Ge 1:1, 2. THE CREATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
1. In the beginning--a period of remote and unknown antiquity,
hid in the depths of eternal ages; and so the phrase is used in
Pr 8:22, 23.
God--the name of the Supreme Being, signifying in Hebrew,
"Strong," "Mighty." It is expressive of omnipotent power; and by its
use here in the plural form, is obscurely taught at the opening
of the Bible, a doctrine clearly revealed in other parts of it, namely,
that though God is one, there is a plurality of persons in the
Godhead--Father, Son, and Spirit, who were engaged in the creative work
(Pr 8:27;
Joh 1:3, 10;
Eph 3:9;
Heb 1:2;
Job 26:13).
created--not formed from any pre-existing materials, but made
out of nothing.
the heaven and the earth--the universe. This first verse is a
general introduction to the inspired volume, declaring the great and
important truth that all things had a beginning; that nothing
throughout the wide extent of nature existed from eternity, originated
by chance, or from the skill of any inferior agent; but that the whole
universe was produced by the creative power of God
(Ac 17:24;
Ro 11:36).
After this preface, the narrative is confined to the earth.
JFB.
This is Genesis 1:1 !! |