This word is also translated “creature” and the expression, “a new creature,” occurs 2 Cor. 5:17 and Gal. 6:15, and describes the absolute newness and divine origin of the life and nature of the believer. With the definite article, however, the expression is used more generally as descriptive of the new work of God beginning with the resurrection of Christ, the beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:14), passing on to ourselves, and ending with the new heavens and earth. In this way it is an interesting parallel to Gen. 1. Christians are spiritually in the new creation, though their bodies and earthly ties and duties are in the old.