.
What evidence is there of God being in control?
God being in control shown when he throws Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden - In Isaiah 40: 22-23 God described sitting above earth with power to reduce princes to nothing (OMNIPOTENCE)
Evidence of God creating us out of nothing? (Whats the name for this)
Creatio ex Nihilo: Genesis 1 : God’s spirit flies over formless void and chaos of the waters and he controls it.
According to the Jewish scriptures what are Humans places in creation?
Humans are at the top of the hierachy of life. Psalm 8 God said to have given humans “dominion over the works of your hands” Psalms 8: 5-6.
What do some modern Christians say about human beings being in the image of God?
That we are made in his image meaning his rationality, ability to think and reason.
Outline the idea of the beauty of creation.
Bible pictures God as creator of an ordered, beautiful and harmonious world. Clearly seen in the peaceful Garden of Eden. Bible says that humans caused disharmony within creation, not God.
What does genesis show about God’s nature?
God is transcendent and omnipotent - Shows he stand apart from the universe and is above and beyond all humans. God said “let there be light” shows God acts out of will and is all powerful.
Genesis shows transcendent as he walks through the garden and knows of their sins even tho he isnt there.
Give examples/quotes of God being omnipotent
Genesis - creation “Let there be light”
Joshua 10 - “The Lord threw down huge stones from heaven on them”
What does God’s Omnipotence show about his qualities?
Shows that he is far above humans and has power over everything he created - the universe
What does God being omnipresent mean and give examples/quotes from Bible.
It means that he is present for everything. He is transcendent.
Job 38 - God’s presence is everywhere from the stars, weather and animals etc.
Genesis 3: he was present in the Garden of Eden and was present in foundations of earth and in the heavens (Job 38)
What does God being omniscient mean and give examples from Bible/quotes
means he is all knowing and is aware of everything. For example: Genesis he knows Eve ate the apple
Job 38: He says “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?” God said this to Job shows he is higher than humans
What makes God unique?
He is completely different from anything which exists in reality.
His uniqueness is highlighted by the omniqualities
What problem is formed with the belief that God is Creator?
The idea that since, he created the world he is therefore responsible for everything in it including disabilities evil et.c
List issues with God being a creator?
- If he made it perfect why was there a snake to tempt Adam and Eve?
- If God is omniscient wouldn’t he know that Eve and Adam would disobey?
- Theory of evolution?
- World being here by chance
- Did God Intent evil?
- If Adam and Eve were innocent why were they tempted by a snake?
- Why are there two creation stories
Plan for “God is responsible for everything that happens in the universe”
- There is only one God monotheism so therefore only he can be responsible
- He’s all powerful and transcendent so he created the world and is still watching over so therefore is responsible —> Evolution (response)
- God commanding the creation, he created it out of will and he sustained it
Did god make us for a purpose?
He made us first and we are stewards of the world. We strive for perfectio
Explain idea of Genesis being a myth
Myths are created for their message but are not meant to be taken literally true. Some say Genesis is a myth and its not meant to be taken literally: Shows his qualities and he is creator.
