Exegetical Insights
בְּרֵאשִׁית (in [the] beginning ) – This is the first word of the Hebrew Bible and sets the stage for the entire creation narrative. The rootראש means “head” or “chief.” Theologically, it tells us that God started everything and is above all things He created.- Isaiah 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'”
בָּרָא (created ) – This verb is specifically used in the Hebrew Bible to describe an action performed by God. Interestingly, the subject “God” is in the plural form, while the verb is singular. Furthermore, this creation isn’t simply shaping existing materials but creation ex nihilo (out of nothing).- Isaiah 45:12, “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.”
אֱלֹהִים (God ) – The name for God used here is a plural form ofאֵל (El) orאֱלוֹהַּ (Eloah), meaning “God” or “god” in Hebrew. This plural form is sometimes interpreted as a “majestic plural,” signifying God’s supreme power and dignity; others see hints of the Trinity in it. Note that the Jewish interpretation does not consider the term a reference to the Trinity.- Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
הַשָּׁמַיִם (the heavens ) – This term doesn’t just refer to heaven as a place of afterlife or God’s abode, but rather the entirety of the sky and outer space—the cosmos. In ancient cosmology, “the heavens” was the realm above the earth where celestial bodies move, and it’s part of the created physical universe.- Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
הָאָרֶץ (the earth ) – Contrary to “the heavens,” “the earth” refers to the tangible, physical land or ground and, by extension, the entire material world as experienced by humans. It’s not just our planet specifically, but the concept of physical matter and space that is ordered and inhabited.- Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”
Theological Insights
- God as Creator: Genesis 1:1 affirms God’s role as the Creator, not just of Earth, but of the entire universe (“the heavens and the earth”). This underlines the omnipotence of God, His sovereignty, and His pre-existence before all things, establishing the foundational principle of creatio ex nihilo, meaning “creation out of nothing.”
- Foundation of Time: The phrase “In the beginning” introduces the concept of time. This not only establishes the beginning of the physical universe but also the commencement of time as we understand it. It highlights God’s eternal nature, existing before time and space.
- Sovereignty of God: By starting the scripture with God’s action, Genesis 1:1 places the emphasis on God’s supreme power and authority over the universe. The act of creation is solely divine, indicating that all of existence is subject to His sovereignty.
- Purpose and Intentionality: That God created suggests purpose and intentionality. The universe is not a random occurrence, but a deliberate act of God. This speaks to the purposeful design of our world and our lives.
- The Transcendence of God: God’s ability to create the universe establishes Him as distinct and transcendent from His creation. He exists apart from and is not subject to the physical dimensions of the universe He created.
John Wesley: “The first verse of the Bible gives us a surer and better, a more satisfying and useful knowledge of the origin of the universe, than all the volumes of the philosophers” (Commentary).
Matthew Henry: “Should we ask why God made the world no sooner, we should but darken counsel by words without knowledge; for how could there be sooner or later in eternity? And he did make it in the beginning of time, according to his eternal counsels before all time” (Commentary).
- The Fruit of Creation: “The heaven and the earth,” which means everything in the world. This includes a lot of different and beautiful things, all made in a precise and powerful way. These wonders tell us about the greatness of God and remind us to praise Him and to keep our thoughts on heaven.
- The Author of Creation: GOD, or “Elohim,” which shows God’s might and that more than one person exists in God Himself. This name helps us understand the Trinity, and shows that Jesus, God’s Son, was there when everything was made.
- The Manner of Creation: God made everything from nothing. There was nothing before creation that God used to make the world. This shows that God’s power is beyond what we see in nature and all thanks and honor should go to Him.
- The Timing of Creation: “In the beginning,” when time first started. There was no ‘before’ since only God existed in eternity. This tells us that time started with creation, based on God’s plan that was set even before time began.
Matthew Henry: “The Jewish Rabbies have a saying, that there were seven things which God created before the world, by which they only mean to express the excellency of these things: The law, repentance, paradise, hell, the throne of glory, the house of the sanctuary, and the name of the Messiah. But to us it is enough to say, ‘In the beginning was the Word’ (John 1:1)” (Commentary).
- “In the beginning”: Calvin rejects the notion that this term (in Genesis 1:1) refers to Christ. Instead, he argues that Moses’ intent is to show that the world was created from a state of “empty chaos” and was not the way it is now at its very commencement. Calvin asserts that Moses uses the term “created” (
ברא ) to indicate that the world came into being from nothing. - Eternality of the World: Calvin argues against the idea that the world is eternal or that it was merely “refurnished.” He insists that the world was created by God and did not exist before this act of creation.
- The Term “Elohim”: Calvin addresses the use of the plural noun “Elohim” in the Hebrew text. While some have argued that this points to the Trinity, Calvin cautions against such a reading. He states that if one were to read the term as referring to the Trinity, it would create theological problems, such as implying that the Son is begotten by Himself or that the Spirit is not from the Father but from Himself.
- Against Forced Interpretations: Calvin advises against twisting the text to fit certain theological views, warning especially against errors like Sabellianism (which confuses the persons of the Trinity). Instead, he sees the term “Elohim” as reflecting the divine powers or attributes exercised by God in the act of creation.
- Sufficiency in the Text: For Calvin, it’s sufficient to understand the plural term as indicative of the multiple powers that God exercised in creation, without necessarily having to see it as a direct reference to the Trinity.
- A Title for God: Finally, Calvin views the term “Elohim” as a title ascribed to God that conveys His divine powers, which are also part of His eternal essence.
“Elohim” = Trinity?John Calvin: “If we suppose three persons to be here denoted, there will be no distinction between them. For it will follow, both that the Son is begotten by himself, and that the Spirit is not of the Father, but of himself. For me it is sufficient that the plural number expresses those powers which God exercised in creating the world” (Commentary).
Cross-References
- Job 38:4-7, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding…when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
- Job 38:4-7 reveals a moment of joyous celebration in the universe when God laid the earth’s foundation, emphasizing the significance of creation.
- John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
- This passage mirrors the language of Genesis 1:1, emphasizing the active role of Christ (the Word) in creation, affirming the Trinity’s involvement in the Genesis creation account.
- Colossians 1:16-17, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
- This passage expands Genesis 1:1 and reveals the role of Christ in the work of creation. (cf. John 1:3)
- Hebrews 11:3, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”
- Hebrews 11:3 emphasizes the importance of faith in understanding how the world was created, highlighting the power and authority of God’s word in the creation process. “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:6, 9).
- Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
- Genesis 1:1 introduces God’s act in creation, while Revelation 4:11 elaborates on it by attributing it to God’s will, which is both the reason things were created and what gives them their purpose and nature.
Illustrations
I am so happy I found this. Thank you my dear friend.
Enjoying the website.