Learning The Bible

Pastor's Seminar Resource

Pastor’s Seminar Resource:

We have begun the endeavor of creating a plain-text commentary for believers. We hope to create a resource to aid believers in understanding the vastness of the Holy Bible a little bit better!

Color Coding: We have used color coding to help divide the writing and make the commentary easier to navigate.

Blue: Scripture

Red: Primary Points

Purple: Word definitions and translations

Orange: Encapsulating Statements

Black: General text

Commentary - Genesis

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1

The Bible opens with a broad and powerful declaration of creation. While this verse can stand alone as presented and be appreciated in its base reading, so much is said here for believers to soak in and begin their journey with the most fantastic book ever written, the Bible.

1.) The first mention of God:

God is mentioned first in our passage, and we learn key truths about God immediately.

God is the Creator of all things.

God being mentioned first teaches us that God existed before Heaven, before Earth, and even before what we understand as time (in the beginning).

God is the eternal, self-existing one.

The name presented in the Hebrew language teaches us more about God and how He is introducing Himself to His creation.

elôhîym; Supreme God, Ruler, Judge

Let’s put it all together now.

God, the Supreme Ruler and Judge, who exists before all time and all things, is the Creator of Time, Heaven, and Earth.

We immediately recognize that God is not one to be trifled with or taken lightly. God is divine, all-powerful, and the one true God.

Presenting God’s identity properly throughout the Bible is critical for understanding what God wants us to learn and understand from what He presents in the Bible.

Every portion of the inspired Word is for our benefit and understanding of who God is and how we can know Him on a deeper and more intimate level.

2.) In the Beginning - The Origin of Time

Today, you will continually hear that the earth is x million years old. Arguments, articles and the like have been written and debated over the earth's age and its facts of origin.

At an early period of Christianity, even well-meaning believers tried to accept the “science so falsely called” as sincere and legitimate work of sincere and honest persons, theorized that there was an unknown gap in time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:3 stating that verse two represented an unknown amount of time where the earth just existed and gave credence to the arguments of the earth’s age being millions of years old.

This is not the Biblical teaching. God created time, and over time, He created Heaven and Earth. Time exists for the order and structure of what God is doing in Heaven and on Earth through humanity's existence, which we measure by the construct of Time.

It is clear that the earth was created, and God continued His work of creation without delay or a “gap” in the progressive work.

Our current emphasis is to give a straightforward commentary of the KJ Bible, not expound upon all topics or create a book on apologetics. The knowledge gained here will aid in the arena of apologetics.

The emphasis of Time beginning is to show:

a.) God existed before time.

b.) Time’s origin coincides with Earth’s creation

c.) Time exists as a structural tool of God’s operations dealing with mankind.

d.) God has been and always will be working - God is supreme.

Support text:

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;   

Hebrews 1:1-2

The word “worlds” at the end of verse two translates:

aiōn; forever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity

This means that Jesus was the Creator. As God, Jesus created all things and upholds all things. Jesus is the creator of time, and time exists in periods/ages to dispose of His perfect plan.

God unfolds His plan for humanity over time. Time is a medium by which God is communicating measurements of understanding:

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears briefly and then vanishes away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

James 4:14

The Lord stated this concerning the tool of time: signs, seasons, days, and years.

3.) God Created:

The scripture teaches in our focus text and supporting texts that everything was created.

Contrary to the opinion of other faith practices, everything came from nothing, and “bang” it was.

The word “create” in the Hebrew language means:

ḇârâ’; a primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes): — choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).

Simplified: to create, shape, form

The significance of this statement is to validate a worldview based on faith.

Note:

“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.”

Hebrews 11:3

Knowing the nature of His creation, God establishes in His opening statement the origins of all things to allow humanity to confidently move on from this consideration and begin to search out the Creator rather than speculate about creation.

Note:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

John 1:1-3

By addressing the subject of creation, God establishes certain principles:

a.) Creation has order:

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Genesis 8:22

b.) Creation has a reproduction order: “after his kind”

“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 creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1:24-25

The order of earth and its reproduction are clearly stated in Genesis One - male and female - they will bring forth (reproduce) after their kind (species).

c.) Creation has a purpose:

“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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Colossians 1:16-18

God the Creator has created all things, and the purpose of His creation is for His glory and delight. This is accomplished through Jesus Christ’s work and obedience in, through, and for the created creature: mankind.

Note:

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:5-11

This may seem like an oversimplification of the matter, but it is the sum of the matter in the heart of God!

Everything from Genesis 1:1 - until the second coming of Jesus Christ exists for the purpose stated in Philippians 2:5-11

The exaltation of Christ is the delight of the Father, rewarding the Obedient Son.

May we delight in being like-minded as Christ and pursue the delight of the Father.

4.) God created the Heaven:

God creates what is defined in the second definition of this word as the “abode of God,” the first simple state of space and sky. But we know from other points in this same chapter these are specifically created and their purpose later on.

The clear implication of Heaven in verse one is the place we think, the abode of God, the place our soul ascends to after the body's death.

God wants us to know in our understanding of origins that He created Heaven and everything in Heaven as a precursor to what would come in the following verses.

Consider the question presented to Job:

“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest?

or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Job 38:4-7

Note that the question was about the creation of the earth. Now note in Genesis 1:1 that the heaven was created before the earth. Ok, now note back in Job 38 that the “morning star sang together,” and the “sons of God” shouted for joy.

These are angelic beings. Lucifer, aka Satan, aka the devil, was one of those morning stars who sang as the earth was created. The sons of God are the angelic beings called before God in chapter one of Job to give an account of their activities.

Angelic beings were created before the earth. They were a part of God's “created the heaven” work and were present and ministered to as the earth was created.

Note:

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!”

Isaiah 14:12

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

Job 1:6-7

God chooses to go into further detail with earth’s creation account. Knowing humanity would see, hear, touch, and taste their world and naturally would have questions.

The creation of Heaven and all the work surrounding it is meant for the spiritual man to explore, search out, and learn about God.

God purposefully sums up the full creation of Heaven and all its specifics because they are not for the lost soul, the casual reader, or the skeptic.

We get glimpses of heavenly details throughout the Bible, mainly in The Revelation.

But from our focal verse, we learn that God intended for us to understand:

a.) Heaven and everything in Heaven was created:

Nothing exists outside of God. He is the supreme being, and all things are subject to Him.

b.) Heaven and all spiritual beings are subject to God’s authority.

A Sovereign rules heaven and all things are done according to His will. That ruler is God Almighty.

Note the opening of the model prayer, often referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:9-10

Jesus states that everything in Heaven is by the will of God.

This denotes the severity of Lucifer’s rebellion and what Adam's rebellion would be in the garden.

Have we considered the audacity of Lucifer’s actions?

Note:

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Isaiah 14:12-15

I would like also to note that Satan is not God’s equal, nor can he in any way be an actual opponent of God.”

Satan is of a different nature (ability and makeup) than mankind, but he is fallen and rebellious as a lost man—both enemies of God.

I will also note that I believe Hell was made at this time. We see that implied in the passage of Isaiah 14. The price of rebellion has always been known.

Hell is not the home of devils; it is their prison.

Note:

“And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

God, in His foreknowledge, dealt with all eternal things before creating the earth, including authoring the plan of Salvation.”

Luke 8:30-32

Deep: abyssos; from 1 (as a negative particle) and a variation of 1037; depthless, i.e. (specially) (infernal) “abyss”: — deep, (bottomless) pit.

Strong's Concordance - Greek Words

The devils fear and do not want to go to Hell.

Note also concerning Salvation’s plan:

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Revelation 13:8

This verse speaks of those who will receive the mark during the tribulation period.

I want to highlight the significance of the verse ending, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

In Genesis 1:1, God deals with all eternal aspects, including Heaven and Hell. God knew the cost before He created all things.

From this, we get the foundation of “Predestination,” as Ephesians teaches.  I will deal with this once we get to that passage.

This truth would also clear up the false ideal that Satan rules in Hell, is over Hell, or that it is his dominion. We have no record that the devil has ever been to hell.

Heaven and all spiritual beings are subject to God and His authority.

c.) Heavenly things are a pattern of spiritual things on earth:

From the sacrifices of Genesis chapter two to Melchezidec to the Tabernacle in the wilderness, all these earthly mentions are patterns of heavenly things to instruct us better and enlighten our understanding.

All that God does in creation is for our enlightenment and understanding. That is why we are called to pursue Wisdom as the principle thing!

Note:

“For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

Hebrews 8:4-6

Meditate on this testimony of Wisdom:

“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way,

before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,

or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth;

when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there:

when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight,

rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth;

and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:

all they that hate me love death.”

Proverbs 8:22-36

Do you want to understand? Do you want to be enlightened? Then you must pursue Wisdom.

Wisdom existed with God before Heaven and Earth. To walk with Him, to engage with Him, one must transcend earthly knowledge and encounter Godly wisdom!

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

James 1:5-7

5.) God created the Earth:

The conclusion of the verse is simple: He created the planet upon which we live.

The Earth was not created in a form of completion but in a progressive fashion.

Because each fashion teaches foundational truths that are key to the whole work of God with man.

The unfolding of the creation of Earth takes us from the very onset of man. The truth is, a man born is nothing without God. His life is empty and pointless.

God, and God alone, gives human life purpose and value.

Just as the planet was called to be in Genesis 1:1, it was simply a created space in need of God to give it purpose and value. The human being without God is simply a created space in need of God to enter and give it life eternal.

a.) God created the Earth: Origin confirmed.

b.) Earth has created purpose, which is expressed in the following verses as the temporary habitation of humanity.

c.) Earth is subject to God:

The laws, functions, and ends are all in the hands of God, not the hands of humanity. The Earth is God’s; it all belongs to Him.

Note:

“The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Psalms 24:1

This concludes Genesis 1:1.

Bible Translation: KJV

Copyright: All commentary content belongs to Pure Joy Publications for the use of the Pastor’s Seminar and can only be used elsewhere with written permission from the author.