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NASB | Genesis 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. |
Bible Question: THE CREATION OF THE FISRT LIGHT-- WAHT IS THAT LIGHT? |
Bible Answer: Taken from John Gill's Commentary: Gen 1:3 - 'And God said, let there be light, and there was light: it at once appeared; "God commanded light to shine out of darkness"; as the apostle says, 2Cor 4:6 this was the first thing made out of the dark chaos; as in the new creation, or work of grace in the heart, light is the first thing produced there: what this light was is not easy to say. Some of the Jewish Rabbins, and also some Christian writers, think the angels are designed by it, which is not at all probable, as the ends and use of this light show: others of them are of opinion, that it is the same with the sun, of which a repetition is made on the fourth day, because of its use and efficacy to the earth, and its plants; but others more rightly take it to be different from the sun, and a more glimmering light, which afterwards was gathered into and perfected in the body of the sun (f). It is the opinion of Zanchius (g), and which is approved of by our countryman, Mr. Fuller (h), that it was a lucid body, or a small lucid cloud, which by its circular motion from east to west made day and night (i); perhaps somewhat like the cloudy pillar of fire that guided the Israelites in the wilderness, and had no doubt heat as well as light; and which two indeed, more or less, go together; and of such fiery particles this body may well be thought to consist. The word "Ur" signifies both fire and light. Ref: (f) Vid. Menasseh ben Israel conciliator in Gen. qu. 2. (g) De Operibus Dei, par. 3. l. 1. c. 2. col. 239. and l. 2. c. 1. (h) Miscell. Sacr. l. 1. c. 12. (i) Milton seems to be of the same mind:----- -----and forthwith light. Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, Sprung from the deep, and from her native east To journey thro' the airy gloom began, Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle Sojourned the while.----- Paradise Lost, B. 7. l. 243, c.' -end of Gill's commentary-- Also, in verse 5, "and there was evening and there was morning, one day." This is the first occurrence of this as well should be, and note that it does not say a definitive 'and THE evening and THE morning'. And because of the use of 'dividing the light from darkness' would perhaps be the beginning of the rotation of the masses of "the deep". Although much is said about this and the Scriptures are a little vague, look at the context of these events. The basic context is about the creation of the universe. If we spiritualize too much of this we must conclude, by the context, that in God also dwells darkness and that is a contradiction. (1Jo 1:5 KJV) "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." In reference to all these things it may help to read the whole of Proverbs Chap. 8 which talks about wisdom. Then in verse 27, "...when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:", (compass - made a circle). As in Isa. 40:22, ..."He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth..." There is no contension about this subject, for as EdB stated, "we don't begin to understand how God does things". These are commentaries on the verse in question and I hope that this forum has given you some things to consider. terrib |