Creation: An Introduction

The Bible opens with the words: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gn 1:1). The revelation of creation is the gateway to Sacred Scripture. Similarly, in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, Christians begin by confessing: "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth." Here too, the profession of faith in creation comes at the beginning of the mysteries of faith. This primacy underscores the essential place the doctrine of creation holds in the revealed message.

The theology of creation has several dimensions. First, reflection on creation is not limited to inquiry into the origins of all things but also includes an orientation towards a destiny, that is, towards an end. Knowing where we come from is essential to knowing where we are going and, thus, to being rightly oriented in all that we do. Second, the question concerning creation is something human before it is Christian. Every human being wonders about their origin and their end. Therefore, theology must incorporate philosophical reflection concerning this subject. Finally, the theology of creation comprises the existence of all things, going beyond the destiny of humankind alone to embrace the universe as a whole.