In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
Though this appeared to be a simple straight forward statement it really is not all that simple. There are four key concepts in this very first statement of the Christian Bible. Even as these four key concepts that form the basis of the message of this first statement of the Christian Bible may appear straight forward however being unclear on the context have cause millions to billions to misread them over the centuries.
1. In the beginning: [re’shiyth]
2. GOD: [’elohiym].
3. Created: [bara’].
4. The heavens: [shamayim], and the earth: [’erets].
In the beginning.
Occurs 17 times in the KJV, 10 times in the NKJV, 13 times in YLT, 6 times in the NLT, 11 times in the RSV, 10 times in the Amplified Bible, 5 times in NIV, and 19 times in the Darby Translation.
In Strong’s Concordance the word ‘beginning’ [re’shiyth] which corresponds to Strong’s Number H7225 occurs 51 times in the Old Covenant records of the KJV. The word with a congruent meaning in the Greek Concordance as ‘beginning’ [archē] corresponding to Strong’s Number G746 occurs 58 times in the New Covenant records of the KJV.
Conceptual meanings (depending on context):
1. Start: At or from the start.
2. First: At first, at/from the first, at the very first.
3. When it all started/began.
4. Originally.
5. How it all started (it all started from).
6. Why it all started (it all started because).
7. The first of many.
8. Commence, commencing. In/at the commencement.
8. Commence, commencing. In/at the commencement.
The meaning in the phrase ‘In the beginning’ in Genesis 1:1 is defined by the context of the object ‘heavens and the earth.’ This context also set the framework for the rest of the records of the Christian Holy Scriptures encompassing the records of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. This tells us that the context was of the physical universe with the focus on the earth. That was the reason even as earth is a part of the heavens (that is the physical universe) this verse separated ‘the heavens’ from ‘the earth’. The second verse Genesis 1:2 would make this abundantly clear. But this is just an indicative context and not the main framing or definitive context of the phrase ‘In the beginning.’ The defining context was actually the main focus of Genesis chapter one. This was the creation of man both male and female made in the image of GOD (Genesis 1:26 - 27). This was the main or primary focus of the entire records of the Scripture of Truth (Psalm 8:3 - 5; Hebrews 2:5 - 8).
Even as I should not have to explain this as it should be obvious to all who have thoroughly read the Holy Christian Scriptures, nevertheless I will. This is because of Antichrists who had the whole world of mankind and the bulk of professed Christianity so totally confused and blinded through their deceitful doctrines so much so that all these are unable to count from one to three or put two and two together when it comes to understanding the doctrines and teachings of the Holy Scriptures.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion 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 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.”
Genesis
In the Genesis Chapter of my Bible 101 - The Holy Bible Expounded blog I wrote that part of Genesis chapter 2 actually belonged in Genesis chapter 1, that carnal minded translators of the Christian Bible misappropriate-ly ended Genesis chapter 1 at the end of the sixth day instead of the seventh day. Genesis 1 verse 26 to 27 is the main and concluding focus of Genesis chapter 1.
The whole of Genesis chapter 1 builds up to these two verses.
Even Genesis 2:2 - 3 when GOD rested to create the seventh day, the primary focus was Genesis 1:26 - 27 as also a verse in the New Covenant records confirmed. This was when JESUS reaffirmed that the Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27), meaning the reason GOD rested on the seventh day of ‘Creation Week’ of Genesis was to create the Sabbath for man (Mark 2:27) to rest from his work (Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14) which man was commanded to do for six days of the week (Exodus 20:9; Deuteronomy 5:13).
This was so that man should not lose focus of the importance of his relationship with GOD (Exodus 31:13; Isaiah 58:13), his BENEFACTOR, the ONLY ONE WHO can bestowed on man immortality. Why was there a Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden if immortality was not the very first desire of the CREATOR for man, male and female made in HIS image and likeness?
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 8:3 - 5
The above verses in Psalm chapter 8 highlighted the main and over riding focus of GOD on man with a question. This was repeated and expanded on and implicitly answered in Hebrews chapter 2.
For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying:
“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
Hebrews 2:5 - 8
The context of the Genesis’ beginning is not the earliest of beginnings. Else where in the Holy Christian Scriptures it was recorded of an even earlier beginning. This was when GOD created the Angels of heaven way, way before the creation of the physical universe of Genesis 1 verse 1.
The context of the Genesis’ beginning is not the earliest of beginnings. Else where in the Holy Christian Scriptures it was recorded of an even earlier beginning. This was when GOD created the Angels of heaven way, way before the creation of the physical universe of Genesis 1 verse 1.
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:4 - 7
In the book of Job it was recorded that GOD corrected Job after Job charged that GOD had wronged him. It was here where GOD revealed that when the earth was created (together with the whole of the physical universe in Genesis 1:1) the Angels of GOD (the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy) were rapturous with joy. These verses showed that the Angels of Heaven, the Spirit personages, were created before the physical universe.
Also by implication this would mean that the Spiritual Heaven was created prior to the creation of the Angels of that Heaven since Angels too have their habitation (Jude 1:6) just like man and all the animals and plants of our planet earth have earth as our habitation (Jude 1:1). This is also as the Scripture of Truth recorded and not something I made up or reasoned out, read the verse below:
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jude 1:1
From the perspective of the Christian Scriptural records in terms of chronological order the earliest point of beginnings was actually that of John 1 verses 1 to 3. This recorded a ‘time’ in pre-creation (‘without him nothing was made that has been made’) before anything that was created was created. This also includes time as we and even the Angels of Heaven know and understand it.
Please read the chapter ‘GOD IS’ of ‘Bible 101’ for the discussion on this.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1 - 3 (NIV).
The New Living Translation has an easier to understand translation of these verses:
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
John 1:1 - 3
John 1 verse 1 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ literally means that from the very beginning of beginnings GOD and the WORD was ONE (John 10:30), that GOD and the WORD existed without beginning as ONE and not three as has been advocated in the lies of the Christmas religion. For the full discussion of this please read the chapter ‘GOD IS’ of Bible 101 -The Holy Bible Expounded.
I and My Father are one
John 10:30
If GOD is indeed a Trinity as the Christmas religion claimed then John 10:30 would not have been recorded as ‘I and My Father are one’ but as ‘I, My Father and the Holy Ghost are a Trinity’ instead.
Please the post title ‘GOD’ what the term ‘GOD’ actually meant when GOD had it recorded in the Holy Christian Scriptures the several words used to denote and address the GOD of this Scriptures.
GOD: [’elohiym]
In Strong’s Concordance the word ‘GOD’ [’elohiym] corresponds to Strong’s Number H430 which occurs 2606 times in the Old Covenant records of the KJV. The word with a similar meaning in the Greek Concordance as ‘GOD’ [theos] corresponding to Strong’s Number G2316 occurs 1343 times in the New Covenant records of the KJV.
Conceptual meanings (depending on the context):
1. The word ’elohiym translated as GOD in the NKJV is a plural noun (of ’elowahh H433) which sometimes was used in the singular. Though used most commonly to refer to the CREATOR GOD, it was not used exclusively in this context. The word ’elohiym was also often used to refer to judge or judges as one holding the authoritative power to judge or pronounce a judgment. In a limited context and in isolated instances the word ’elohiym was also use to reference pagan god and goddess (1 Kings 11:5, 33), as well as angels, greatness or might in the context of a superlative.
Created: [bara’]
In Strong’s Concordance the word ‘create’ [bara’] corresponds to Strong’s Number H1254 and occurs 54 times in the Old Covenant records of the KJV. The words with a similar meanings in the Greek Concordance are ‘create’ [ktizō] and ‘make’ [poieō] corresponding to Strong’s Number G2936 occurring 16 times and Strong’s Number G4160 occurring 602 times respectively in the New Covenant records of the KJV.
Conceptual meanings (depending on the context):
1. Make or create or form.
2. Fashion or shape as in fashioning a shape or object.
3. Prepare.
4. Cause.
4. Maker or creator as one who makes, creates, forms, fashions or prepares.
Heavens: [shamayim]
In Strong's Concordance the word ‘heavens’ [shamayim] corresponds to Strong’s Number H8064 and occurs 420 times in the Old Testament records of the KJV. The word with a congruent meaning in the Greek Concordance as ‘heavens’ [ouranos] corresponding to Strong’s Number G3772 occurs 284 times in the New Covenant records of the KJV.
Conceptual meanings (depending on context):
1. When the word translated as ‘heaven’ was used in the Holy Scriptures the term was used in three contexts. The ‘first’ heaven referred to the atmosphere around us, that is the sky. The ‘third’ referred to the throne of GOD where the Angels of GOD have their habitation.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:2
In the verse above the Apostle Paul spoke of being taken up in a vision to the third heaven. This by implication meant there is a first heaven and a second heaven. Since the first heaven is clearly defined in the Holy Christian Scriptures (see Genesis 1:20), the second heaven therefore must be outer space or the rest of the physical universe beyond the atmosphere of the planet earth.
Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
Genesis 15:5
Genesis 1:1 is also a declarative statement. GOD declared that HE created the heavens and the earth referring to the physical universe. Since there are quite a few ‘In the beginning’ statements in the Christian Bible it is important for us to understand that the context in this ‘beginning’ is not of the entire creation which would include the Spiritual Heaven and the Angels of Heaven but this ‘beginning’ just referenced that of the physical universe, the domain, dominion or habitat that man made in the image of GOD have our existence.
This was directly supported by Genesis 1:2 whereby the earth and only the earth was (or had become) a desolate empty waste (without form, and void) and in complete darkness.
Understanding this very simple beginning recorded in the Holy Christian Scriptures should give us the correct perspective to understand the focus of the whole Christian Bible. This should then lead us to understand why, why the all powerful CREATOR GOD of everything including our mind-boggling immense universe is so focused on inconsequential severely limited and self expediently wicked man.
Next: A Dark Empty Wasteland.
Comments and questions on issues of doctrines and facts raised here can be directed to chquah@gmail.com. Only sincere non malicious comments and questions seeking clarification and understanding will be entertained.
Special Note
Special Note
Please note that all discussions by this author are based on a general non expert assessment of information gathered from material published in the public domain (i.e., readily available to members of the general public). All of this author's discussions are presented as material for any and all lay persons with no special expertise. Anyone twelve years of age and older, who is not mentally incapacitated in some ways, would (or should anyway) be able to understand anyall the discussions of this author. No one needs to be an expert or a genius to be able to understand the simple and straight forward truths discussed by this author.
The main basis of all this author's discussions is the original inspired texts of the Christian Holy Scriptures sourced from material currently (at time of the posting) publicly available as ‘translated’ text in numerous version of the "Christian" Bible and extensively referenced by the Strong Exhaustive Concordance of the King James Version. The discussions' focus and context are with respect to this author's Christian commitment, worship and beliefs through the calling of ALMIGHTY GOD to the baptism of repentance into the Everlasting Covenant mediated by LORD JESUS of the Christian Scripture's Gospel (the Christian New Covenant's) accounts.
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First Posted: 2011 07 03
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