Creation and New Creation
Creation and new creation form the great opening and closing movements of the biblical storyline, revealing that God created the world good, that sin brought corruption and death into it, and that through Christ God is restoring and renewing creation so that His purposes are fulfilled forever.
Open the book storylines index
Return to the storyline index when you want to compare the wider canonical movement of Scripture by book.
Without the theme of creation and new creation, the Bible can be misread as a story about escaping the physical world rather than God's plan to redeem and restore it. This theme shows that salvation is not merely individual forgiveness but the renewal of the entire creation under God's rule.
The Bible begins with God creating the world and calling it good. Because of sin, the world became broken and filled with suffering. Through Jesus, God is working to restore everything He created so that the world will one day be renewed and filled with His presence.
Storyline Function: Creation and new creation frame the entire biblical narrative, beginning with God's original design and ending with His restored and perfected world.
Gospel Connection: Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God begins the renewal of humanity and the future restoration of creation.
Church Formation: The church lives between creation and new creation, bearing witness to the coming renewal of all things.