Creation Word Study (7/15)

κτίσις

In Romans 8:18-25, ktisis, the word translated "creation" is used 4 times. It is in verses 19, 20, 21, and 22. In 23, it is referred to, but not in the inherent text.

By the Strong's definition, it is defined as, "original formation (properly the act; by implication the thing, literally or figuratively): - building, creation, creature, ordinance." The Thayer's Lexicon defines ktisis as, "the act of founding, establishing, building; the act of creating, creation."*

The word is used nineteen times in the New Testament, and seven of those times are in Romans. That's more than one third. Four of those times in Romans are in our passage! 

The two other times that Paul uses ktisis in Romans are in Romans 1:20, referring to when the world was created "since the creation of the world", and in Romans 1:25, where Paul is talking about the idolatry of some on the church, "For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator". The latter example is explaining that they could be worshiping anything that God created, but not Him.

Paul uses the word more than any other New Testament writer. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he writes,

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away behold, new things have come." This follows quite nicely with our text, but emphasizes that the change to the creation is has already happened. It is not looking forward to the future (like our text emphasizes) but as believers, we ARE new creations. In addition, this verse refers to believers as creation, where Romans 8 primarily refers to the created things besides humans when it uses ktisis. 

Galatians 6:15 also uses the Greek word:

"For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation."

This use of ktisis is in the context of an argument about what are the necessary components to being saved. Paul believed that the sign of circumcision was not necessary for salvation. 

So, what does this all mean? Is it all Greek to you? How does this help our study?

In a nutshell, God created everything, but in the Romans 8, the word creation is a personification of everything in the world that God created besides humans: rocks, plants, soil, birds, lions, you name it. It all yearns for the King to return to His Kingdom. And if the rest of his kingdom is eagerly awaiting His return, then should not we?

*"Old & New Testament Greek." StudyLight.org. Studylight.org, n.d. Web. 16 July 2013. <http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/gwview.cgi?n=2937>.