Bible Study Understanding Genesis 1:1

[DJT_47]

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning" - what does this really mean?

"1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

God says exactly what he means and means exactly what he says, and his use of even the simplest of words cannot be overlooked, assumed, or taken for granted without careful consideration.

Having said that, and to provide clarification of the aforementioned subject verse, Gen 1:1, consider this analogy: If someone were to say, "in the kitchen I made the table and chairs". What is this saying and what does it imply? It's saying that within the kitchen the table and chairs were made (created) by the individual. This implies that the kitchen was already there, and inside of it was made the table and chairs (not created along with or at the same time that they were).

If you superimpose the word God in this analogy and said, "in the kitchen God made (created) the table and chairs", this would imply that God made or created the table and chairs inside of, or within the kitchen, meaning that the kitchen was already there, and he simply made the items within it.

Extrapolating this logic further to the biblical verse Gen 1:1, it becomes clear that "the beginning", which equates to 'the kitchen', was already in existence, and God simply made or created the heaven and the earth within or during it, and not that they all were created at the same time; it does not say that nor does it infer that, when you look closely at the words. It doesn't say "at the beginning", but rather says "in the beginning". The beginning had already begun and at some point in or within it, the heaven and the earth were created. The next verse then goes on to describe the nature of the newly formed earth at that point in time.

This is not 'gap theory', nor theory at all, but rather clarifies 'gap theory' by simply looking closely at the very minute word "in", and applying its proper meaning and intent within the scriptural context.

"In" is used in virtually all biblical translations

"in", a few definitions

1. expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else.
"dressed in their Sunday best"

2. expressing a period of time during which an event takes place or a situation remains the case.

3. "they met in 1885"—used as a function word to indicate inclusion, location, or position within limits

 

[for_his_glory]

In the beginning just means in the beginning of God starting to created the 1st heaven and the earth that we live on. There needs to be no explanation of this when you read the full of the first day.

First heaven - The firmament, Earths Atmosphere -which is the immediate sky, where the “fowls of the heaven” (Genesis 2:19; 7:3,23; Psalms 8:8, etc.), “the eagles of heaven” (Lamentations 4:19), it is our atmosphere that surrounds the earth.​

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

 

[DJT_47]

In the beginning just means in the beginning of God starting to created the 1st heaven and the earth that we live on. There needs to be no explanation of this when you read the full of the first day.

First heaven - The firmament, Earths Atmosphere -which is the immediate sky, where the “fowls of the heaven” (Genesis 2:19; 7:3,23; Psalms 8:8, etc.), “the eagles of heaven” (Lamentations 4:19), it is our atmosphere that surrounds the earth.​

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

But you're suggesting that the earth and heaven were part of the 1st day wherein its clear that light was created, but not clear that the earth, heaven, and the entire universe were created on the 1sy day. There appears to be a separation between verses 1, 2 and verse 3. 1 and 2 appear to be distinguished from 3 and not included with it. That's the distinction made if you look closely at the word "in" and the meaning and use of it within the context of theses passages. That little word suggests something different; that there was something created in which the earth and heaven became a part of.

 

[for_his_glory]

In vs. 2 the earth was without form and void, but yet was there in the beginning as God placed it there. From vs. 9 - vs. 13 God completed the earth.

 

[DJT_47]

In vs. 2 the earth was without form and void, but yet was there in the beginning as God placed it there. From vs. 9 - vs. 13 God completed the earth.

I agree with that, but that's not the arguement that you posed. You're suggesting 1, 2, AND 3 go together to become day 1. That's the distinction I suggested that the word "IN" (the beginning) indicates. IN: insinuating in something already in existence, something already created that constitutes "the beginning".

 

[for_his_glory]

I agree with that, but that's not the arguement that you posed. You're suggesting 1, 2, AND 3 go together to become day 1. That's the distinction I suggested that the word "IN" (the beginning) indicates. IN: insinuating in something already in existence, something already created that constitutes "the beginning".

Let me clarify. Day one the earth was there, but not yet formed on the first day. On day three it was completed.