Answer
The creation account is found in Genesis 1—2. Most of God’s creative work was done by speaking, an indication of the power and authority of His Word. Let us look at each day of God’s creative work:
Creation Day 1 (Genesis 1:1–5)
God creates the heavens and the earth. “The heavens” refers to everything beyond the earth, outer space. The earth is made but not formed in any specific way, although water is present. God then speaks light into existence. He then separates the light from the dark and names the light “day” and the dark “night.”
Creation Day 2 (Genesis 1:6–8)
God creates the sky. The sky forms a barrier between water upon the surface and the moisture in the air. At this point earth has an atmosphere.
Creation Day 3 (Genesis 1:9–13)
God creates dry land. Continents and islands rise above the water. The large bodies of water are named “seas” and the ground is named “land.” God declares that all this is good.
God creates all plant life. He creates this life to be self-sustaining: plants can reproduce. The plants are created in great diversity (many “kinds”). The land is green and teeming with plant life. God declares that this work is also good.
Creation Day 4 (Genesis 1:14–19)
God creates all the stars and heavenly bodies. The movement of these will help man track time. Two great heavenly bodies are made in relation to the earth. The first is the sun, which is the primary source of light, and the moon, which reflects the light of the sun. The movement of these bodies will distinguish day from night. This work is also declared to be good by God.
Creation Day 5 (Genesis 1:20–23)
God creates all life that lives in the water, in all of its marvelous diversity. God also makes all the birds. The language of the passage allows that this may be the time God made flying insects as well; if not, they are made on Day 6. All these creatures have the ability to perpetuate their species by reproduction. The creatures made on Day 5 are the first creatures blessed by God. God declares this work good.
Creation Day 6 (Genesis 1:24–31)
God creates all the creatures that live on dry land. This includes every type of creature not included on previous days. God also creates man. God declares this work good.
When God was creating man, He took counsel with Himself. “God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). This is not an explicit revelation of the Trinity but is part of the foundation for such, as God reveals an “us” within the Godhead. God makes mankind in His own image, and thus mankind is special above all other creatures. He makes them male and female and places them in authority over the earth and over all the other creatures. God blesses them and commands them to reproduce, fill the earth, and subdue it (bring it under the rightful stewardship of mankind as authorized by God). God announces that humans and all other creatures are to eat plants alone. God will not rescind this dietary restriction until Genesis 9:3–4.
God’s creative work is complete at the end of the sixth day. The entire universe in all its beauty and perfection was fully formed in these six periods labeled as “days.” At the completion of His creation, God announces that it is “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
Creation Day 7 (Genesis 2:1–3)
God rests. This in no way indicates He was weary from His creative efforts; rather, it denotes that the creation is complete. He stops creating. Further, God is establishing a pattern of one day in seven to rest. The keeping of this day will eventually be a distinguishing trait of God’s chosen people, Israel (Exodus 20:8–11).
Many Christians interpret these “days” of creation as literal, 24-hour periods, a position called Young-Earth Creationism. It should be noted that certain other interpretations of these “days” suggest they were indeterminate periods of time. The Day-Age Theory and Historical Creationism are two theories that interpret the biblical data in a way that allows for an older earth. Regardless, the events and accomplishments of each “day” are the same.
