Genesis 1:2, as compared to verse 1?????

Question

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. (1:2a) People who unreasonably claim that verse 1 describes a 24-hour creation of heaven (which they describe as God’s home thus built in 24 hours--Where did He live before that?) and the Earth as hereafter described, miss the point of this Scripture. For an untold eons of years after the beginning referenced in verse 1 and prior to its being made habitable, the Earth simply existed even as do all the other planets in the universe. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (1:2b) This Scripture gives a body of sorts to Jehovah, although we must not fool ourselves into believing that he can be contained by the universe. He did after all invent the universe by whatever means He chose to do so. The “Spirit of God” could not therefore be the Person of Jehovah God, but merely a force that He is able to use to effect anything He chooses to.

Answer 1

Let’s start at the beginning, the word we translate as spirit, It literally means breath or wind.

At Gen 1:2 which most bibles say “ the (S)spirit* of God” was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters. The NRSV says in the footnote “the wind of God” * “And . . . active force (spirit).” Heb., weru´ach. Besides being translated “spirit,” ru´ach is also translated “wind” and by other words that denote an invisible active force.”

This agrees with Psalm 33:6 that says: “By the word of Jehovah the heavens themselves were made, and by the spirit (breath, KJV) of his mouth all their army.”

So the first reference of “Holy Spirit” in the bible denotes wind and breath. So when we say the spirit of God, we are literally saying the breath of God, or the wind of God. Neither of these expressions means a person of God or a personage of God. Both expressions do denote ownership.

Ex. 15:8 “And by a breath* from your nostrils waters were heaped up; They stood still like a dam of floods; The surging waters were congealed in the heart of the sea.” *“And by a breath.” Heb., u•veru´ach; Gr., pneu´ma•tos.

Again we see that God’s spirit is ‘a breath’ that accomplishes not it’s own will, but God’s will.

We know that God created the heaven and earth, by means of His spirit. We don’t read in the bible that “The Holy Spirit created the earth”, we read God created the heavens and earth by means of his spirit.

Also please note these comparisons:

Matt12:28 “But if it is by means of God’s spirit that I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken YOU.”

Luke 11:20 “But if it is by means of God’s finger I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken YOU.”

Here God’s spirit is described as God’s finger. Again ownership of the spirit, it belongs to God, it’s part of God, but definitely not part of a Godhead.

Let’s jump forward to Jesus’ baptism. Here we have the voice of God, the holy spirit, in the form of a dove and Jesus.

Matt 3:16 “and he saw descending like a dove God’s spirit coming upon him.”

Here we learn two things about God’s spirit, besides ownership, 1st the form chosen is that a dove, not a human. Angels as spirit persons, Jehovah as a Spirit, and the resurrected Jesus who was raised as a spirit, are always depicted as a humans. (1 Cor 15:45 It is even so written: “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit) 2nd it is upon this occasion that Jesus becomes baptized with spirit. This is where Jesus becomes ‘The Christ’, the ‘Messiah’.

Just as Jesus was baptized with water, Jesus is baptized not with a person, but with an object, a breath, a wind, a force from God.

Let’s now briefly discuss some of the texts used to “prove” that the holy spirit is a person.

Jesus also referred to the holy spirit as a “helper” (Greek, pa•ra´kle•tos), and he said that this helper would “teach,” “bear witness,” “speak,” and ‘hear.’ (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:13) It is not unusual in the Scriptures for something to be personified. For example, wisdom is said to have “children.” (Luke 7:35) Sin and death are spoken of as being kings. (Rom. 5:14, 21) While some texts say that the spirit “spoke,” other passages make clear that this was done through angels or humans. (Acts 4:24, 25; 28:25; Matt. 10:19, 20; compare Acts 20:23 with 21:10, 11.) At 1 John 5:6-8, not only the spirit but also “the water and the blood” are said to ‘bear witness.’ So, none of the expressions found in these texts in themselves prove that the holy spirit is a person.

The Bible is said to bring comfort, said to be alive and exerts power (Rom 15:4; Heb 4:12) But we would never say the Bible is a person.

These are just a few scriptures that show that God’ holy spirit is not part of a Godhead, but it’s Jehovah’s active force.

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Answer 2

Ge 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth didn’t have any shape. And it was empty. Darkness was over the surface of the ocean. At that time, the ocean covered the earth. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Ge 1:3 God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good. He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day.” He called the darkness “night.” There was evening, and there was morning. It was day one.

This says nothing about the first part of the creation God's home. That is YOUR OWN IDEA, not what scripture says.

BUT, It does not say that God created the heavens and the earth on the first day. It seems they existed "from the beginning", whatever that means. The first day was the creation of light. The first part of creation has already past "in the beginning" before the first day.

As far as what God is, God IS, not what God is. There is a difference, you know.

Answer 3

Gen. 1:1 and 2 go together. The earth in verse 2 was included in verse one where it said: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." HOWEVER, verse 2 does not include ANY of the creative days. The earth could have been in its undeveloped stages for millions of years BEFORE the first creative day started. See verse 3.

The creative days did not include the creation of the planet. Instead, they involved Jehovah's preparing the already existing earth for habitation. They were not 24 hours in length.

Verse 2 shows God's active force (the Spirit of God, KJB) moving to and fro over the waters. This could not be God since this spirit BELONGED to God, thus it was NOT God, but was instead God's power or active force accomplishing his purpose.

Answer 4

Known in theology as the "Gap theory" (the idea that there is a major time gap between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis). It was first introducted in the late 1800s. Prior to that, it was unknown in Bible theology.

Secondly, if you read the scriptures, you will find that the word "heaven" is used to refer to three different things. "Heaven" is used to refer to the atomsphere which surrounds the earth. It is also used to refer to "outer space" or the extended physical universe. And finally it is used to refer to a spirotual realm in which the throne of God the Father is located. Genesis refers to the creation of the second heaven (the physical universe) in verse 1. The local atmoshphere is seen later in verses 6-8 (refered to there as "heaven" also). The third heaven is not mentioned in Genesis 1 as it was not part of the physical creation. It is an eternal, spiritual realm.

Finally, the "spirit" of God which moved upon the face of the earth is more literally the "pnuema" or breathe of God. Kind of hard for a person's breath to be someone else from Him. No, that was Jehovah God Himself that moved on the earth in verse 2.

Answer 5

Well I understand why the Godhead would be peoples first response. But I think most overlook Proverbs 8.22-31. 22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men. Wisdom was with God in genesis. I'm not sure why, but some people get mad when you say wisdom is an actual spirit. I think it has to do with that God describes that spirit as a women. Solomon describes wisdom as an actual person. So that's how I see it. That view can always change, as studying Gods word will always correct you in due time.

Answer 6

I have a better interpretation in one of my early blogs. In the beginning, God created the heavens [everything above the earth, ie, the universe] and the earth. And the Earth was without form and void. [The material which the earth would be FORMED from was created, but not yet assembled into the earth.] And darkness was upon the face of the deep [This gets interesting. It refers to the depths not only of space, but of the Aether, which is later referred to as the 'waters'.] This verse implies that God does indeed exist outside of the spacetime continuum, as well as within the zero point field within which we live, move, and have our being.

Answer 7

While I agree that creation was not necessarily and more than likely not a 24 hour day.
The Holy Spirit is more than a force.
Can a man blaspheme a force?

Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation

Did Jesus teach to baptise in the name of a force?

Mat.28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Answer 8

A scripture please where it says god created the universe? Don't think so. There is one that says he created the heavens and the earth, but thats it. The heavens at the time that scripture was written were thought to be the observable sky (night or day) and that doesn't contain 1 millionth of the universe.

Answer 9

Where did He live before that?
The Heavens is the physical sky and space that we see with our eyes. God is Spirit so it is not clear in what form God did this, though your point is the most popular.

Answer 10

Sorry, but nothing is unreasonable when you're trying to decipher a story created centuries ago when no one had a clue about suns, planets, and galaxies (not to mention a FEW other things). So I guess you're right ;)