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what difference does it make that creation is described as good?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Genesis 1:31

“God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

This verse concludes the creation account in the first chapter of Genesis, following God's work of ordering the cosmos over six days and establishing humanity in his image. It serves as a summary evaluation of all that has been brought into being.

If creation is fundamentally 'very good,' how might this understanding shape our responsibilities toward the world and each other?

Then — the setting

Genesis 1 was likely compiled and edited during or after the Babylonian exile (6th-5th centuries BCE). It offers a counter-narrative to the creation myths of surrounding cultures, which often depicted creation as a result of cosmic battles or the gods' whims. By declaring creation 'very good,' the text asserts a singular, benevolent God as the creator, whose work is intentional, orderly, and inherently valuable. This provided a theological foundation for Israel's identity and their understanding of their place in a world created by their God.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament, particularly in books like Job and Psalms, frequently praises God's creative power and the wisdom embedded in creation, underscoring its goodness. The New Testament affirms this foundational goodness but also introduces the concept that creation is now affected by human sin (e.g., Romans 8). However, it does not negate its original 'goodness,' but rather anticipates its restoration and redemption through Christ, linking the goodness of creation to the ultimate plan of salvation. The New Testament also grounds ethical responsibilities, like caring for the poor or showing hospitality, in the inherent dignity of humans as part of God's good creation.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Psalm 19:1
This psalm proclaims that the heavens declare God's glory, reflecting the goodness of creation.
Romans 8:19-22
Paul speaks of creation groaning under futility, awaiting redemption, implying its original good state.
1 Timothy 4:4
Paul affirms that everything created by God is good and should be received with thanksgiving.

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