Why did God create man?
Between the Magazine and the Readers
Question:
Why did God create man? Did He create him to worship Him and glorify Him?
Answer:
God did not create man to worship Him and glorify Him, for God is not in need of glorification from a human being nor of worship. God lacks nothing that He could obtain from a creature, whether human or angel.
Rather, God created man out of His goodness and generosity.
Before creation, God was alone. He was the only existing being, so He desired—out of His generosity—to grant the grace of existence to others. Thus He created angels and humans so that they might enjoy existence.
And when we glorify God, we do not mean that God benefits from our glorification; rather, we benefit, because when we remember the name of God and glorify Him, we lift our hearts to a spiritual level that grants our hearts exaltation, purity, and closeness to the divine essence. For this reason, we say in the Divine Liturgy: “You were not in need of my servitude, but I am in need of Your lordship.”
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – Fifth Year – Issue Five – November 2, 1974
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