The first verses of the Bible describe the way God created everything to be. The way it was intended, and a time when humanity knew exactly who he was and why he existed. We need to look at the reality of the original people before they sinned and everything was good. The re-creation of that reality is what ultimately will give us true identity and purpose. The history of the world and mankind is the story of getting back to Eden.
* The following verses contain in italics the translations of individual words from Hebrew and Greek to give fuller understanding to the overall meanings of the passages. The verse text from the English Bible will appear in Blue.
(with Hebrew words)
"In the beginning (“beresit, reshit” - first, chief, at the first, occurred over an indeterminate period of time) God (“elohim” - plural of one in the spiritual realm) created (“bara” - birth, create, shape, form something new) the heavens and the earth."
1) Right from the beginning, God is spoken of by a descriptor that means He is a plural. He is one and more than one at the same time. God is a unity. God has internal relationships.
2) The word “beresit” or “reshit” also suggests a plan and purpose. Right from the beginning, God had a plan and purpose for His creation and those who would inhabit it. Our existence isn’t an accident. We have always had a purpose.
3) “Elohim” most often in the Old Testament is speaking of the one true God. As a majestic or plural of one. The world elohim itself means beings of the spirit realm and can also refer to angels and the spirits of dead humans. The Jewish understanding of this verse is that elohim is referring to the divine council which exists of God and a certain group of angels who have the responsibility of holding court and making decisions. It would not make sense that the use of elohim here means the divine council, because these angels, like all angels, were a part of God’s creation and are not creators themselves.
4) ‘Heavens and earth’ is a chiasm - part of speech where the two book ends create the whole, meaning God created absolutely everything. Another example is Alpha & Omega. God covers the beginning, the end, and everything in between. (see Rev. 22:12-13)
5) ‘Heavens and earth’ in Hebrew is actually ‘sky and land’ from a near east perspective. It basically means what the writer saw from their view of the world. So from the beginning, the Biblical narrative is very relationship-centric. The subjects are God and man.
"And (‘but’ or ‘now’), the earth (‘wehaares” - land) was (‘hayetah’ - became) without form and void (“tohu wabohu”- an uninhabitable wasteland as a result of judgment). (Jeremiah 4:24-26, Isaiah 24:1) and darkness was over the face of the deep (“tehowm” - abyss or grave) and the Spirit of God (“weruah” - spirit, breath, wind of heaven, the HOLY SPIRIT) hovered over the face (“pene” - presence, faces of cherubim & seraphim) of the waters." (“hammayim” water, urine, violence, transitory things)
1) “And” can also be translated, ‘but’ or ‘now’, showing that verse 2 is step 2 in the process. Everything known, the universe, was created in verse 1, but verse 2 shows that something has happened so that things went through something negative for the earth to then be in a state of chaos in verse 2.
2) Some think the judgment was of angelic beings who were spoken of as being already present at the re-forming of of the earth (Job 38:4-7). Therefore the angelic beings/heavenly hosts would have been created in vs 1 with the rest of the universe, someone (angelic beings?) did something that needed judgment, so the earth was re-formed in verse 2. Some believe the 2 Peter 3:3-7 is actually a reference to the judgment referenced here, rather than Noah’s flood.
3) In ancient near-east literature - a place of judgement for unclean beings. Often the seas or oceans have been spoken of as the place that demonic beings dwell, or are sent to for punishment. Think the leviathan or the Kraken from Pirates of the Caribbean).
4) The Holy Spirit is seen as being a Source of creation, and as moving back and forth above the abyss.
5) The word “weruah” or “ruach” is the same word used for the soul/spirit of man - the breath of life, the seat of emotions, will & mind. It is the same word for the breath or life that God breathed into Adam in chapter 2.
The Bible begins with the Creator self-existent, alone and identified as a plural of one, creating everything that was not Him (everything else that exists - the universe and everything in it). With a plan and purpose in mind, He created it all. After the initial creation, it would seem that something went wrong that required some sort of judgment. After this judgement, everything was chaos, (what the Jews and Greeks referred to as the chaos form of the earth), then God re-formed the earth specifically for the habitation of man. This re-formation occurred in six literal, twenty-four hour days about 6,000-ish years ago.
(with Hebrew words)
"Then God said, (“wayyomer” - spoke, command, promise) let there be (“yehi” - to happen, come about, arise, appear) light." (“haowr” - light, light of day, day-break, dawn, light of life, light of face)
"And seeing that the light was good, (“towb” - good, pleasant, agreeable, rich, valuable, right, happy, bountiful), God separated (“wayyabdel” - to divide, sever, set apart, to make a distinction, separate oneself from, set apart), the light from the darkness." (“habhosek” - darkness, obscurity, secret place)
"God called the light day and the darkness night. And the evening and the morning were one day."
1) Everything that exists is directly connected to the life and the purpose of God.
2) God’s Words are His commands of purpose and action.
3) Everything was fashioned to be good.
4) God set apart the light from the darkness. To be ‘set apart’ is the idea of sanctification which means to be ‘set apart for a purpose’ directly in connection and relationship with the source of life and light. To be separated from God is the opposite - darkness, sadness, death.
5) God separated the light from the darkness.
6) God set apart the light from the darkness. To be ‘set apart’ is the idea of sanctification which means to be ‘set apart for a purpose’. God gives purpose to everything He creates, including humankind. You have a purpose.
(with Hebrew words)
"Then God said, “Let Us make man (“Adam”; man, mankind) in Our image (“besalmenu”; something cut out; semblence; essence as; idol, painted picture) according to Our likeness." (“kidmutenu”; similitude, figure, form, pattern, resemblance, fashion, model, shape)
"Let them have dominion (“weyirdu” rule, dominion, dominate, tread down, to scrape out)
over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
"So God created (“wayyibra”; creates, shape, form, fashion, new conditions, birth, something new) man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
"Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
(with Hebrew words)
"And the Lord God formed (“wayyiser”; form, fashion, original creation, frame, pre-ordain, plan, of divine purpose; potter; pottery; devises, earthenware) man (“haadam” [masculine] man, mankind, Adam, first man, common sort) of the dust (“apar” dry earth, dust, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish, debris) of the ground (“haadamah” [feminine] land, earth’s visible surface; fields, soil, farming, country; tilled, yielding sustenance) and breathed (“wayyippah” blow, sniff, seethe) into his nostrils the breath (“nismat” breathe, spirit, life, alive) of life (“hayyim” living, alive, green, life, fresh, flowing) and man became a living being." (“lenepes” soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He (the Word) was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it. There came a man sent from God, and his name was John. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true light which coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory. The glory of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
God's words are connected with creation itself. Jesus in John 1:1 is said to be the Word, not because He was created, but Creator. God’s words are generate life. The Word of God, the Bible is more than words on a page. Through the enlightening, or quickening of the Holy Spirit, they give us life.
(with Greek words)
"In the beginning (“arche” origin, first, rulers, magistrates, initial point, priority, preeminent, the beginning of all things, principalities, first preaching, ahead of the rest) was the Word, (“logos” something said, a topic, reasoning, motive, computation, divine expression, speaking to a conclusion, sharing a message, discourse, communication, news, preaching) and the Word was with (“pros” to, towards, with, interface with, moving towards a goal or destination) God, and the Word was (“eimi” being, I exist, I am) God. He (the Word) was in the beginning with God. All things came into being (“geneto” to be, to exist)
through (“dia” the channel of an act, because of, on account of, instrumentality, by reason of, for the sake of) Him, and apart (“choris” separately from, at a space from, detached, rendering something invalid) from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life (“zoe” physical and spiritual existence both present and future.
*Note from Strongs Concordance: All life throughout the universe is derived from and is
sustained by God’s self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people,
creating each in his image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life) and the life was the light (“phos” light and what it manifests, luminosity, illumination, radiance [where
we get the word face], God’s self-existence life, divine illumination to reveal and impart life
through Christ) of men. The light shines in the darkness (“skotia” obscurity, due to want of daylight, secret, private, ignorance) and the darkness does not comprehend (“katelaben” to lay hold of, seize, catch, capture, overcome, perceive, appropriate) it.
There came a man sent from God, and his name was John. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true (“alethinon” real, genuine, truthful) light which coming into the world, enlightens (“photezei” shed light on, enlighten, make evident, reveal, shine rays on) every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received (“lambano” get, take, lay hold of aggressively, accepting what was offered) Him, to them He gave the right (“exhousian” privilege, competency, freedom, mastery, delegated influence, AUTHORITY [think DOMINION RESTORED], delegated power) to become (“genesthai” [aorist middle indicative - action in past extending into undefined future...] to come into being, to happen, emerge, transitioning from one point/realm/condition to another; change of condition, state or place; implying movement and growth) the children (“tekna” descendant, inhabitant of household, implying inheritance, submissive dependant) OF GOD even to those who believe (pisteuousin, to have faith, trust in, affirm, have confidence in) in His name (“onoma” character, fame, reputation, the revelation or revelation of one’s character that distinguishes them from all others, authority, cause), who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh (“sarx” material body) and dwelt (“eskenosen” set up his tent, tabernacled, dwelling, encampment, abide, abode) among us, and we saw His glory. (“doxa” renown, honor, divine glory, slendor, unspoken manifestation of God) The glory of the only begotten (“monogenus” only, unique, sole, one of a kind, one and only, one of a class-genos) from the Father, full (“pleres” abounding in, completely occupied by) of grace (“charis” leaning toward, inclining toward, extending kindness and favor) and truth." (“aletheia” true to fact, reality, opposite of illusion, sincerity, straitforwardness)
Jesus “Yeshua” means: “to deliver, to rescue, salvation”
His authority: His is God, sent from the Father
His cause: Salvation
2 Corinthians 4:7
"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
“...for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.”