Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The anglicized version of the Greek word translated as "creation" in the verse cited in the question is "ktisis". From the New Testament verses in which this word appears, it can have various shades of meaning or translation, including: God's creative activity; the result of that creative activity; institution; or building.

In the specific verse referenced in the question, I would say that the intended sense encompasses all earthly things that God has created (including objects that are both animate (such as life forms, including humans and animals) and inanimate). These beings and objects were all adversely affected by the introduction of sin and its consequences, as indicated in Genesis 3:7-19.

The entire period since that time has been a period of longing -- first for the fulfillment of God's promise of a Redeemer, and then for that Redeemer's return, when the effects of sin will be finally and completely abolished -- not just with respect to humans redeemed by faith (who will then be revealed as having received the full, eternal, glorified status that Christ has won for them), but also to all of God's original creation, the corruption of which will be replaced by the new heaven and earth (noted in Revelation 21:1-4) where they will live.

January 16 2020 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report