You asked

what understanding of 'creation' did ancient israelites likely have compared to modern scientific views?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Genesis 1:1-2

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

The book of Genesis opens with this foundational statement about God's role as the sole creator of the cosmos. It sets the stage for everything that follows, establishing the divine origin and order of existence.

What does it mean for us to live in a world described as intentionally created, rather than merely evolved or accidental?

Then — the setting

Ancient Israelites likely understood 'creation' through a cosmological lens centered on divine action and purpose, rather than material origins or scientific processes. Their understanding was less about 'how' in a mechanistic sense and more about 'who' and 'why.' The universe was not seen as a machine but as a divinely ordered dwelling place, often depicted with a solid dome (firmament) separating waters above from waters below, and the earth as a stable disc on foundations. This contrasted with surrounding Ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies, which often involved violent struggles between gods or pre-existent matter, while Genesis portrays a singular, powerful God ordering a chaotic, pre-existing watery void into a functional cosmos. The 'formless and empty' earth (tohu wa-bohu) points to a state of disorder that God then brings into order, rather than creation out of absolute nothingness (creatio ex nihilo), though later theological reflection would emphasize the latter.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament, particularly Genesis, establishes God as the sovereign creator who brings order out of chaos, creating a world suitable for life and relationship. This understanding underpins the entire biblical narrative, shaping Israel's covenant relationship with God and their role within creation. In the New Testament, this creation theme is deepened and reinterpreted, particularly in light of Jesus Christ. John 1:1-3 explicitly states that 'all things were made through him' (the Word/Logos), identifying Jesus as an active agent in creation. Colossians 1:15-17 further emphasizes that 'all things have been created through him and for him.' This integrates the Old Testament's monotheistic creation doctrine with the emerging Christology, suggesting that creation not only points to God's power but also to the pre-existent Christ as its source and purpose. The New Testament writers do not offer a different 'scientific' view of creation but rather build on the theological foundation of Genesis to explain the cosmic significance of Christ.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Psalm 19:1
This psalm speaks of the heavens declaring God's glory, echoing the grandeur of creation.
John 1:1-3
This New Testament passage connects the 'beginning' of creation with the 'Word' (Jesus Christ).
Hebrews 11:3
This verse affirms that 'by faith, we understand that the ages have been framed by the word of God'.

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