www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Creator vs. Maker

I have a question for our western/latin friends.
In the creed when the eastern church says "creator of heaven and earth", you say "maker of heaven and earth". Can you please explain why "maker" instead of "creator"? Is it a translation difference or meaning difference?

I work in many different churches, east-west and other. I have often wondered why the difference.
(This is not for starting an argument but a sincere curiosity on my part. Those wishing to create dissention need not respond.)

Oh me Oh my,

Well having put my thinking cap on and done a fair amount of scratching I have to admit you have me fair flummoxed

The problem is that I started to think about the two words out of context and came up with

Make - usually involves a physical 'hands on process' and it requires something to use to make it ie using the domestic kitchen you make a cake but you have ingredients from which to make it

Create - a different kettle of fish altogether. To me it involves something coming from nothing which is to my mind how the world and heaven were created[ there's that word again]

I don't suppose this helps one little bit and I am still left with the words of the Creed.

I hope this is just a translation 'thingie'

Angela now a very puzzled Latin

I believe this to be a translation preference. In some Byzantine Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic books the words used are "Creator" and in others the words "Maker".

I do not think theology is necessarily involved in the choice of words of the translators.

With Best Wishes,
Stefan-Ivan

Cetver,

In my Methodist prayerbook, there are two versions of the Apostles' Creed:

The Apostles' Creed, Traditional Version

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into Hell;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascdended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed, Ecumenical Version

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, Our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen.

From what I can deduce, at least from my Methodist prayerbook, is that the term "maker" is simply an older, more traditional usage in the Creed.

ChristTeen287

Thanks for the thoughts...for me there is a difference and I do prefer the "creator" (from scratch approach) to the "maker", but just wanted some other opinions..

I prefer the term "maker". I find it more intimate.

ChristTeen287