In the Old Testament, the book of Genesis starts out with God making the universe and all its inhabitants in six steps or days out of nothing, or ex nihilo. As theologian R. Kent Hughes, states, “[Genesis] is an exquisitely perfect title because this book gives us the genesis (the beginning) of the doctrine of God, which rose to tower high over the pagan notions of the day. It is the genesis of the doctrine of creation, which likewise rose far above the crude mythologies of the surrounding nations. Genesis gives us the doctrine of man, demonstrating that from the beginning we are both wonderful and awful.”

Readers learn that light, the firmament of heaven, the separation of water and land, plants, the Sun, moon, and all stars, earthly marine life, birds, land animals, and human beings themselves are created from God alone. God does this through proclamation—“And God said”—and follows up his creations with an affirmation—“And it was good.” Literalists say it happened in six literal days and surely if God is God, then He could do it in six, literal twenty-four hour periods, but the complexity comes from an examination of language and logistics.

God exists outside of time, which is for humanity. People determine time through the revolving of our planet around the Sun, but the Sun is not created until day four, after the plants. Other scripture points to a day for the Lord being like a thousand years, so it is plausible that it took longer, but the idea of creating everything out of nothing in its complexities and wonderfulness defies understanding by finite minds anyway. Human civilization would like to think that it knows and understands everything, but the reality is that human beings have a limited perception and a restricted understanding of history.

Not surprisingly, how life began and why is a question that has occupied human thought for a long time, both in the religious and secular world. Intelligent Design theory suggests that life on earth is not just the result of the right chemicals and molecules combining with the right amount of heat, energy, or electricity to “make” a life-form, but that an intelligent, superior entity volitionally and purposefully created the world and its inhabitants. If this is true as the Bible suggests, then humanity has a purpose and plan around its existence, actions matter, choices are moral or not, people sin against God and each other, and people have eternal meaning beyond eating and procreating.

So, what can be known about God—conclusively but not exhaustively—from the biblical texts and other significant testimonies of believers through the ages (such as the Apostolic Creed)?

God is eternal (Psalm 90:2); God is self-existing and self-satisfied (John 5:26); God is omnipotent (Daniel 4:35); God is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7–10); God is holy (1 Peter 1:16); God is love (1 John 4:19); God is unchanging (Psalm 55:19); God is good (Matthew 5:43–45); God is truth (Titus 1:2); God is spirit; God is creator (Genesis 1:1–31).

Not surprisingly, God is known for so much more:

He is the only God in the universe (Isaiah 45:5–12)
He is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14)
He is a God who keeps His covenants (Genesis 9:9, 15)
He is a God of mercy and justice (Exodus 34:6–7)
He is a God of forgiveness (Psalm 51:1–2)
He is a God of redemption (Isaiah 44:6)
He is a God who protects those whom He calls (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
He is a God of faithfulness (Psalm 36:5)

“The Lord God is One” (so the Shema prayer, see Deuteronomy 6:4) but has been called by many names in the Bible: Elohim, Yahweh, El Shaddai, El Elyon, El Olam, El Roi, Jehovah, Adonai, Abba, Father. Speaking of which, God is the Father of the Nation of Israel (Isaiah 64:8), Jesus Christ (John 1:18), and the Redeemed (Galatians 3:26). He is the First Person of the Trinity (John 1:14). He rules over all, He cares for everything, and He desires righteousness to reign according to His will. He is worthy of the highest of praise, truly.