Genesis Chapter 1
The Account of God’s Creation
A. Thoughts to Begin With as We Study the Bible
We Come to the Bible Acknowledging the Reality of God
The Bible presupposes the existence of God. Unlike philosophical treatises that offer detailed arguments for God's existence, Scripture assumes His being and self-revelation. Yet, Scripture also affirms that the evidence for God's existence is both visible and knowable through His creation.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world" (Psalm 19:1–4, NKJV).
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20, NKJV).
This aligns with the teleological argument for God’s existence: that the observable design and order in the universe necessarily point to a Designer. The consistent intricacy and purpose in creation give undeniable testimony to a rational, purposeful Creator.
We Come to the Bible Believing It is God’s Infallible, Authoritative Word
Scripture is not merely a collection of religious texts; it is the very breath of God communicated to man:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16–17, NKJV).
We do not test God as a lab subject; we know Him through His self-disclosure in Scripture. The Bible’s content is sufficient, inerrant, and completely reliable for every matter of life, doctrine, and worship.
We Interpret the Bible Literally, According to Its Literary Form
To interpret Scripture literally is to understand it according to its normal, plain, grammatical, and historical sense, in harmony with its literary genre. For example, poetic texts contain metaphor, yet they convey real truths:
"I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears" (Psalm 6:6, NKJV).
We rightly understand David’s expression to be poetic hyperbole, not literal. Literal interpretation respects the author’s intent and genre.
Psalm 119:128 affirms, "Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:128, NKJV).
This verse upholds the total accuracy of Scripture:
When it records history, it records true events.
When it speaks in poetry, it conveys genuine emotional and spiritual realities.
When it proclaims prophecy, it declares future realities that will come to pass.
When it instructs, it reveals God's perfect will.
When it speaks about God, it unveils divine truth within our grasp.
The Bible Must Be Authoritative Over Human Feelings or Cultural Opinion
When human emotion or societal pressures attempt to redefine Scripture, the authority of God’s Word must prevail. We do not judge the Word; the Word judges us. There is only one correct interpretation of each passage, though there may be many valid applications.
As Dr. Henry Morris rightly observed: “The only proper way to interpret Genesis 1 is not to ‘interpret’ it at all. That is, we accept the fact that it was meant to say exactly what it says.”
The Bible is Not a Science Textbook — But It is Scientifically True
Scripture is not designed to teach scientific processes. However, when it addresses scientific matters, it speaks truthfully. If the Bible were wrong in observable, testable areas such as natural phenomena, how could it be trusted in matters of faith and eternity?
The Copies of Scripture We Possess Are Trustworthy
The transmission of the biblical text has been extraordinarily reliable. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide clear evidence of the remarkable care with which the Old Testament was copied. Likewise, the New Testament is the best-preserved document of antiquity, with thousands of manuscripts confirming its reliability. Scholars estimate that less than one one-thousandth of its text is disputed, none of which impacts doctrine.
The Book of Genesis is Foundational to the Entire Bible
The Bible without Genesis would be unintelligible. Genesis establishes the foundational doctrines of Scripture:
The origin of sin (Genesis 3)
Redemption and substitutionary atonement (Genesis 3:15, 22:13)
Justification by faith (Genesis 15:6)
The promise of the Messiah (Genesis 3:15; 49:10)
The character of God, the institution of marriage, and the concept of divine kingship
Genesis also reveals the origin of the universe, life, man, nations, languages, government, evil, and religion. Its historical reality is assumed by the rest of Scripture.
Jesus Himself affirmed the authority of Genesis:
"For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5:46–47, NKJV).
Genesis is quoted or alluded to over 200 times in the New Testament. It is not myth or allegory—it is inspired history.
Moses is the Author of Genesis, Likely Using Ancient Records
Jesus affirmed Mosaic authorship in Luke 24:27 and Luke 24:44. Genesis bears internal signs of record-based compilation, seen in the recurring phrases: “This is the history of…” (e.g., Genesis 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 36:9; 37:2).
Dr. Henry Morris proposes that these were colophons—transitional statements marking the close of ancient written records that Moses edited and compiled under divine inspiration.
Thus, Genesis is a true and trustworthy historical narrative that lays the doctrinal and theological groundwork for everything that follows in the Word of God.
The Account of God’s Creation
A. Thoughts to Begin With as We Study the Bible
[Section A content remains unchanged, already revised.]
B. The First Five Days of Creation
The Philosophical and Theological Importance of Knowing God as Creator
The most fundamental question of existence is: Why is there something rather than nothing? If life and the universe are merely the result of random, impersonal processes, then all meaning, morality, and identity are ultimately subjective and meaningless. However, if there is a personal, sovereign Creator, then all of life has purpose and direction.
"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good" (Psalm 14:1, NKJV).
The foundational truth of God as Creator defines human dignity, morality, and purpose. Our value is derived from being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27). Rejection of the Creator leads inevitably to confusion and moral collapse (Romans 1:21–25).
Genesis 1:1 — A Factual Declaration of God's Creative Act
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1, NKJV).
This opening verse is the foundation upon which the rest of Scripture stands. God — eternal, uncreated, all-powerful — brought all things into existence out of nothing. The Hebrew verb bara used here means "to create ex nihilo" (out of nothing), a creative power unique to God.
God’s creative act demonstrates His omnipotence and sovereignty:
"Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand up together" (Isaiah 48:13, NKJV).
"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?" (Isaiah 40:12, NKJV).
The name for God in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim, a plural noun used with singular verbs, subtly hinting at the triune nature of God. This plurality is consistent with other Trinitarian references in the Old Testament (cf. Genesis 1:26).
The Impossibility of Creation by Chance
Chance is not a cause—it is a description of probability. Chance has no creative power. To ascribe the origin of the universe to chance is not science, but superstition. Randomness cannot account for the intelligent fine-tuning of the cosmos.
Psalm 33:6, 9 declares: "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth... For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast" (NKJV).
The just-right gravitational force, distance of the earth from the sun, water molecule polarity, and dozens of other constants reveal precise design. God alone is the rational Designer behind this created order.
The Reality of a Created Earth with Apparent Age
When God created Adam, he was fully mature. The same is true of trees, stars, and geological formations. Apparent age does not contradict Scripture; it is a reflection of God’s sovereign choice to create a fully functional, mature world.
"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible" (Hebrews 11:3, NKJV).
Genesis 1:2 — The State of the Earth Prior to Formation
"The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2, NKJV).
The phrase “without form and void” (Hebrew: tohu vabohu) describes a state of disorder, not evil. God’s creation was not yet shaped for habitation. Some advocate for a “gap theory” here, positing a time gap between verses 1 and 2, but the text does not demand this interpretation, and it conflicts with the clear teaching that death entered the world through sin (Romans 5:12).
The presence of the Spirit of God reveals divine preparation and order. Just as He brooded over the waters before forming creation, so also He brings life and order in regeneration (John 3:5–8).
Genesis 1:3–5 — The First Day of Creation: Light and the Division of Day and Night
"Then 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. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day" (Genesis 1:3–5, NKJV).
This was not sunlight (created on the fourth day), but a supernatural light. This act shows that God is not dependent on the sun to create or sustain light. Revelation 22:5 speaks of a future reality where "There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light" (NKJV).
The creative command of God is instant and effective. Spurgeon notes, "Light be — light was." God’s word alone brings forth reality. This initial division between light and darkness establishes the pattern of days, marking time as part of God’s created order. The phrase "evening and morning" affirms a literal, 24-hour day.
"For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:11, NKJV).
Genesis 1:6–8 — The Second Day of Creation: The Atmospheric Expanse
"Then God said, 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.' Thus 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. So the evening and the morning were the second day" (Genesis 1:6–8, NKJV).
The "firmament" (raqia) refers to the sky or atmosphere. This division created a space between the waters below (oceans) and the waters above (possibly a water vapor canopy).
Dr. Henry Morris suggested that a vapor canopy once surrounded the earth, acting as a greenhouse and filtering out harmful radiation — consistent with longer life spans before the Flood (cf. Genesis 5).
Genesis 1:9–13 — The Third Day of Creation: Dry Land and Vegetation
"Then God said, 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into 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 He called Seas. And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:9–10, NKJV).
"Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth'; and it was so" (Genesis 1:11, NKJV).
The creative word of God brought forth dry land and vegetation, all with built-in reproductive capability. The repeated phrase “according to its kind” (used 10 times in this chapter) refutes the idea of macroevolution. God created distinct kinds with variation within the kind, but no kind changes into another.
Plant life flourished even before the sun was created (on day four), proving that the sustaining power of God — not the sun — was the source of life (cf. John 1:3).
"And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:12, NKJV).
Summary of the First Three Days
Each day of creation builds in structure and complexity. Day One creates light and time; Day Two creates space and atmosphere; Day Three establishes dry land and vegetation. The earth was now ready for animal and human life. Each stage demonstrates God’s sovereign wisdom and power, His ability to bring order from chaos, and His purpose in preparing a world for man.
C. The Sixth Day of Creation: The Creation of Land Animals and Mankind
Genesis 1:24–25 — The Creation of Land-Dwelling Animals
"Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind'; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:24–25, NKJV).
God now turns His creative focus to the animal kingdom that lives upon the land. These creatures were created in specific categories: domesticated animals (cattle), undomesticated wild beasts, and creeping things such as insects and reptiles. Once again, the phrase "according to its kind" is emphasized, signifying fixed biological boundaries that preclude macroevolutionary development from one kind to another.
The extraordinary diversity among creatures—from the strength of an ox to the camouflage of a gecko—demonstrates God's ingenuity, creativity, and joy in His creation. God is not only infinitely wise but profoundly imaginative.
Genesis 1:26 — God's Decree to Make Man in His Image
"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth'" (Genesis 1:26, NKJV).
Here we encounter the divine counsel within the Godhead. The plural phrasing — "Let Us... in Our image" — points unmistakably to the triunity of God. This internal deliberation signals that the creation of man is distinct from all that came before. Humanity is not merely another biological organism but a unique bearer of the divine image.
To be made in the image of God is to reflect His attributes in a finite way: personality, rationality, creativity, moral capacity, and spirituality. It is this image that makes man suitable for fellowship with God and capable of ruling over creation as His vice-regent.
Genesis 1:27–28 — The Creation of Male and Female and Their Commission
"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth'" (Genesis 1:27–28, NKJV).
Man and woman are equal image-bearers of God, created with divine intentionality and purpose. Gender distinction is not cultural or accidental; it is divinely instituted and blessed. The dual role of procreation and dominion was given to both, affirming the dignity and responsibility of humanity.
"Male and female He created them" is not merely a biological observation—it is a theological statement affirming that gender is part of God’s good design. To deny or distort this is to challenge the Creator's authority.
God also blesses them with purpose: to fill the earth and to subdue it. This cultural mandate affirms that work, cultivation, and stewardship are not consequences of the fall but integral to God’s original design.
Genesis 1:29–30 — Provision of Food to Man and Animals
"And God said, 'See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food'; and it was so" (Genesis 1:29–30, NKJV).
In the pre-Fall world, both humans and animals were vegetarian. There was no death, bloodshed, or carnivory. This perfect provision underscores the original harmony of creation — a peace that will be restored in the future kingdom (cf. Isaiah 11:6–9).
Genesis 1:31 — God’s Final Pronouncement on Creation
"Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31, NKJV).
God now looks upon the completed creation and declares it "very good." This is more than aesthetic appreciation. It is a divine assessment that everything—morally, functionally, relationally—was exactly as He intended. There was no sin, no death, no disorder.
This verse refutes every worldview that says evil, chaos, or struggle are part of God's original design. All such things came after the Fall in Genesis 3. God is not the author of confusion or corruption. Creation began in goodness and peace.
