The Order of Creation refers to the sequence and manner in which God created the universe and all living things, as described in the Book of Genesis. This account is foundational to understanding the biblical worldview of the origins of the world and humanity. The creation narrative is found in Genesis 1:1-2:3 and is structured over six days, with a seventh day of rest.

Day 1: Light and Darkness

The creation account begins with God creating the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1-3 states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." God separated the light from the darkness, calling the light "day" and the darkness "night."

Day 2: The Expanse (Sky)

On the second day, God created the expanse, or sky, to separate the waters. Genesis 1:6-8 describes this: "And God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.' So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. God called the expanse 'sky.'"

Day 3: Land, Seas, and Vegetation

The third day saw the gathering of waters to reveal dry ground, which God called "land," and the gathered waters "seas." Genesis 1:9-13 continues, "And God said, 'Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.' And it was so. God called the dry land 'earth,' and the gathering of waters He called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good." On this day, God also commanded the earth to bring forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees.

Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars

On the fourth day, God created the celestial bodies to serve as signs for seasons, days, and years. Genesis 1:14-19 states, "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.' And it was so." God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night—and He also made the stars.

Day 5: Sea Creatures and Birds

The fifth day involved the creation of living creatures in the waters and birds in the sky. Genesis 1:20-23 records, "And God said, 'Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.' So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed, according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good."

Day 6: Land Animals and Humanity

On the sixth day, God created land animals and humanity. Genesis 1:24-31 describes this: "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so." The pinnacle of creation was humanity, made in the image of God. "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.'"

Day 7: Rest

The creation account concludes with the seventh day, on which God rested from all His work. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing, so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished."

The Order of Creation as presented in Genesis is central to understanding the biblical perspective on the origins of the universe, the nature of God as Creator, and the special place of humanity within creation.