Product Overview
In God the Creator: Biblical Images of the Divine, Steven Tuell explores the rich tapestry of biblical creation accounts to uncover how Scripture speaks of God, the world, and humanity’s place within it.
The Bible doesn’t offer just one image or account of God as creator—it offers many that are held together in a rich and faithful tension. So, then what does it mean to call God “Creator”? Drawing from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, Tuell guides readers through the diverse and sometimes surprising ways the Bible portrays creation and the Creator.
While giving careful attention to Genesis 1–3, Tuell also broadens the conversation to include texts from Exodus, Judges, Psalms, Habakkuk, Revelation, and more. He identifies four major biblical images of God as creator:
- God as warrior bringing order from chaos
- God as king shaping creation through divine decree
- God as potter crafting the world by hand
- God as gardener in Eden/Zion—a sacred place calling us to care for creation
Tuell also places these biblical portraits in conversation with the ancient cultures that surrounded Israel, revealing both resonances and striking distinctions. The result is a theologically rich, pastorally grounded resource that embraces the Bible’s plurality of creation narratives not as contradiction but as a faithful witness to the mystery of divine creativity.
An appendix on preaching equips clergy and teachers to bring these insights on the varied images and themes of creation into their communities. This is an essential resource for anyone seeking new answers to our deepest questions about who we are, who God is, and what the meaning of life is.
Reviews
"If you care about what the Bible actually says about creation, you need
this book! It is a comprehensive and concise exploration of all the key
biblical texts, examined in light of other ancient texts like the Enuma
Elish. Best of all, God the Creator connects Scripture to
theology, patiently showing us where we have so often misinterpreted the
Bible and pointing us to a more authentic and inspiring vision of
creation made new. Steven Tuell has given us exactly what's needed: an
expert summary written for nonexperts. Thorough, accessible, and packed
with new insight, God the Creator is a gift for informed
preachers and for biblically literate Christians." —Ron Cole-Turner, H.
Parker Sharp Professor Emeritus of Theology and Ethics, Pittsburgh
Theological Seminary
"Christians continue to wrestle with what it means to say that
everything that exists depends on God as Creator. In this book, Steven
S. Tuell enthusiastically harvests years of teaching in both the academy
and the church to invite us into a more faithful understanding of the
Bible's speaking about creation in its original context and homiletical
application. With great command of the literature, he introduces pastors
and laity alike to conversations stretching from ancient Near Eastern
texts to contemporary science." — Edwin Chr. van Driel, Directors’
Bicentennial Professor of Theology, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
"Stephen
Tuell provides an innovative and comprehensive analysis of both Old and
New Testament texts that involve God's creative activity. Deriving from
his work as both teacher and scholar, he not only offers careful
interpretations of biblical and other literature but also examines their
theological and ethical implications. His treatment of the Edenic motif
and its implications for contemporary understandings of land is
particularly relevant. A rich, wide-ranging, and welcome resource for
students, laity, and pastors." —David L. Petersen, Franklin N. Parker
Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Candler School of Theology, Emory
University
"Christians easily forget that we are created in the image of
the Divine and not the other way around. Through diligently close
readings of Scripture, analysis of ancient texts, and exploration of how
the Bible has been interpreted throughout the ages, Tuell examines
creation texts of Christian Scripture to help readers explore answers to
the critical question: Who is God? Tuell's work helps Christians
contemplate who God is rather than who we might wish God to be. In
exploring Tuell's attentive work with the text, we might better
understand our place in the Divine's glorious creation." — Kara Eidson,
Pastor at McLouth United Methodist Church and Oskaloosa United Methodist
Church and author of The Advent Tree: Meet