A Look Into "In The Beginning" From Genesis 1:1 And John 1:1
In The Beginning
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:1-3
I remember being a young child trying to understand those first verses in the Bible. There is something about creation from our perspective that simply makes our brain hurt. Creation from the other side of creation, the uncreated side of creation, can’t be fathomed by mankind. Even theologians who spent their lives researching every minute detail of the creation account come up short.
Theologians consider the creation account of Genesis 1:1 – 2:4 a poetic narrative and theological statement of creation. Personally, I love that Genesis 1:1 – 2:4 gives us a pre-science account of creation. Before there were scientist, there was God who created everything that scientists would devote their lives to discovering the scientific laws God Himself created.
So let’s go back to the first three words of the Bible, in the beginning and do our own investigation. In the beginning in the original Hebrew language is actually translated as one word, Re`shiyth. In the Greek translation (in the Septuigint) the term is translated, Genesis.
What Does In The Beginning Tell Us?
This little phrase points out the fact that just as there is a beginning, there is also an end. It tells us there is a connection to the end. In the beginning is the first inference to an eschatological reality. With the reality of a beginning and an end, we want to then answer the question, “Who was there in the beginning?”
The fourth word of Genesis 1:1 tells us the answer, “In the beginning God.”
The Hebrew term for God used in Genesis 1:1 is,`Elohiym which is the plural form of the general name for God. Theologically we consider this to be the first inference of the TRINITY. (Yes, I know the term “Trinity” isn’t used in the Bible, but a missing term used by humans to try and fathom God does not point to a missing Trinity. The Triune God reveals Himself throughout the pages of Scripture.)
The apostle John began His gospel with those same words that explain the creation account.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1-2
Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-2 show us the eternalness of God. God pre-existed the beginning, and the Bible clarifies that for us in many places.
God Pre-existed Creation Bible Verses
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever You formed the earth and world,
even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Psalm 90:2
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me if you have understanding.
Job 38:4
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossians 1:17
And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself,
with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
John 17:5
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End,” says the Lord,
“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty”
Revelation 1:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written
in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8
And He said to me, “it is done!
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End…”
Revelation 21:6a
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End,
the First and the Last.
Revelation 22:13
Remember our question, “Who was there in the beginning?” Our answer – God. The follow-up question is, “What was God doing in the beginning?” The fifth word in Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning, God created.”
Bara – Old Testament
The original Hebrew term for created, bara, tells us a lot about God, about creation, and about us. Bara means to create out of nothing. The Bible uses that term when speaking of creation on a cosmic scale. My Strong’s and Vines Dictionary explained bara as a “rich theological vehicle for communicating the sovereign power of God, who originates and regulates all things to His glory.”
God is bara’s only subject. All other verbs for “creating” allow a much broader range of meaning and they can have divine and human subjects. These other verbs for creating are used in contexts when not bringing something into existence. In other words, humans cannot create anything out of nothing.
We must have something to work with to create. An artist must have a canvas, paint, an art brush, and hands to paint with. A potter must have the clay to create. A builder can create beautiful buildings, but he first needs the materials to create. But God, while He instilled an ability to create within human kind, only He creates out of nothing.
Kitzo – New Testament
The term kitzo in the New Testament is the Greek term like bara in the Old Testament. Kitzo means to create, and it always and only connects to an act of God. Notice how Kitzo is used in Colossians 1:16.
For by Him were all things created (kitzo), that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created (kitzo) by him, and for him:
Colossians 1:16
Colossians 1:16 says God created all things which speaks of God creating corporately. Once we establish in our heart and mind that God was, is, and always will be the only Creator of all things out of nothing, we then look to what that means to us personally.
Ephesians 2:10 allows us a glimpse through God’s lens as our personal creator as does Genesis 1:27.
So God created (bara) man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created (bara) them.
Genesis 1:27
For we are His workmanship, created (kitzo) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
The Personal Creator
Out of nothing God created us personally, uniquely, individually to bear His image, to display Himself and His work in and through us. Before we were created, we were thought about by God. He prepared us and planned for us before He created us. He saw us, envisioned us, before He created us.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
Psalm 139:16
When I turn this theological study of God as the Creator from a corporate view to a personal view, I can’t help but think of David’s words in Psalm 8:4.
What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?
Psalm 8:4
God knew who we would be, what we would do, where we would fail, how we would pain Him and others. He knew how hard we would aspire to live life apart from His word, His will, His control, and His ways, and yet He still chose to create us. He longed for a relationship with us before creation, at creation, and post creation. And while we would fail Him, He would not fail us, but instead He made a way for us through the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)
Take some time this week to focus on God, your Creator. Read and meditate on Psalm 139 so you can see the marvelousness of God’s work in creating you.
If you have struggled realizing your worth, read my blog post Dear Woman, Do You Know How Connected Your Worth Is To Your Creator?.
