Transcript Creation Genesis 1:1 - Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church

Creation
Genesis 1:1
Bible Study
April 5, 2011
By Julius Walls, Jr.
What are some creation theories?
Creation Theories
• Creationism – created by a supreme being
‒ New Earth: 6015 years ago
4004 B.C.
• Big Bang Theory
‒ Old Earth: 13.7 billion years ago
• Others
Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim
ve’et ha’arets
In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
7 Hebrew words – 7 truths
Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’arets
Bereshit translated In the beginning
• When was the beginning?
• This was a beginning to what?
God?
Earth?
Universe?
• When was God created?
God existed before space and time
God is not bound by physical laws that govern us
God is an eternal being
Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim
ve’et ha’arets
bara translates created
• God creates ex nihilo - out of nothing
Verse 1 - Heavens and Earth
Verse 21 - Creatures
Verse 27 - Humankind
Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et
ha’arets
Elohim translates God
• Plural of the word
• Monotheism – Only one God worthy of the
name
• Polytheism – many gods
• Atheism – no god
• Pantheism – everything is divine
Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’arets
et hashamayim ve’et ha’arets translates heavens and earth
• Does not refer to where God is, nor our planet
• Refers to universe.
Truths 1 - 3
1. God exists. The essential first step in pleasing God is
recognizing His existence (Heb 11:6).
2. God existed
• before there was a universe and
• will exist after the universe perishes (Heb 1:10-12).
3.
•
•
•
God is the main character in the Bible.
Subject of the first verb in the Bible
Subject of more verbs than any other
Performs a wider variety of activities than any other
being in the Bible.
Truths 4 - 5
4. Creator God has done what no human being could
ever do
• In its active form the Hebrew verb bara', meaning "to
create," never has a human subject. Thus bara'
signifies a work that is uniquely God's.
5. God is mysterious
• The Hebrew word for God is plural
• Yet the verb form of which "God" is the subject is
singular.
• This is perhaps a subtle allusion to God's Trinitarian
nature: He is three divine persons in one divine
essence.
Truths 6 - 7
6. God is the Creator of the whole universe
(heaven and earth) He doesn't just modify
pre-existing matter but calls matter into being
out of nothing (Ps 33:6,9; Heb 11:3).
7. God is not dependent on the universe, but
the universe is totally dependent on God
(Heb 1:3).
Genesis 1:1
Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et
ha’arets
In the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth.
7 Hebrew words – 7 truths
1. God exists.
2. God existed before and will after the universe
3. God is the main character in the Bible.
4. God has done what no human being ever could
5. God is mysterious
6. God is the Creator of heaven and earth.
7. God is not dependent on the universe