Defining Created Order Biblically

What is created order?

Building on the foundation of God’s intentional design, the biblical concept of ‘created order’ encompasses all that God has brought into existence through His sovereign will.

This includes the physical universe, humanity, and all living creatures, forming a unified whole sustained by divine power. Colossians 1:16-17 affirms that Christ is the agent of creation, stating, ‘For by Him all things were created… whether things on earth or things in heaven.’ Furthermore, the text declares that Christ ‘holds all things together,’ emphasizing His ongoing role in upholding creation.

The created order thus reflects both God’s creative authority and His active maintenance of the cosmos, setting the stage for exploring its theological implications in subsequent discussions.

The Role of Christ in the Created Order

Colossians 1:16–17 affirms Christ’s unique role as the Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos, distinguishing the biblical view from competing ancient cosmologies.

The passage declares, 'For by Him all things were created... whether things on earth or things in heaven, visible and invisible' (Colossians 1:16), emphasizing Christ’s universal creative authority. It further states, 'In Him all things hold together' (Colossians 1:17), highlighting His ongoing work of upholding creation. This contrasts with ancient Near Eastern myths that depicted creation as emerging from chaotic struggle or cyclical processes governed by capricious deities.

Unlike these frameworks, the New Testament presents creation as an orderly, purposeful act of a transcendent God, with Christ as the divine agent who both initiates and sustains it. This challenges anthropomorphic cosmologies by locating ultimate stability not in multiple gods or natural cycles but in the person of Jesus Christ. The text thus establishes a foundation for understanding the created order as inherently good, coherent, and dependent on its Maker for continued existence.

Why Created Order Matters Today

The biblical concept of created order shapes our responsibility to steward creation and uphold human dignity in a world facing ecological and ethical challenges.

Genesis 2:15 establishes humanity’s role as caretakers of God’s creation, instructing Adam to 'work and take care of' the Garden of Eden—a mandate that informs modern environmental stewardship amid crises like climate change and deforestation. Genesis 1:26-27 declares humans made 'in the image of God,' affirming their inherent dignity and worth, which grounds ethical debates on justice, rights, and human flourishing. Together, these texts challenge systems that exploit nature or dehumanize people, calling for practices that honor God’s design.

This framework also equips believers to resist structures that degrade either creation or humanity, from exploitative labor practices to environmental neglect. By recognizing the interconnectedness of God’s good creation, we are compelled to pursue holistic justice that reflects the Creator’s character.

Going Deeper

To deepen our understanding of the created order, scholars and believers are encouraged to explore foundational texts like Genesis 1–2, which describe God’s orderly creation of the cosmos, and Romans 8:18–25, where Paul reflects on creation’s present suffering and future liberation.

These passages intersect with theological debates such as 'creation ex nihilo' (God creating from nothing) versus process theology, which views God as co-creating with the universe. Additionally, tensions between scientific cosmology and biblical accounts—such as the age of the universe or the sequence of creation—invite careful reflection on how faith and reason might inform each other without contradiction.