Genesis - The True Story of the Beginning....

Here is a time line of the creation:
THE BEGINNING
The material heavens and earth are created.—Genesis 1:1.
DARKNESS
The earth is formless, desolate, and dark.—Genesis 1:2.
FIRST DAY
Diffused light evidently penetrates the earth’s atmosphere. If there had been any observer on the surface of the earth, the sources of light would have been imperceptible to him. Yet, the difference between night and day became discernible.—Genesis 1:3-5.
SECOND DAY
The earth is covered with water and a dense mantle of vapor. These two elements are separated, creating a gap between the watery surface and the canopy of vapor. The Bible describes this space as “an expanse between the waters,” and calls it “Heaven.”—Genesis 1:6-8.
THIRD DAY
Surface water subsides and dry ground appears. The atmosphere clears up to allow more sunlight to reach the ground. Some vegetation appears, with new species sprouting through the third and subsequent creative days.—Genesis 1:9-13.
FOURTH DAY
The sun and moon become discernible from the earth’s surface.—Genesis 1:14-19.
FIFTH DAY
God creates underwater creatures and flying creatures in great numbers with the ability to procreate within their kinds.—Genesis 1:20-23.
SIXTH DAY
Land animals are created, both large and small. The sixth day culminates with a masterpiece of God’s physical creation: the first human couple.—Genesis 1:24-31.

The Bible does not support fundamentalists and creationists who claim that the creative days were literal 24-hour days. The Bible account of creation does not conflict with the scientific observation that variations occur within a kind.(source of information, March 2014 Awake !, pgs 4-7, entitled "The Untold Story of Creation")

 

Very interesting topic, and some very interesting replies. I share agreement with some, and have slight differences with others.

There is one important point that, at the risk of digressing from the topic, I would like to make in brief. Science tells us a lot about the physical aspects of our planet. The chemical make-up of various substances is just one example. However, there is not one single non-Christian scientist that can tell us the answer to the most basic question of all concerning our physical surroundings -- that is how the original elements that make up all matter were actually created. They can prove that any matter exists, but they cannot tell us how that matter came into existence. God, on the other hand, does not hesitate to claim His glory for His creation. He tells all who will read in Genesis 1:1. And that, brothers and sisters, is the primary difference between all non-believing scientists and Christians. We know and believe the real and actual truth.

God Bless,

Rank Stranger

 

I have a friend who Jesus has being teaching about genesis for over 30 years,hasnt got past chapter 3, and she is still learning.

 

Little late but too good to pass...

"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."

It's important to consider whether 'water' stands for H2O, or something of a 'fluid' like nature.

'water'; 'Strong's Definition: Dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water ; figuratively juice ; by euphemism urine, semen: - + piss, wasting, water (-ing, [-course, -flood, -spring]).'

Water (mayim) is used different ways in the Bible.

It's also interesting that it's a 'duality' word.

(I'm not at all trying to support the Big Bang theory.)

It's also interesting that the BB theory is a 'fluid' theory.

It's scientifically impossible for H2O to exist before 'light'; so I conclude that verse 2 is speaking of something of fluid like nature; "without form, and void."

...


"3: And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."

Nothing can happen before 'light'. There can only be; "without form, and void."
'Light' is more than visibility; it's radiation, the transfer of energy.

Once 'light' (radiation, energy transfer) is added, things start cooking!

...

"7: And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament..."

Massive explosion? That would be expected.

Again, not supporting the BB theory; but BB folks call this "inflation".

It's laughable that some question the Bible timeline; but BB folks believe their 'inflation' took place in one trillionth of a second!

 

Rank Stranger,

I'm very late in joining this topic. However, I found your observation very insightful. Scientists can discuss issues such as the Big Bang but they can't tell us how there was anything there to cause the 'bang'.

However, one of the great barriers for unbelieving scientists is that they can't (and never will) get their heads around the meaning of Gen 1:1, 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth'. Here we have the beginning of things - the absolute beginning and it was made by elohim Himself.

The verb bara (created) 'is correctly defined as expressing the origination of something great, new and "epoch-making," as only God can do' (Leupold 1942:40). While bara can refer to use of pre-existing materials (see Isa 65:18), since no pre-existing materials are mentioned in Gen 1:1, it is implied that this passage teaches how God created the heavens and the earth - creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing), which is taught in other Scriptures such as Rom 4:17 (ESV) and Heb 11:3 (ESV). Leupold states that 'the verb is never used of other than DIVINE activity' (Leupold 1942:41, emphasis in original).

This is hardly news to sell science books but it is profoundly true for those who have faith in the Trinitarian God. Those whose hearts have been changed by the living Christ and who believe in the authority of God-breathed Scripture are able to affirm the reality of these things by faith. We weren't there to see the creation in the beginning, but God was.

Oz

Works consulted
Leupold, H C 1942. Exposition of Genesis, vol 1 (chs 1-19). London: Evangelical Press (1942 copyright, The Wartburg Press).

 

I wonder that it never occurred to anyone that "Let there be Light" might have had something to do with bringing forth Jesus...by Whose Power all things were made...

Just a thought.

 

I did say it was just a thought.
No need to get all emotional about it. We are allowed to think, aren't we?

 

Because Jesus was not born yet, and the word means sun light, as clearly evidenced in the context of Gen 1:3-5

 

Ceased to be when you posted it Barrd, but no one is telling you NOT to think. In actuality you are normally exhorted TO think, when it is apparent that you have not done so when reactively post your thoughts on CB.

 

Let me guess....Genesis is an actual blow-by-blow description of the creation of mankind, including the original sin...it actually was a piece of fruit that Eve ate, and then later shared with Adam...Cain actually married his sister, the daughter of Adam and Eve...and the earth, and all of the universe is actually only about 6,000 years old.
Does that about cover it?

Oh, and we should not teach our kids real science in the classroom, we ought to be teaching them this creationism stuff, because, as we all know, evolution is completely false. Almost forgot that one....

 

How could it be sun light when the sun had not been created yet?
And how could anything have been created before Jesus, since "all things were made by Him and without Him was nothing made that is made"?

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

"All things" would include the sun...in fact, it would include the entire universe.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Oh, and look! "In Him was life, and the life was the LIGHT OF MAN!

Hmmm....