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The concept of Creature in Christianity

The concept of Creature in various theological frameworks, including Christianity, Gnosticism, Protestantism, and Catholicism, emphasizes all beings created by God. It highlights the interconnectedness of existence and the relationship between the Creator and the created. The term encompasses living beings that exhibit divine power and are inherently dependent on God for their existence. Each tradition reflects on the nature of Creature, addressing themes such as holiness, the fallibility due to sin, and the anticipation of redemption, illustrating the intricate web of creation.1
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Synonyms: Being, Organism, Animal, Entity, Character

In Dutch: Schepsel; In Finnish: Oleminen; In Spanish: Criatura; In German: Kreatur; In Malay: Makhluk; In Swedish: Varelse; In French: °ä°ùé²¹³Ù³Ü°ù±ð

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Christian concept of 'Creature'

Christianity Books

Significance in Global Christian community:
Catholic Church Books

From: Summa Theologica (English translation)

(1) The creature refers to the entity that has potentiality, but the conversion in the sacrament does not come about by the potentiality of the creature, but solely by the active power of the Creator.[1] (2) The creature is related to the Word, and the text explains that the Word implies relation to creatures, because God by knowing Himself, knows every creature, and the Word represents everything that is understood.[2] (3) The creature is mentioned in the context of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost being one Creator, implying a shared role in the creation of the creature.[3] (4) Anything that is created by God, which is mentioned in relation to God communicating himself to others.[4] (5) A being that is created; in the context of Christ, it refers to His human nature but is a point of theological contention.[5]

From: Works of St. Anselm

(1) This is contrasted with the Creator, representing something that has been brought into existence, the result of creation.[6] (2) The created being who should not take away the respect owed to the creator and not restore what he takes away.[7] (3) Other beings that derive their existence from something else rather than from themselves, emphasizing the distinction between them and the supreme Substance.[8]

From: The city of God

(1) This term represents the being that has private presumption and is contrasted with the Creator's protection.[9]

The Catholic Church is a global Christian community with over a billion members, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is led by the Pope and emphasizes the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. Catholicism is a denomination centered on the teachings thereof. It has a rich theological and cultural heritage.

Significance in Early Christian church and writers:
Early Christianity Books

From: Ante-nicene Fathers

(1) This refers to the subject of vanity, and the text explores what creature is referred to, and how it is said to be subject to vanity not willingly.[10] (2) This refers to all of creation, excluding the Creator, and is used in the context of not worshipping the things that are created, but the Creator, according to the provided text.[11] (3) The text explains that everything that has been created is not truly God, which means that everything is a creature.[12] (4) The creatures are mentioned in the context of the enemy's stratagems, and the text indicates that faith would be endangered, and the text also refers to the snares of the world.[13] (5) The creature is something that God loved, and it is a central theme of the text's discussion on faith and redemption.[14]

Early Christianity (also known as Early Church) refers to the period starting roughly in the 6th century BC up until 325 A.D. during which year the first council of Nicaea was convened. Popular literature includes the writings by the early Church Fathers which forms the basis of later Christian theology.

Significance in Protestantism (Christian movement emphasizing faith and scripture):
Protestantism Books

From: The Existence and Attributes of God

(1) This term describes something brought into existence, and is a demonstration of divine power, and is a limited power that originates from the divine, who is the source of all power.[15] (2) The term refers to any created being, where holiness is the honor of the creature, and sanctification and honor are linked together.[16] (3) The text explains that patience is the first step of comfort to the poor creature, indicating a starting point of comfort.[17] (4) Used to discover God, as the apostles drew arguments from the topics of nature when they discoursed with those that owned the scripture.[18] (5) This refers to all beings that are created by God, including humans, and emphasizes the relationship between the creator and the created.[19]

Protestantism (or simply the protestant church) is a major branch of Christianity originating from the Reformation in the 16th century, led by figures like Martin Luther. It emphasizes salvation by faith alone and the Bible as the ultimate authority. Variants of Protestantism include Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, Methodism and Presbyterianism, each with unique practices but generally united by these core principles.

Significance in Christianity (general):

From: Hymns for Christian Devotion

(1) This word refers to all living beings that exist, emphasizing the diversity and interconnectedness of existence.[20] (2) This refers to the speaker, who acknowledges their existence as a product of the entity's creation, emphasizing their dependence on the entity addressed for life itself.[21]

From: Expositions of Holy Scripture

(1) The seraphim veiled their faces in token of the incapacity of the creature to behold the Creator; 'with twain veiled their feet' in token of the unworthiness of creatural activities to be set before Him, 'and with twain did fly'.[22]

Significance in Church of the East (or the East Syriac Church):
Church of the East Books

From: The Book of the Bee

(1) This refers to all the beings over which Adam was made king, as mentioned in the provided text.[23]

The Church of the East emerged in the 5th century and separated from the Roman Empire's state church by adopting Nestorianism. It emphasizes the distinct human and divine natures of Jesus Christ. It is also called the Assyrian Church, Nestorian Church or the East Syriac Church.

Gnostic concept of 'Creature'

Gnosticism Books

Significance in Gnosticism (Mystical or Esoteric Christianity):

From: Pistis Sophia

(1) The creatures of the world are the subject of instruction, representing an aspect of the soul's education in the afterlife.[24]

Plural form: Creatures.