Genesis 1:1: Where it all started

 

The RED and BLUE are links with information.
First, you don’t need to set aside your intelligence to believe in God and the Trinity.

Second, science can be divided into two categories: observational and historical. Historical science deals with the past and is not directly testable or observable, so it must be interpreted based on one’s worldview. In contrast, observational science is testable, repeatable, observable, and falsifiable.

Third, the God of the Bible exists beyond time, space, and matter. If He were limited by these, He would not be God.

Time, space, and matter—often referred to as a continuum—must have come into existence simultaneously. Consider this: if you had matter but no space, where would you place it? If you had matter and space but no time, when would you place it? Time, space, and matter cannot exist independently; they must emerge together.

The Bible explains this in ten words: “In the beginning (time), God created the heavens (space) and the earth (matter).” Thus, time, space, and matter form a trinity of trinities: time consists of past, present, and future; space encompasses breadth, length, and height; and matter includes solid, liquid, and gas. This trinity of trinities was created instantaneously, and the God who created them must exist outside of them. If He were bound by time, He would not be God.

Ephesians 3:9, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ."

Genesis 1:1 (AMP), In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1 Lexicon: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Elohim is a plural noun. “In Hebrew, Elohim has that ‘-im’ ending, which usually means more than one, like ‘gods.’ But here’s the kicker: when Elohim refers to the God of Israel, it’s always used with singular verbs. In Genesis 1:1, the verb ‘created’—bara in Hebrew—is singular, not plural. So, the Bible is telling us there’s one God, not a bunch of gods, even though the word looks plural.”  This plural form is no accident. It’s the first hint in Scripture of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three persons, one God. Look at Genesis 1:26, where God says, ‘Let us make man in our image.’ Who’s the ‘us’? It’s not angels—they don’t create. It’s the Godhead, the three persons of the Trinity, working together as one. Elohim is God’s way of showing us His unity and His plurality right from the start.

In some Bible verses, Elohim can mean ‘gods’—like false idols or even angels in Psalm 82—but the context always tells you what’s going on. When it’s the Creator in Genesis, it’s the one Elohim, no ‘s’ needed. Like ‘cherubim’ for cherubs. We don’t need to add an ‘s’ because that’s not how Hebrew works—it’s not English! Adding an ‘s’ would be like saying ‘childrens’ instead of ‘children.’ 

H7225 - Understanding Genesis 1 Hebrew: Create (bara) & Make (asah) 

When examining the scriptures, it is crucial to focus on grammar, as it is fundamental to language and communication.

John 1:1 (AMP), In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

John 1:2-3 (AMP), He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. 3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. 

Psalm 33:6 (AMP), By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, And all their host by the breath of His mouth.

So, what/who is the Word? JESUS! There had to be a person of the Godhead who would communicate with whatever it was that they’re going to call creation out of. Go check out Hebrews 1.

John 1:14 (AMP),  And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).

Colossians 1:12-13 (KJV), Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Colossians 1:14-16 (AMP), in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty]. 15 He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation. 16 For [a]by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.

Colossians 1:17b (KJV), "…by him all things consist."

Isaiah 46:10 (AMP), Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose.

We can move forward and look back; we can't look forward or move back. We experience time as a linear progression: we move forward into the future and can reflect on the past, but we can’t physically go back in time or see the future.

For someone who is outside the dimension of linear time, such as in eternity, that person can see the past, present, and future simultaneously.

Let me give you an analogy: Suppose you’re watching the Indy 500 Parade, and you are sitting on the curb. Around the corner come the bands, cars, marching units, floats, and whatever else. For you, the parade is a sequence. They come around the corner, pass by you, and then go around the next corner. That’s how life is—it’s a sequence. But for someone who is not in the plane of the parade’s existence, say in a helicopter above the parade, they can see the staging area where all the floats are getting prepared and ready to start. They can see the whole parade route, and they can also see the other end where the parade disbands. They can see the beginning and the end simultaneously. It’s a clumsy analogy, but it gets the idea across.

This is free for nothing: Nachmanides, a 12th-century Hebrew sage, also known as Moses ben Nahman or by the acronym Ramban, was a prominent medieval Jewish scholar, rabbi, philosopher, physician, and kabbalist. He was born in 1194 in Girona, Catalonia (present-day Spain), and lived until around 1270.

Nachmanides is well-known for his extensive commentary on the Torah, particularly the Book of Genesis. His commentary combines traditional Jewish exegesis with mystical insights from Kabbalah. In 1263, he wrote a significant commentary on Genesis, which is still studied today.

He made a fascinating interpretation of Genesis 1 that intriguingly aligns with modern physics. He suggested that the universe is composed of ten dimensions: four that are knowable and six that are beyond our perception.

What’s funny about that is the scientific community has invested millions of dollars in particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, to explore the fundamental nature of the universe. These accelerators smash particles together at incredibly high speeds, allowing scientists to study the resulting interactions and particles. This means they have only caught up to where Nachmanides ended in the 12th century. Lol! 

The Boundaries of Reality | Koinonia House

Stu's Bible Study - KJV, NASB, AMP, ESV, TLB, NKJV

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV); 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP); 2 Peter 1:20-21 (TLB); Romans 15:4 (KJV); 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV); Ephesians 1:10 (KJV); Acts 17:11(TLB); James 3:1 (AMP)

1. The Creation Overview (Genesis 1:1–2)

Focus: The initial act of creation and the state of the earth before God’s formative work.

Key Points:

Verse 1: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" establishes God as the sovereign Creator, setting the stage for all dispensations. This verse is the foundation for understanding God’s authority and purpose.

Verse 2: The earth’s initial formless and void state, with the Spirit of God hovering, suggests a preparatory phase before the creation week.

Dispensational Insight: This sets up the Dispensation of Innocence, where God creates a perfect environment for humanity’s test of obedience.

Study Approach: Examine the theological implications of God’s creative power and the original state of the earth. Consider how this contrasts with later dispensations where sin enters.

Eternity Past - Even before God created the world, He always was, having no beginning or end.

1. Innocence - from the creation to the fall of man (the first sin) - Although the Bible does not say specifically, this dispensation probably did not last very long, perhaps only a few days. It ended about 4000 BC. This dispensation is covered in the scriptures from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 3:22.

2. Conscience - from the fall of man to the great flood - This dispensation lasted from about 4000 BC to about 2350 BC and is covered in the scriptures from Genesis 3:23 to Genesis 8:19. With very little instruction from God during this time, man acted according to his own conscience. The evil became so overwhelming, that this dispensation ended when God destroyed all but Noah and his family in the great flood.

3. Human government - from the great flood to the call of Abraham - This dispensation began in about 2350 BC and is still in effect. Although Abraham and his descendants went under the dispensation of promise around 2000 BC, as explained below, the remainder of mankind remained under the human government dispensation. It is covered in the scriptures from Genesis 8:20 to Genesis 11:32. God began allowing humans to govern themselves and to punish criminals.

4. Promise - from the call of Abraham to the giving of the law to Moses for the children of Israel - This dispensation applied only to Abraham and his descendants through his son, Isaac, and Isaac's son, Jacob (Israel). It lasted from about 2000 BC to about 1500 BC is covered in the scriptures from Genesis 12:1 to Exodus 19:7. God promised Abraham that He would give land to Abraham's seed and that all the nations of the world would be blessed by his seed. Although Israel went under the law described below around 1500 BC, the promise God made to Abraham is still in effect.

5. Law - from the giving of the law to Moses for the children of Israel to the calling of Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles (those not of Israel) - This dispensation applied only to Jacob's descendants, Israel. It began about 1500 BC and lasted until it began to fade away about 37 AD and stopped in 70 AD. It will resume for seven years during the future tribulation after the dispensation of grace listed below. It is covered in the scriptures from Exodus 19:8 to Acts 8 and from Hebrews to Revelation. The book of Acts is a book of transition from law to grace. During the period covered by Acts 9 to 28, we see the grace dispensation coming in and the law dispensation fading away. God chose Israel as the apple of His eye. He gave Israel strict laws, harsh punishments, and prophecies of worldwide prominence in the future kingdom of their coming Messiah.

6. Grace - from the calling of Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, to the rapture of the church - We are now in this dispensation. It began in about 37 AD and will last until the future rapture. Hopefully it will be soon, but we do not know when the rapture will occur, except that it will occur before the seven-year tribulation. This dispensation of grace is covered in the scriptures in Paul's letters from Romans to Philemon. When Israel refused to accept Jesus Christ, who had ascended to heaven, as their Messiah, God turned to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy (Romans 11:11).

7. Kingdom (or divine government) - from the return of Jesus Christ to the great white throne of judgment - This begins at the end of the seven-year tribulation mentioned above and lasts for 1000 years. During this time, Jesus Christ will reign as King in Jerusalem. This dispensation is covered in Revelation chapter 20. However, much more detail on this dispensation may be found in many prophecies in various other parts of the Bible. I have summarized many of these in my article, "The Millennial Kingdom Reign of Jesus Christ".

Eternity Future - This dispensation begins at the end of the 1000 years mentioned above and lasts forever. It is covered in the scriptures in Revelation chapters 21-22.

Video's to watch:

Here is the Basic understanding of the Bible 
Learn the Bible
Check out this Genesis series by Chuck Missler.
What are the books of the Bible?
EXISTENCE of GOD
How Do I Know? - The Bible Is True
How do I know God is real?
Who is Jesus
Create (bara) & Make (asah)
The Atheist Delusion
3 evolutionists vs 1 creationist debate
Evolution vs. God
Evolution Exposed By Logic
Where is Jesus in the Old Testament

My Resources from Pastors, Students and Teachers:
Les Feldick
Matthew McGee
Chuck Missler (Koinonia House)
Andrew Wommack
Bronson Ellis
Micah Beckwith
Nathan Peternel
Robert Morris
Andy Stanley
Joseph Prince
Ray Comfort (Living Waters)
Dr. Gene Kim (Real Bible Believers)
Kent Hovind (Dr. Dino)
Irvin Baxter Jr.
Nicky Gumbel
Chad Bird
Matt Chandler
Got Questions
Answers In Genesis
Gary Hamrick

Learning some Greek, Hebrew, and Latin can be very beneficial when doing a Bible study for several reasons:

1. Original Language Insight:

   • The Old Testament was primarily written in Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic.
   • The New Testament was written in Greek.
   • Latin was used in early translations and theological writings (e.g., the Vulgate). Understanding these languages can provide deeper insights into the original meanings and nuances of the biblical text.

2. Contextual Understanding:

   • Words and phrases in the original languages often carry cultural and historical connotations that may not be fully captured in translations.
   • Knowing the original language helps in understanding the context and the intended message of the authors.

3. Accuracy in Interpretation:

   • Translations can sometimes vary, and knowing the original language can help clarify ambiguous or difficult passages.
   • It allows for a more precise interpretation of key theological concepts and doctrines.

4. Enhanced Study Tools:

   • Many advanced Bible study tools, such as lexicons, concordances, and interlinear Bibles, are based on the original languages.
   • Familiarity with Greek, Hebrew, and Latin can enhance the use of these tools and lead to more thorough study.

5. Appreciation of Literary Beauty:

   • The original languages often have poetic and literary qualities that are difficult to translate.
   • Studying the Bible in its original languages can enhance appreciation for its literary artistry and depth.

6. Theological Depth:

   • Many theological terms and concepts are rooted in the original languages.
   • Understanding these terms in their original context can deepen theological study and comprehension.

While it’s not necessary to be fluent in these languages to study the Bible, even a basic understanding can greatly enrich your study and help you gain a more profound appreciation of the Scriptures.