Genesis 1:1 Kvj

[MaidservantX]

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

Let's just for fun learn as much as possible from this statement.

We can start by breaking it down.

"In the beginning". What does that tell us? What questions does it provoke? What images does it bring? What shape of a universe would warrant this description of time?

In the LDS Edition of the KJV -- the very first footnote, lol: "a" -- attached to this phrase, suggests to us that we might want to peruse in the Topical Guide under the heading "Time". (More about that perhaps in a subsequent post.)

Perhaps this phrase, instead of so much speaking to the beginning of the universe, speaks instead, to the beginning of the STORY. (Images come to my mind of Native American Elders passing along their stories to the next generation, surrounded by the very creation (earth and sky)).

After all, it does say "in" the beginning -- not "at" the beginning. I've been pondering the "beginning" on and off for a very long time.

The Story of what? The story of me? The story of if I'm asking myself what I'm doing alive and what I'm doing on this spot of space, in this spec of time? Maybe.

"In the beginning" actually holds a lot of information -- it holds all the information there IS -- BEFORE the moment in time when the STORY ignites.

Okay, now it's your turn. When you read or hear this music: "In the beginning . . ." or "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." -- what have you learned that you could share here?

[sorry, title should say KJV, NOT Kvj -- that's going to bug me, lol]

[Saab900man]

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

Let's just for fun learn as much as possible from this statement.

We can start by breaking it down.

"In the beginning". What does that tell us? What questions does it provoke? What images does it bring? What shape of a universe would warrant this description of time?

In the LDS Edition of the KJV -- the very first footnote, lol: "a" -- attached to this phrase, suggests to us that we might want to peruse in the Topical Guide under the heading "Time". (More about that perhaps in a subsequent post.)

Perhaps this phrase, instead of so much speaking to the beginning of the universe, speaks instead, to the beginning of the STORY. (Images come to my mind of Native American Elders passing along their stories to the next generation, surrounded by the very creation (earth and sky)).

After all, it does say "in" the beginning -- not "at" the beginning. I've been pondering the "beginning" on and off for a very long time.

The Story of what? The story of me? The story of if I'm asking myself what I'm doing alive and what I'm doing on this spot of space, in this spec of time? Maybe.

"In the beginning" actually holds a lot of information -- it holds all the information there IS -- BEFORE the moment in time when the STORY ignites.

Okay, now it's your turn. When you read or hear this music: "In the beginning . . ." or "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." -- what have you learned that you could share here?

[sorry, title should say KJV, NOT Kvj -- that's going to bug me, lol]

To me that simply means the beginning of "The great plan of happiness".

In the beginning God Created the heavens (sky) and earth....not heaven as in where God is.

This was the beginning we all waited for for a long time! I am sure we shouted with joy at seeing or hearing this had started

[prisonchaplain]

The doctrine of premortal existence is one of the most dramatic distinctives of LDS theology. Without it, Genesis 1:1 simply signals the beginning of our world.

[CrimsonKairos]

Well I think that in part, the activity in Genesis 1 isn't descriptive of the physical earth and man's physical body.

In Genesis 1, it says God created male and female in His image. Then in Genesis 2, it says God created man's body from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. So if it wasn't the creation of man's physical body going on in Genesis 1, what was God creating in his image? Spirit bodies, perhaps?

Also, God creates "light" in Genesis 1:3, but then He doesn't create the sun and moon until Genesis 1:14-16. So if it wasn't the creation of the sun and moon going on in Genesis 1:3, what "light" was God creating? (this last question is open-ended, I'm not asking rhetorically or to prove a point)

[prisonchaplain]

Well I think that in part, the activity in Genesis 1 isn't descriptive of the physical earth and man's physical body.

In Genesis 1, it says God created male and female in His image. Then in Genesis 2, it says God created man's body from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. So if it wasn't the creation of man's physical body going on in Genesis 1, what was God creating in his image? Spirit bodies, perhaps?

"Liberal" scholars take the shift in Genesis 2 to indicate that there are two creation accounts, and use this to suggest multiple authors for "the books of Moses."

"Conservatives" contend that Genesis 1 is a broad description of creation, while Genesis 2 narrows the focus to humanity, and offers a more in-depth look.

Also, God creates "light" in Genesis 1:3, but then He doesn't create the sun and moon until Genesis 1:14-16. So if it wasn't the creation of the sun and moon going on in Genesis 1:3, what "light" was God creating? (this last question is open-ended, I'm not asking rhetorically or to prove a point)

Once again, this could simply be going from broad to specific. Additionally, despite the details, I'm not convinced that Genesis offers us a strictly chronological ordering of creation.

[Guest Yediyd]

Well I think that in part, the activity in Genesis 1 isn't descriptive of the physical earth and man's physical body.

In Genesis 1, it says God created male and female in His image. Then in Genesis 2, it says God created man's body from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. So if it wasn't the creation of man's physical body going on in Genesis 1, what was God creating in his image? Spirit bodies, perhaps?

Also, God creates "light" in Genesis 1:3, but then He doesn't create the sun and moon until Genesis 1:14-16. So if it wasn't the creation of the sun and moon going on in Genesis 1:3, what "light" was God creating? (this last question is open-ended, I'm not asking rhetorically or to prove a point)

Light has always been a symble of knowledge in the Bible. So, I believe that in Gen. 1, God is speaking of the spiritual creation and the light that he created is the light of understanding, of knowledge, or of consienceness so to speak. In Gen. 2 God created the physical things of the Earth, but the spiritual things such as light an wisdom had to come before the physical. If we follow that logic...then it is natural to assume that the first creation was a spiritual one (our spirit bodies?)

At least this is how I interpret the 1st 2 chapters of Genesis.

BTW "X"...Excellent topic starter! Very thought provoking!!! :)

[CrimsonKairos]

Good thoughts Yediyd.

What about the darkness, though? God creates this "light," and then divides it from "the darkness." If the light is wisdom or knowledge, what is this darkness? And where did it come from?

[prisonchaplain]

Good thoughts Yediyd.

What about the darkness, though? God creates this "light," and then divides it from "the darkness." If the light is wisdom or knowledge, what is this darkness? And where did it come from?

I always wondered when the first I.R.S. came into being.

[MaidservantX]

Okay. I will come back to "In the beginning" some more, but I want to go on a little also.

In the beginning God/

The story begins and we meet the first character (other than the reader, other than the self that is capable of comprehending a story).

Who or what is God?

Without appealing to more ancient words used in this statement, I will rely, once again, on simply the KJ English (for the moment).

We are introduced to someone or something that is ALREADY THERE. We can look back as far as we can see and someone will be standing there -- God.

As you read the story that commences with "In the beginning God/" -- if you are looking at God -- the God of the story -- is he/? looking back at you? What is the connection between that character and the reader? What is the distance between the two?

And even more delicious and suspenseful -- if there is the BEGINNNING and there is GOD -- THEN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? :) (Curtain rises . . .)

[Guest Yediyd]

Good thoughts Yediyd.

What about the darkness, though? God creates this "light," and then divides it from "the darkness." If the light is wisdom or knowledge, what is this darkness? And where did it come from?

I believe that darkness is ignoance and rebellon. If you will notice...God didn't creat the darkness...he just SEPERATED it from the light. Lucifer was dark...he was cast out of Heaven...seperated fom the light.

Just my thoughts...not trying to teach "unsubstantiated doctrine".

BTW...Check out my blog entry: "No Ripple in The Glass", I go futher into this Idea there.

I had these thoughts long before "X" started this GREAT thread.

[Dr T]

I've missed you all. I'll be back sometime next week.

[CrimsonKairos]

Pray do so. :)

[Guest Yediyd]

I've missed you all. I'll be back sometime next week.

YEAH!!!!! Dr. T is comming back!!!!!!!

[Dr T]

Thank you Yediyd. :) That is nice. How has it been around here lately?

[Guest Yediyd]

Thank you Yediyd. :) That is nice. How has it been around here lately?

Jason has kept us on our toes...at first I thought he was a "crackpot", but I've gained respect for him as a very intellegent man, even though I tend to dissagree with him...his wit is entertainig.

<div class='quotemain'>

Thank you Yediyd. :) That is nice. How has it been around here lately?

Jason has kept us on our toes...at first I thought he was a "crackpot", but I've gained respect for him as a very intellegent man, even though I tend to dissagree with him...his wit is entertainig.

PS: I grew from a flegling to a dictator in your absence...didja notice?

[Dr T]

That's great Yediyd. Can't wait to spend some time and get my mind going again. :)

[Guest Yediyd]

That's great Yediyd. Can't wait to spend some time and get my mind going again. :)

Looking forward to it. :)

[a-train]

A comment from Joseph Smith on Genesis 1:1:

'I shall comment on the very first Hebrew word in the Bible; I will make a comment on the very first sentence of the history of the creation in the Bible--Berosheit. I want to analyze the word. Baith--in, by through, and everything else. Rosh--the head. Sheit--grammatical termination. When the inspired man wrote it, he did not put the baith there. An old Jew without any authority added the word; he thought it too bad to begin to talk about the head! It read first, "The head one of the Gods brought forth the Gods." That is the true meaning of the words. Baurau signifies to bring forth. If you do not believe it, you do not believe the learned man of God. Learned men can teach you no more than what I have told you. Thus the head God brought forth the Gods in the grand council.' (JPJS p. 348 Emphasis Added)

-a-train

[pushka]

Did Joseph Smith ever say where he received that information from?

[MaidservantX]

"In the beginning God created/"

As we are introduced to this God in this story we have the privilege of seeing, observing what this God is engaged in: we see what he has done or is doing:

created/ create/ creating.

So we understand immediately one point of the nature of this God -- he creates. Thus far, this is the one power he has.

Creation, of course, is a many layered word and many layered concept -- especially when it is something we are watching God doing! Did God think? Did God plan? Did God struggle? Did God laugh? Did God touch? Did God design? What all is involved with creation? (Taking materials and making more out of them than when separate.)

One thing we might notice is that -- since at this point in the sentence we do not yet know what it is God is creating or has created -- we might notice -- "Hey! I create also! I create a home, a painting, a dance, a friendship! I create! God creates and I create!" So perhaps we see that the 'God that is in the beginning' is NOT a creature incomprehensible to us, the listeners of the story. We see the reflection -- God to us -- immediately.

And if there is one that says, "I do not create. There is nothing I could create." Well then. Lift your eyes. Be introduced to God. See into the reflection. Shed the falsehood.