Gregg Allison, Ph.D.: Historical Theology: Ch.12-Creation, 262ff.

[1] Creation in the Reformation and Post-Reformation Period

 

Luther: “We assert that Moses spoke in the literal sense, not allegorically or figuratively—i.e., that the world, with all its creatures, was created within six day, as the words read” (Lectures on Genesis, Chapters 1-5, in LW, 1:3).

 

Luther: “The Father creates heaven and earth out of nothing through the Son, whom Moses calls the Word. Over these the Holy Spirit broods. As a hen broods her eggs, keeping them warm in order to hatch her chicks, and, as it were, to bring them to life through heat, so Scripture says which the Holy Spirit brooded, as it were, on the waters to bring to life those substances that were to be quickened and adorned. For it is the office of the Holy Spirit to make alive” (Lectures on Genesis, Chapters 1-5, in LW, 1:9).

 

Luther on the Nicene Creed’s Affirmation of Divine Creation: “What is the force of this, or what do you mean by these words: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker o heaven and earth? Answer: This is what I mean and believe—that I am a creature of God. That is, he has given me and constantly preserves my body, soul, and life; member great and small; all my senses, reason, and understanding, and so on; food and drink, clothing and support, wife, and children, housekeepers, house and home, etc. In addition, he causes all creatures to serve for the uses and necessities of life. These include the sun, moon, and stars I the firmament; day and night; air, fire, water, earth, and whatever it bears and produces; birds and fishes, beasts, grain, and all kinds of produce, and whatever else there is of bodily and temporal goods; and good government, peace and security. Thus, we learn from this article that none of us has life in himself, no can he preserve his life or anything that is listed here or can be listed, however small and unimportant a thing it might be. For everything is included in the word Creator” The Large Catechism, LCMS.

 

Calvin, believing the historic position, on Gen.1.14: “God had before created the light, but he now institutes a new order in nature, that the sun should be the dispenser of diurnal light and the moon and the stars should shine by night. And he assigns them to this office to teach us that all creatures are subject to his will and execute what he enjoins on them. For Moses relates nothing else than that God ordained certain instruments to diffuse through the earth, by reciprocal changes, the light that had been previously created. The only difference is that the light was before dispersed, but now proceeds from lucid bodies that, in serving this purpose, obey the commands of God” Commentaries on Genesis, 1:83.

 

Calvin and appreciation of creation: “…Scripture…duly informs us what is the right use of earthly benefits—a matter not to be neglected in the ordering of our life. For if we are to live, we have also to use those helps necessary for living. And we also cannot avoid those things that seem to serve delight more than necessity. Therefore, we must hold to a measure so as to use them with a clear conscience, whether for necessity or for delight…If we must simply pass through this world, there is no doubt we should use its good things in so far as they help rather than hinder our course” Institutes, 3.10.1.

 

Calvin and delight in created beauty: “Has the Lord clothed the flowers with the great beauty that greets our eyes, the sweetness of smell that is wafted upon our nostrils, and yet will it be unlawful for our eyes to be affected by that beauty, or our sense of smell by the sweetness of that odor? What? Did he not so distinguish colors as to make some more lovely than others? What? Did he not endow gold and silvery, ivory and marble, with a loveliness that renders them more precious than other metals or stones? Did he not, in short, render many things attractive to us, apart from the necessary use” (Institutes, 1: 721)