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Genesis 1 Commentary

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Genesis 1:1

The Bible begins with God creating the entire universe.

Genesis 1:2-5

This is the first full day of creation. God creates light and separates it from the darkness. He names the light “day” and the darkness “night.”

Genesis 1:6-8

During the second day of creation, God separates the heavens from the earth.

Genesis 1:9-13

During the beginning of the third day of creation, God divides the seas and the dry land. Then, He creates plant life and vegetation.

Genesis 1:14-19

God creates the sun, moon, and stars, on the fourth day of creation. The sun, moon, and stars provide the daily and seasonal cycles and the calculation of time.

Genesis 1:20-23

On the fifth day of creation, God creates the creatures of the sky and sea.

Genesis 1:24-27

The sixth day of creation finds God creating the rest of the land animals and then He makes man in His own image.

Genesis 1:28-31

God finishes the sixth day of creation by commanding man to be fruitful and multiply, and subdue the earth.

Additional Resources

Genesis is a book about many beginnings. The beginnings of the world, the human race, sin and redemption, and the nation of Israel to name a few. In fact, the word Genesis from the Greek means “origin,” and in Hebrew it means “beginning.” The book of Genesis contains the events of the flood, tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the lives of the Patriarchs.

In the beginning, God created everything by simply speaking, “God said…and it was so” (Genesis 1:6-7, 9, 11, 14-15). This is not a scientific technical account of creation, but it shows a loving God creating a universe and mankind to rule it and fellowship with God. Man was formed especially from the ground and given the breath of life from God. The woman was made from the man’s rib (Genesis 2:7).

After man fell into sin, things began to spin out of control quickly. Cain murdered his brother Abel and the human race became so violent that God decided to destroy them all with a flood. God saved one righteous man (Noah) and his family in an ark filled with animals to deliver the human race from extinction. God chose Abraham and blessed a special group of people named “Israel.” God began to unfold a plan of salvation from a coming famine by sending Joseph to rule in Egypt. The failure of man in every circumstance is met by the salvation of God. We fail, but the good news is God saves us.

Chapter Context

In chapter 1, we find the account of God creating the heavens and the earth. In the beginning, He formed all things perfectly. We learn that there is a beginning, a definite point in time that starts with the Creator. God, the creator, made everything in 6 days: light, sky, dry ground, bodies of water, plants, the sun, moon, stars, and planets, fish, birds, land animals, and then finally he created man. Man, the crown jewel of creation, was flawless, capable of fellowship with God, and able to enjoy and govern Eden. In Genesis chapter one we discover that God truly is the source of all.