Genesis 1 Revisited Notes

                                               Genesis 1 Revisited Notes

According to Hebrew scholars, Genesis 1:1 should be translated as "When God began to create the Heavens and the Earth." See New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition and CEB. This is not the absolute beginning of the universe, galaxies, and other planets as many believe. They existed prior to these events. 

In fact, Genesis 1 focuses on the establishment of the Levant region. God is not creating the world out of nothing as traditionally taught (ex nihilo). The Hebrew word Bara in Genesis can be also found in Psalm 51:10. In Psalm 51:10, God is not creating a new heart for David out of nothing. He already has a pre-existing heart. Interestingly, in Hebrew, God's name is Elohim in chapter 1, but his Covenant name Yahweh is used in chapter 2 with Adam.


Genesis 1:2 has the Holy Spirit hovering over (or the breath of God blowing) the chaotic waters. This represents God's superiority over the creation. God calls forth the light to break through the dark clouds (or meteorite/volcanic ash) covering the skies and shine upon the region at a scheduled basis. This is NOT the creation of the sun for the planet. Because of this, a distinction can be made between the night and the day again because of the removal of the dark clouds. This is Day 1- the establishment of the Levant region-Havilah, Cush, Assyria, Nod (City of Enoch-built later), and Eden.


Day 2 focuses on a large regional area that may have been temporarily flooded. Hence, changing the geography of the land, and so, God evaporated the water into clouds at this stage in remodeling the land region.


 For Day 3, notice that God didn’t create the land; it already existed. Rather, it appeared when the water (mist or fog possibly as well) evaporated. After this event, the land was able to produce vegetation and trees. This land is the Levant region-Havilah, Cush, Assyria, Nod (City of Enoch-built later), and Eden.


In Day 4, we see the sun, moon, and stars being used for the the purpose of measuring time and seasons in the land. Notice, they are only called "great lights." Not the sun and moon. They are just nameless, lesser gods. They are nothing compared to Yahweh. Again, this demonstrates God's power and superiority. When the creation is described as something good, it is talking about functionality, not morality. The Hebrew word is ṭôḇ. See this concept of functionality in Jeremiah 4:22-31. 


Now at Day 5, we see the creation of air bound and sea bound animals. Day 6 involves the creation of land bound animals and the creation of mankind. Not Adam and Eve yet as traditionally taught. God created mankind directly from His hands. According to Michael Heiser, a better translation should be made "as" Our/His image, not "in" His image. Mankind was supposed to reflect the identity of God in status and function. Unfortunately, sin has marred that image. The "Us" is the Heavenly councils (Zadok Angels in Ezekiel 40-48) through the principle of agency or it can be the plural majesty of God with His wisdom.


Pre-Adamic mankind were hunters and fishermen. They had access to all the seeded fruit trees for food while animals had access to plants. This would suggest that animal death was possible before the Fall. What would dominion and subdue mean, if they couldn't kill them for their necessities.





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