What is the work of creation?

The work of creation refers to God's sovereign act of bringing everything into existence. The correct answer highlights that this creative work involves making all things out of nothing by the word of His power, which is a foundational principle in Christian theology. This concept emphasizes God's omnipotence and the idea that He spoke the universe into existence ex nihilo, or "out of nothing," demonstrating His authority and creative ability.

In many Christian traditions, including what is outlined in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, this understanding of creation reinforces the belief that God alone is the Creator and that everything that exists relies on His will and power for its being. This perspective is integral to understanding the nature of God and His relationship to the world.

The other alternatives do not capture the full essence of the creation doctrine as articulated in the catechism. For instance, while bringing order from chaos or forming the earth from pre-existing materials might describe aspects of God's creative activity, they do not encompass the complete theological understanding of creation ex nihilo. Likewise, the idea of creating only spiritual beings limits the scope of creation to non-physical entities, neglecting God's role in creating the physical universe as well.