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NASB | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. [Heb 11:3] |
Subject: In the beginning |
Bible Note: Hi Keliy, You wrote, “If we remove the parameters of time out of the equation, it is much simpler to imagine” and “It is a defect, but I believe God has reasons for installing it.” When I said that “in the beginning” was from the beginning of eternity, I get that eternity really had no beginning. However, the scriptures speak of “in the beginning,” “the alpha and the omega,” etc. God did install units of time for us, like days, seasons, years, etc. If God did this, then by its very nature it cannot be defective. While God inspires what is written, but it is written by man for human understanding. I wrote, "Since the planet earth and the universe existed prior to the light of verse 3, they also existed prior to the first day. You responded, “My feeling is that this is misinterpretation on your part, since the sea, the earth, and its fruits were created on the third day (v. 9–13)” I’m afraid you are comparing apples and oranges here. Verse 10 is clearly speaking of the “dry land” as “earth,” not the planet earth of verse 1. In regards to the lights from stars which are millions of light-years away, many not visible to man on earth, it is not a matter of God creating these lights, but how He created them. Did He do it instantly or did He create the stars and their light actually took millions of light-years to reach the earth or to be visible to the Hubble? I see no indication in scripture that the light of the first day was that of God’s glory as spoken of in Revelation. Please notice that the light in verse 3 was separated from the darkness. How did God do this? By having the light shine upon the earth as it rotated and thus making days of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Now notice that the light of the sun in verse 14 is shinning on the earth from the same direction with the same result of separating the days from the nights. The logical explanation is it is the same light coming for the same source. You wrote, “When Adam's sin brought death into the world: Yes. That would include vegetation and animals as well.” However, you were unable to provide scripture for this idea. Here is one to consider: Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-“ Death spread to all men, not plants and animals. Plants and animals do not sin and there is no reason to believe that plants and animals were eternal prior to sin entering into the world. You wrote: “Now, in order for there to be life before the first day, would there not have to be a contradiction in there somewhere? Looking closely, there is not a gap, but there is a division. If you read verses 3-5 closely, you can see that light was created on the first day. Then, looking back, verses 1 and 2 give us a sort of prelude to the story of creation, and prepares us for the important matter that follows.” How do you explain Satan appearing in the Garden of Eden, since under your argument neither Satan nor any of the angels could have existed prior to the first day? Genesis 1:2 states there was darkness over the surface of the deep, that is, the waters which covered the earth. It does not say that there was darkness anywhere else. In fact, God had made a “thick darkness its swaddling band.” (Job 38: 9) The term “swaddling band” would imply that there was light outside of this band, otherwise it wouldn’t be a band. Why would God place a “thick darkness” over the waters of the deep on the first day if the first thing that God did was to “let there be light”? You have rightly pointed out (John 1: 1-3) that God and the Word (Jesus) were “in the beginning” and that all things were made through Jesus. If “in the beginning” is the same as the first day of creation, then NOTHING had been created prior to that day. Yet, when the cornerstone of the earth was laid, “the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” (Job 38:7) Were the “morning stars” and “all the sons of God” created that same day, but before the earth? The theory that “in the beginning” was on the first day is contradicted by scripture and it is clear that the universe and planet earth existed prior to the first day. I think many believe that accepting that fact is somehow an endorsement of evolution. It is not. We need to read the scriptures to determine the truth and not the truth as we would like it to be. I would be very willing to examine and consider any scripture that clearly contradicts any of my conclusions. Thanks Keliy for your thoughts. You have presented them as well as anyone could and they have been very helpful to me as I have pondered this question. Hoth |