Holman Old Testament Commentary - Genesis

Stephen J. Bramer, Kenneth Gangel, Max Anders, Max Anders

• Verlag: Holman Reference
• Jahr: 2003
• ISBN:
  9781433674280
• Thema: Theology & Religion
• Thema: Biblical Commentary

One in a series of twenty Old Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike.

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Creation

I. INTRODUCTION

The Big Bang from God's Perspective

II. COMMENTARY

A verse-by-verse explanation of this passage.

III. CONCLUSION

What a World and What a God!

An overview of the principles and applications from this passage.

IV. LIFE APPLICATION

“The Heavens Declare the Glory of God”

Melding this passage to life.

V. PRAYER

Tying this passage to life with God.

VI. DEEPER DISCOVERIES

Historical, geographical, and grammatical enrichment of the commentary.

VII. TEACHING OUTLINE

Suggested step-by-step group study of this passage.

VIII. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

Zeroing this passage in on daily life.

“A house testifies that there was a builder, a dress that
there was a weaver, a door that there was a carpenter; so our
world by its existence proclaims its Creator, God.”

Rabbi Akiba Ben Joseph

God created the world in six days, speaking everything into existence. The creation account in Genesis shows us that God existed before all, God has made all, and therefore God deserves all our obedience and adoration. This creation account is foundational for our understanding of who God is and what place we as humans occupy in his plan.

Creation

I. INTRODUCTION

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The Big Bang from God's Perspective

Perhaps no other chapter in the Scriptures is quite as well known, yet less agreed upon, than the very first chapter of the Bible. From what appears to be a fairly simple, brief, chronological account of how creation came into being comes an array of complicated, extended explanations of what “really” happened. To some people the creation account in Genesis is nothing more than a fairy tale, a myth, or an attempt to explain the beginning of the universe from a pre-scientific perspective. The scientific method is used by many people to try to explain this event in history that no one saw, and which cannot be repeated.

Various attempts have been made to reconcile the theology presented and the “assured” results of science. Believers who are committed to the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures come up with mutually exclusive points of view. How can this be? What theory best explains the evidence we see in our world and the truth we read in the Scriptures? What was the purpose of the author as he recorded this historical event that must have been revealed to him by the Lord God?

Sometimes, tongue in cheek, I announce to my Genesis class that I am about to play a recording from one of the great theologians of our day. Imagine their surprise when they hear the voice of comedian Bill Cosby. On his tape titled Those of You With Or Without Children, You'll Understand Cosby has a live monologue called “Genesis.” While I don't appreciate all that Cosby has to say on this tape, he does have an excellent depiction of the quality of God's work in creation. “Let there be trees. And God saw that it was good, said it was good, and it was good. Trees, let the trees stand. Good, quality of God's work, good, that God was satisfied, good, just good. Man invents, God creates. Man invented an automobile. Called it fantastic! God did a tree. Said it was good, you see. Man did a refrigerator. Said amazing! God did a rabbit. Said good. The wheels fell off the car and the refrigerator broke down. Tree's still up, the rabbit's still running. Good!”

Genesis 1 depicts God as creating this world. And he did it well and all by himself! You might say the “big bang” was really the voice of God!

II. COMMENTARY

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Creation

MAIN IDEA: Although Christians may disagree on some aspects of the creation story, we agree that God created this world, he created it by himself, and he created it “very good.”

Creation in Summary (1:1)

SUPPORTING IDEA: God is the Creator of matter and space.

1:1. The words in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth show that the existence of God is assumed right from the start. There are no arguments or evidence given since creation itself will declare the truth of the existence of God (Ps. 19:1-4). Using the term Elohim, which in Scripture is both a generic term for god (or gods since it is plural in form) as well as the proper name God (the context will need to determine the proper translation), the author declares that both space (the heavens) and matter (the earth) were created by him. This name for God (Elohim) will be used throughout the creation account of Genesis 1:1-2:3.

The term created is a Hebrew verb that always has God as its subject. No preexisting material is mentioned or implied here (this type of creation is often called by the Latin term ex nihilo), although the Hebrew verb does not have to have this meaning in all its uses. The New Testament makes it clear that all things created came from God (John 1:3; Rom. 4:17; Heb. 11:3). This is a theological affirmation that all believers can agree on.

In the beginning speaks of the beginning of the universe—not of all things, since God is eternal (John 1:1; Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:15-17). Genesis, and the rest of Scripture, will not give us a exhaustive view of all that happens but an interpreted, theological history so we can understand God's plan to establish—and after the fall to reestablish—his rule over all creation through the beings he has created. Genesis will start with a universal picture of creation but will soon narrow to God's choice of a man and his family through whom he will work out his plan.

The heavens and the earth is a figure of speech that describes the totality of creation (like Revelation's use of alpha and omega to denote everything between). The Hebrew word for heavens is plural and is used here to describe everything that is above the surface of the earth. Later, “heavens” will refer to the home of the sun, moon, and stars, or the universe (Ps. 19:1), the home of the birds and the clouds, or the atmosphere (Dan. 4:12). Finally, in 2 Corinthians 12:2 “heaven” will refer to the home of the angels and departed saints. Specifying the heavens and the earth means that God created everything.

Initial Conditions of Creation (1:2)

SUPPORTING IDEA: What we see now in the physical universe once existed in a condition of chaos and emptiness.

1:2. This verse tells us that the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The fact that the Spirit of God was present must caution us to not espouse an interpretation that would present this condition as either antagonistic to or outside of God's control. Not only was the Spirit of God present, but the second person of the Trinity, the incarnate Word, was also present and active in creation (see John 1:3).

The creative word will turn chaotic matter into that which has structure and order. This ancient interpretation does not conflict with the biblical concept that God created the universe out of nothing. This would only be a stage in the great plan of God. Isaiah 45:18 states, “For this is what the LORD says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: ‘I am the LORD, and there is no other.’” The first couple of days of creation will bring order to this matter, while the next several days will bring fertility and fullness.

The Six Days of Creation (1:3-31)

SUPPORTING IDEA: God fills his universe with productive matter and places mankind in a position of authority.

1:3-5. God only had to speak and things came into being. This demonstrates the sovereignty of God in a marvelous manner. It reminds us of the importance and authority behind all of God's words.

The fact that creation occurred at the word of God (cp. Ps. 33:9; Heb. 11:3) is significant theologically in a couple of ways. For example, Jesus Christ, who in John's Gospel is called the Word of God, was active in creation (John 1:3). Also God's Word is sufficient authority to have matter and life come into being in a way that was decreed for them. The Latin term fiat is a translation of let there be. This is a technical term for creation that occurred as a result of God's word. This phrase and God said is found in every day of creation, but it occurs twice on the third day and three times on the sixth day.

God called is a phrase that is used when God named the items he had created. Naming something, both today and in the ancient world, signifies an exercise of sovereign right. Only the parent of a child, or the inventor of an item, has the legal right and authority to name.

The light created on Day 1 of creation does not appear to be the light from the sun since this celestial body was...

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Front cover
• Halftitle
• Fulltitle
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Editorial Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Old Testament Commentary Contributors
• New Testament Commentary Contributors.
• Old Testament Commentary
• Introduction
• Genesis 1
• Genesis 2
• Genesis 3
• Genesis 4
• Genesis 6
• Genesis 8
• Genesis 10
• Genesis 12
• Genesis 14
• Genesis 16
• Genesis 18
• Genesis 20
• Genesis 22
• Genesis 25
• Genesis 27
• Genesis 29
• Genesis 31
• Genesis 32
• Genesis 34
• Genesis 37
• Genesis 39
• Genesis 41
• Genesis 43
• Genesis 46
• Genesis 48
• Glossary
• Bibliography