What You Need to Know About Genesis Chapter 1
Crack Your Bible because your pastor is too embarrassed to preach these Bible histories — but we’re not! Buckle up for Genesis 1: The Creation Story!
This article was originally posted to RachelNStephens.com on November 27, 2019.
Is Genesis Literal or Allegorical?
First things first; A supernatural, triune God created the universe that you live in. Before you ask, yes, God created the world is seven literal days. Genesis is the true, historical record of the creation of the world.
Aside from that, let’s tackle the most common questions regarding this famous first chapter that begins with, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1
Moses Debunked Egyptian Creation Myths
The first chapter of Genesis focuses on the history of God’s creation. Moses, speaking to a Jewish audience who had grown up around Egyptian cosmology, explained how the Jewish God, Yahweh, created the world in seven literal days. Secondly, Moses explained to the Israelites how mankind is created in the image of God. Genesis 1 is a direct rebuttal against the claims of Egyptian cosmology.
The Difference Between Genesis 1 and 2 Creation Stories
While it is a popular myth that Genesis contains two different creation stories, the truth is so obvious! Genesis 1 is not a separate creation story from Genesis 2. Here’s why!
Start Broad, Then Get Specific
Think about yesterday. What happened? No, really, tell me everything that happened.
Naturally, you’ll give a brief overview starting with waking up and ending with falling asleep. But what comes next? You’ll talk about a specific experience during your lunch break. First you give a brief overview and then you pinpoint a specific story you want to highlight.
Likewise, Genesis 1 is no different! The first chapter of Genesis is a brief, broad overview of the creation story while the second chapter of Genesis goes more in-depth into the creation of everything, including the Garden of Eden and mankind.
Gap Theory, Tohu Wa Bohu & When did Satan fall?
You’re probably wondering, “when did Satan fall? I’ve cracked my Bible, yet it doesn’t specifically say anything!”
Now, there’s this theory called, “the gap theory.” This theory exists because Genesis 1:2, in Hebrew, reads “tohu wa bohu”
According to Robert Clifton Robinson, ha-ya-ta, meaning “was,” precedes the term “tohu wa bohu.” In plain English, the phrase reads, “was without form, and void.” Speculation arises because ha-ya-ta also means “became,” as in, “became without form, and void.”
If “the earth became without form, and void,” that opens the door for more questions!
Tons of pastors and ministries dismiss this theory, but a good researcher never dismisses a possibility before testing a hypothesis!
God doesn’t say, “let there be light” until Genesis 1:3. For the sake of time and space, Crack Your Bible recognizes that Gap Theorists do not necessarily agree with each other on how much time passed between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.
It is important to note that no matter what side of the argument you take, Satan fell before day 3 when God created plants and vegetation. Why? Because the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is a plant. God created plants on Day 3!
Let Us Make Man in Our Image and Likeness!
The first book of the Bible condensed the story of Adam & Eve into five tidy verses, starting with Genesis 1:26–30.
Cue the confusion; what does it mean to be made in God’s image and likeness?
A Glove is Not a Hand
Think of it this way; look at a glove.
A glove is made in the image of a hand, but a glove is not a hand. Gloves can’t do anything that hands do, nor do they look like real hands.
Hands and gloves share similarities, however a hand is not a glove, nor is a glove a hand. The hand came first. Gloves were created for hands, by hands. A glove is only functional when filled by a hand.
Similarly, a human is made in the image of God. Humans are not God. God came first. Mankind was created for God, by God. A person is only functional when filled by God. Likewise, Adam was not alive until God breathed into him, according to Genesis 2:7.
Who is God talking to in Genesis 1:26–27?
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” — Genesis 1:26–27
Genesis 1:26–27 confuses people because of the phrase, “let us make man in our image” — and it really shouldn’t!
Remember, Genesis 1:1–2 mentioned “God” and then, more specifically, “the Spirit of God.” Clearly, God and the Spirit of God are both God. Yet the Spirit is a particular entity that is separate, yet still God.
If that confuses you, check out the Crack Your Bible episode on the Trinity and your triune nature. Yes, you have a triune nature!
While you’re at it, check out this video about Preincarnate Jesus. John 1:1–5 specifically says that Jesus, also known as the Word of God, is the one who spoke the world into existence. Preincarnate Jesus is all over the Old Testament, yet NOBODY talks about!
Genesis 1 Summary
Let’s wrap the first book of the Bible up. The first chapter of Genesis starts with a brief overview of the seven literal days of creation, starting with the Holy Spirit hovering over the face of the deep.
Based off of the wording in Genesis 1:1–2, it seems like an indeterminate amount of time passed before Genesis 1:2 begins. Now we’re at Day 1 of creation. God said, “Let there be light.”
Towards the end of the first chapter of Genesis, God creates Adam and Eve in His image. God blesses Adam and Eve, giving them jobs.
Finally, at the very end of Genesis 1, God steps back, looks at His work and declares it good. Now it’s time to rest.
Check out the Genesis 1 Verse By Verse Bible Study
Click this link to watch the Crack Your Bible Genesis 1 Playlist.
Can’t get enough Crack Your Bible? Check out every episode, in order. Simply click this link for the complete Crack Your Bible library playlist.
