Bible Studies In The Word of God

GENESIS 1

 

Verse 1. In the beginning. This ex­pression is not used with reference to time, but to the order of eyents. It is as if it read, “In the first place—to begin with", etc. The word for begin­ning is RESHITH and has been ren­dered in the A, V. by the following words: beginning, chief, chlefest, first, flrstfruits, first part, first time, prin­cipal thing. Strong defines the word, “The first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a flrstfrult).” The writer is telling the reader that creation of the material world began with the creation of the heaven and the earth. The time or date when this occurred Is not considered here. The word heaven Is from SHAWMEH and defined by Strong thus, “from an unused root meaning, to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps al­luding to the visible arch In which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bod­ies revolve).” In other words, accord­ing to Strong the word refers to the first heaven, where the birds fly, and the second heaven, the place of the planets. The word here Is in the sin­gular but should be plural just as it is rendered In 2:1 since it is used with reference to the two regions de­scribed in the definition. See notes at verses 6, 20.

 

Verse 2. Without form. This is from TOHUW and one word used by Strong to define it is “desolation." The word void is from BOHUW and Is defined by Strong to mean “to be empty.” Thus the expression could well be rendered “earth was desolate and empty.” This is more reasonable since we cannot conceive anything that exists at all as not having any form. Yet we could easily understand how it could be desolate and empty, which was the real condition before the Creator began to arrange it by the six days of the creation. Dark­ness. Since darkness is a negative condition it would exist without cre­ative act. Deep. This is from TEHOM and means the sea. Waters. As the original condition was water the the­ory that the earth was at first a ball of fire is false. Moved. This Is from the same word as "flutter” in Deut. 32:11.

 

Verse 3. And God said. Note this expression used here and on the five following days. It is the only recorded means used by the Creator to bring about his purpose regarding his works outside of man. His word was all that was used and all that was necessary. This agrees with Psa. 33:9; Heb. 11:3, Let there be light. Read 2 Cor. 4:6. It should be noted that light is here a created fact al­though the sun and other planets had not been created. This means that light is a substance and not the “ef­fect” of the vibratory motion of the sun on the eye as taught by "science.”

 

Verse 4. God divided the light from the darkness. Thus it was that God controlled the light which he had created by his miraculous power, thus giving alternations of light and dark­ness. After the sun and other lights were created he then ordained them as means by which these alterations were to be accomplished.

 

Verse 5. Let it be noted that just one evening and one morning are mentioned as forming one day. That is the order of nature now. Thus we see that the “six days of creation” were six periods of days just as we know them now. This being so we cannot accept the speculation that they were periods of several years as the so-called scientists teach. Such would require more than one evening and one morning.

 

Verse 6. Firmament. This is from RAQIA and defined thus by Strong, “An expanse, i, e., the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky." It is thus the region that contains the first and second heavens. See v. 20. Also 2 Cor. 12:2.

 

Verse 7. Here we see that In the disposal of the water at the creation, part of It was sent upward. This agrees with the reference here given to Psa. 148:4 and also with 7:11. The great abundance of water in the time of Noah would not necessarily require creation of it but only the suspension of this firmament, letting this water come back to its former place around the earth. Compare witt “the windows of heaven were opened” in Gen. 7:11.

 

Verses 9. 10. Having disposed of the bulk of water above the earth, God next brings a portion of the earth’s surface to be above the water thus making a place for land life to subsist.

 
Verses 11, 12. It should be observed here that in God's arrangement, all fruit plants were to reproduce through their own seed and that the fruit of each seed was to be its kind. The theory that "seedlings" are inferior and that seeds will not bring the same kind of fruit as the original contradicts this statement of Moses. If a fruit seed today will not reproduce after its kind it is because something has been done to interfere with God’s law of plant reproduction.

Verse 14. Signs. From OWTH and one of Strong’s words for it is “evidence." See Psa. 19:1. Does not mean anything like the so-called signs of those who do their planting “according to the sign." To divide the day from the night. See verse 4.

Verses 15, 16. Here we see the sun and other bodies were created some four days after the earth. The theory of "scientists” that the earth is a portion of the sun, having been thrown off from it, is false.

Verses 17-19. Purpose of God in making these planets is said here to be to “give light upon the earth,” not to make or originate light as is taught. This light was already in existence from the first day. See note at verse 3. It should be further noted that in stating the uses for which these heavenly bodies were made, nothing is said about their being made to furnish a place for living beings.

Verse 20. If this verse should seem to contradict 2:19 as to the source of material for the fowl, note the same subject in verse 22 is worded “let fowl multiply,” etc. This shows the verse here intends only to tell us the proper breeding place of fish and fowl; the one in the waters and the other in the air, and not any direct reference to the creation of the first parent. Heaven. As a chain for the three heavens, underscore the word here and write: 1st heaven. See Gen. 22: 17 for the 2nd. Also see 2 Cor. 12:2.

Verse 21. The word whales is from TANNIYN and defined by Strong as “a marine or land monster." Note also here as in the case of the vegetable kingdom, everything was to bring forth “after its kind.”

Verse 22. The word fill is from the same word as replenish.

 

Verse 23.  Let fowl. See note on this verse at verse 20.

Verses 24, 25. Same law of reproduction after its kind that was given regarding creatures of the sea and air.  This law is still observed in the animal kingdom and is a standing refutation of the evolutionary theory of reproduction.

Verse 26. Us and our. God and the Word were associated in Creation. See John 1: 3; Eph. 3: 9; Col. 1: 16.

Verse 27. The word man is used in its general sense and refers to both sexes. That man is made in the image of God as to his body is seen from the idea that in direct connection with the statement that man was made in the image of God.  It Is stated that he made them, male and female. Since the body of man is the only part of him that has sex it follows that the image of God refers to hls body.

Verse 28. Replenish. This is from the same word as ”fill’’ verse 22 and has no idea of a second reproduction as the letters re have been erroneously interpreted. These letters do not form a syllable prefix but are simply a part of the body of the word which means to "fill.” Let It also be noted that man is to subdue the earth. He Is commanded in the New Testament not to abuse this world nor to permit interest therein to interfere with his more important interests of the soul; but, when kept within these restrictions, man may discover and "invent" and use the various properties of nature for his profit and enjoyment.

Verses 29, 30. At this time man was not given the flesh of animals to eat. No reason is assigned for this in the scripture. And if every green herb was given him for meal. It would appear that the poisonous plants had not yet been created. Evidently they were brought forth along with the "thorns and thistles" of 3: 18.

Verse 31. Everything which God made was pronounced very good. And since this is pronouncement of excellence as to the state of created things in the beginning, we cannot accept the theory of evolutionists that they were crude in the beginning and then afterwards attained to a very good condition through long periods of time.