Why does Les prefer the word 'creation' instead of 'creature' in 2 Corinthians 5:17?
In the Greek, 'creation' and 'creature' are the same identical word, but 'creation' fits English better because believers are not merely made a new creature; they are a whole new creation of God, produced by the Holy Spirit's new creative work in the believer.
Les explains that 2 Corinthians 5:17 presents salvation as conditional: if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation. He notes that in the Greek, 'creation' and 'creature' are the same identical word, but 'creation' fits English better, because we are not just made a new creature; we are a whole new creation of God. That new creative work of the Holy Spirit makes a believer a believer, and unless we have experienced it, we are not a believer. He connects this to 1 Corinthians 12:13, where every believer is baptized by one Spirit into one body.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
More Questions
Why is 'new creation' better than 'new creature' in 2 Corinthians 5:17?
The word 'creation' in 'new creation' is a better translation than 'creature' because our salvation is a work of creation—a work of the power of God.