ALGUNS ASPECTOS PARA A LEITURA DO CONCEITO DE CRIAÇÃO NO ANTIGO TESTAMENTO

Abstract

The concept of creation doesnot constitute an isolated entityinside the Ancient Testament. Itsworkings are connected to the fundamentalpillars of Israelite faith.Thus, it is already determined, in aspecial way, by the Theology of theCovenant.In the texts of both the Yahwistand Priestly redactors, creationis understood as the gateway toIsrael’s history, which is not definedby its mere chronology, but is mostlylinked to the promise to Abraham.This promise reaches its culminationwith Joshua’s conquering ofthe promised land, following one ofthe foundational events of Israelitefaith: The Covenant at Mt. Sinai.This means that the very conceptof creation has been understood as a function of history, conceivedas God’s History with the peopleof Israel, starting in the creation,but with an end that depends onthe experience of God by the samepeople, in the Covenant.This paper aims at showinghow the experience of God in theCovenant was instrumental in theunderstanding of creation as offeredby biblical texts. In order to accomplishthis, we present the evolutionof the concept of creation from thecosmogonic myths of neighboringpeoples, used as they have beenin redactional material by biblicalauthors, to its eschatological framingin the New Testament.