New creation (theology)

The new creation (Gk καινὴ κτίσις) is a concept found in the New Testament, related to the new life (ἐν καινότητι ζωῆς) and new man (referring to the spiritual rebirth through Christ Jesus) (καινός ἄνθρωπος) but with reference also to the Genesis "old creation."

In the letters of Paul

The language of a new creation is not limited to the two verses in the KJV that include that actual phrase (Gal. 6:15, 2 Cor 5:17). Other passages, such as Galatians 6:12-16, 2 Corinthians 5:14-19, Ephesians 2:11-22, Ephesians 4:17-24, and Colossians 3:1-11 present new creation teaching also, without that exact phrase.

Other references to the concept include the language Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."^[1] The old, Adamic creation could not be said to be in any sense "in Christ," so this must therefore be speaking of new creation.

Often the themes of the Genesis creation and new creation are contrasted, as, per N. T. Wright, in Colossians chapter 1, where the old creation and new creation in Christ (1:15-20) are compared with the new creation (vv. 21-23)^[2]

Other NT references

The first words of Matthew may also be an allusion to the idea of a new creation, with a double entendre in Matthew's word genesis (γένεσις) between the meanings of "origin," "Genesis" (the first book of Moses) and "genealogy":

• Genesis 1:0 Septuagint: The Book of Creation [of Moses] (Βίβλος γενέσεως [Μωσέως])
• Matthew 1:1 Koine Greek: The Book of Creation of Jesus Christ (Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ)^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

There are also allusions of new creation in the Gospel of John including:

• John starts with the words "In the beginning was the word," mirroring the beginning of Genesis ^[8]
• Jesus' final words in John are "it is finished" John 19:30, mirroring the words of "completed" in Genesis 2:1 ^[9]
• Emphasising twice that the resurrection events occurred on "the first day of the week" John 20:1,19 ^[10]
• The resurrection of Jesus being the implied eight sign after seven signs in the Gospel of John, indicating a week of creation and then a new creation beginning with the resurrection.^[11]
• Jesus breathes on the disciples, saying "receive the Holy Spirit" John 20:22, mirroring God breathing into Adam in Genesis 2:7.^[12]

References in the other Gospels include:

• The story of the two disciples and Luke stating that "their eyes were opened," 24:31, mirroring Genesis 3:7.^[13]

See also

• World to Come
• Supersessionism

References