Genesis
Chapter 1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth: and it was so.
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
And the evening and the morning were the third day.
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light on the earth: and it was so.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light on the earth,
And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creeps on the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, 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 created he him; male and female created he them.
And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creeps on the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Historical Background
Genesis 1
Genesis 1 provides the theological foundation for the biblical narrative, detailing the orderly creation of the cosmos by God in six days, culminating in the creation of humanity in the divine image.
Historical Context
Written to provide the Israelites with a distinct identity and theological framework, contrasting their creator-God with the polytheistic deities of surrounding Mesopotamian and Canaanite cultures.
Cultural Setting
The text functions as a polemic against ancient Near Eastern creation myths like the Enuma Elish, replacing chaotic violence with orderly, purposeful command.
Narrative Role
It establishes the character of God, the dignity of human life, and the inherent goodness of the physical world, setting the stage for the narrative of the Fall and the subsequent history of redemption.
John 1:1-3
"1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Identifies the eternal Word as the agent of creation present from the beginning.
Psalm 8:3-8
"3. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; 4. What is man, that you are mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit him? 5. For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor. 6. You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet: 7. All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field; 8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas."
Reflects on the dignity given to humanity as stewards of God's creation.
Psalm 104:1-30
"1. Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with honor and majesty. 2. Who cover yourself with light as with a garment: who stretch out the heavens like a curtain: 3. Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks on the wings of the wind: 4. Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 5. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 6. You covered it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7. At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hurried away. 8. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place which you have founded for them. 9. You have set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. 10. He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. 12. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. 13. He waters the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works. 14. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15. And wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart. 16. The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted; 17. Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 18. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. 19. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down. 20. You make darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 21. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 22. The sun rises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 23. Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening. 24. O LORD, how manifold are your works! in wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches. 25. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 26. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom you have made to play therein. 27. These wait all on you; that you may give them their meat in due season. 28. That you give them they gather: you open your hand, they are filled with good. 29. You hide your face, they are troubled: you take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30. You send forth your spirit, they are created: and you renew the face of the earth."
Provides a poetic, hymnic expansion on the themes of God's sovereignty over nature.
Exodus 20:11
"11. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: why the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
Links the sanctity of the Sabbath directly to the completion of the creation week.
Colossians 1:15-17
"15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
Affirms that all things in heaven and on earth were created through Christ.
Isaiah 45:18
"18. For thus says the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else."
Emphasizes that God formed the earth to be inhabited, not as a place of chaos.
Hebrews 11:3
"3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
Theologically interprets the act of creation as being brought into existence by faith in God's command.
Revelation 21:1-5
"1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5. And he that sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."
Depicts the ultimate renewal of the cosmos, returning to a state of perfect divine order.