Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 9 of 107
What is the work of creation?
A.The work of creation is God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.
Which Bible passages support this answer?
The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 9. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.
- Genesis 1
The whole chapter. Read Genesis 1 in the NET Bible
- Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. (NET)
What does this answer mean?
Creation is God making all things out of nothing. He did it by the word of his power, simply by speaking. The answer adds that he made everything in the space of six days, and that everything he made was very good. Before God made the world, nothing existed except God himself.
What can we ask our children?
- What did God use to make the world?
- How did God make things: with tools or by his word?
- What did God say about everything he made?
Can I print this question?
Yes. Every printable here is free for home, church and co-op use. Press Print on any of these pages for a clean sheet.
- Memory card for question 9 (fold-over card, question on the front)
- Copywork page for question 9 (trace, then copy)
- Memory cards for questions 1 to 10
- Copywork for questions 1 to 10
- All Westminster Shorter Catechism printables
Text: The Shorter Catechism, constitutional text of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Public domain (1647). Proof references: Scripture proofs added by the Westminster Assembly, as transcribed by The Westminster Standard. Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible; see permissions.
Checked against a second edition on November 15, 2026. Explanation and questions by Household Theology Press. Last updated November 15, 2026.