# Genesis 1.1 **Book:** [Genesis](/codex/genesis/) · NASB95 ## Verse > In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1, NASB95) ## Immediate context (±2 verses) (There is no preceding verse, Genesis 1:1 is the opening of the canon.) **NASB95** ([NASB95](/codex/nasb95/)) > **In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.** > > The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3, NASB95) ## Setting - **Speaker:** Moses, traditionally (per Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch); functionally an inspired narrator without a recorded human source. - **Audience:** the Israelites delivered from Egypt, confronting Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Canaanite cosmogonies (creation by warring gods, primordial sea-monsters, eternally pre-existing matter, animism). The deliberate counter-cosmology: one God who creates by speech; the heavens and earth are His unmediated work, not divine beings to worship. - **Location:** likely Sinai or the wilderness, during or shortly after the exodus. - **Time period:** the verse narrates the absolute beginning of creation; written perhaps 14th-13th c. BC. ## Theological reading The verse is the foundation of biblical theology proper: God is **prior to**, **distinct from**, and **the cause of** the heavens and earth. Five contrasts are programmed into the syntax: 1. *Bereshit* (in [the] beginning), there is a temporal beginning. Against eternal-matter cosmologies (Aristotelian, Hindu cyclical, modern eternal-universe models). 2. *Bara*, God *creates* (the verb reserved in the Qal stem for divine action). Not generates, emanates, or fashions from prior stuff. 3. *Elohim* with singular verb, one God acts, not a pantheon. 4. *Et-hashamayim w'et-haaretz*, heavens and earth, the totality. Not part of creation, but all of it. 5. The verse is **declarative, not argumentative**, Scripture asserts this rather than defending it. **Patristic.** Theophilus of Antioch (*Ad Autolycum* 2.4, c. AD 180) is the earliest extant Christian writer to articulate *creatio ex nihilo* explicitly. Basil of Caesarea (*Hexaemeron* I.1-6, c. AD 378) emphasizes *bereshit* as instantaneous: not a process within time but the inception of time itself. Augustine (*Confessions* 11-13, c. AD 400; *City of God* 11, c. AD 420) develops the doctrine of *creatio ex nihilo* and the temporal coextensiveness of time-with-creation: God did not create *in* time, but *with* time. There is no "before" the beginning. **Reformation / modern.** Calvin (*Institutes* I.14.20-21; *Genesis* commentary) presses the verse as the foundation for "the worship of the true God": the One who created is the One to whom worship is owed; idolatry is forbidden because it confuses creature with Creator. Contemporary apologetic use centers on the **Kalām Cosmological Argument** (William Lane Craig, *The Kalam Cosmological Argument*, 1979): "everything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; therefore the universe has a cause." Genesis 1:1 is the biblical anchor; modern Big Bang cosmology and the Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem (2003) are the philosophical / scientific allies. **Christological.** John deliberately invokes Genesis 1:1 in [John 1.1](/codex/john-1-1/) (*ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος*), placing the Word *prior* to *bereshit*. The Word *was* (eternal, pre-creational) when "the beginning" of Genesis 1:1 occurred. Colossians 1:16-17 and Hebrews 1:2 make Christ the agent through whom creation happened. The Genesis text's plural *elohim* and Genesis 1:26's "let *us* make" provide patristic warrant for Trinitarian readings. ## Key words - [H7225 - reshit](/codex/h7225-reshit/), *bereshit* (in [the] beginning), temporal absolute beginning, the Hebrew word John echoes in *ἐν ἀρχῇ* - [H1254 - bara](/codex/h1254-bara/), *bara* (created), verb reserved in the Qal for divine creative action; subject is always God - [H0430 - elohim](/codex/h0430-elohim/), *elohim* (God), plural form, singular verb here; the one true God - [G0746 - arche](/codex/g0746-arche/), Greek/LXX equivalent (*en archē*), the bridge to John's prologue ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [100 Questions for Evolutionists](/codex/100-questions-for-evolutionists/) - [Anselms Four-Dimensionalist Eternity](/codex/anselms-four-dimensionalist-eternity/) - [Aquinas Five Ways](/codex/aquinas-five-ways/) - [Argument from Cosmology (Guillen)](/codex/argument-from-cosmology-guillen/) - [Argument from the Creation of Time](/codex/argument-from-the-creation-of-time/) - [Argument from the Genetic Code](/codex/argument-from-the-genetic-code/) - [Argument from the Impossibility of an Actual Infinite Past](/codex/argument-from-the-impossibility-of-an-actual-infinite-past/) - [Argument from the Universal Imagination Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-universal-imagination-convergence/) - [Argument from Thermodynamics](/codex/argument-from-thermodynamics/) - [Bible Scientific Errors Objection Defeater](/codex/bible-scientific-errors-objection-defeater/) - [Biogenesis Argument](/codex/biogenesis-argument/) - [Build the Cosmological Argument](/codex/build-the-cosmological-argument/) - [Carbon-14 in Deep-Time Specimens Argument](/codex/carbon-14-in-deep-time-specimens-argument/) - [Christian God is the Only True God](/codex/christian-god-is-the-only-true-god/) - [Contingency Argument](/codex/contingency-argument/) - [Cumulative Case for the Deity of Christ](/codex/cumulative-case-for-the-deity-of-christ/) - [Elohim Is a Divine Council Objection Defeater](/codex/elohim-is-a-divine-council-objection-defeater/) - [Fine-Tuning Argument](/codex/fine-tuning-argument/) - [First Way - Motion](/codex/first-way-motion/) - [Information Argument](/codex/information-argument/) - [Interdependency Argument](/codex/interdependency-argument/) - [Kalam Cosmological Argument](/codex/kalam-cosmological-argument/) - [Miller-Urey Reframe Argument](/codex/miller-urey-reframe-argument/) - [Necessary Being is an Intelligent Mind](/codex/necessary-being-is-an-intelligent-mind/) - [OT Polytheism Objection Defeater](/codex/ot-polytheism-objection-defeater/) - [Second Way - Efficient Causality](/codex/second-way-efficient-causality/) - [Signature in the Cell Argument](/codex/signature-in-the-cell-argument/) - [Six Day Creation Falsified Objection Defeater](/codex/six-day-creation-falsified-objection-defeater/) - [Third Way - Contingency](/codex/third-way-contingency/) **Concepts:** - [20 Arguments for Old Earth](/codex/20-arguments-for-old-earth/) - [A Quick-Glance Guide to Aquinas Five Ways](/codex/a-quick-glance-guide-to-aquinas-five-ways/) - [Abiogenesis Under the Microscope](/codex/abiogenesis-under-the-microscope/) - [Are There Other Gods](/codex/are-there-other-gods/) - [Bible Anticipates Science](/codex/bible-anticipates-science/) - [Big Bang](/codex/big-bang/) - [Borde-Guth-Vilenkin Theorem](/codex/borde-guth-vilenkin-theorem/) - [Causal Principle](/codex/causal-principle/) - [Christianity](/codex/christianity/) - [Cosmological Arguments](/codex/cosmological-arguments/) - [DNA](/codex/genetic-code/) - [Edge of Evolution](/codex/edge-of-evolution/) - [Eternity (Divine)](/codex/eternity-divine/) - [Evolution](/codex/evolution/) - [Expansion of the Universe](/codex/expansion-of-the-universe/) - [Genesis ANE Myth Borrowing Objection](/codex/genesis-ane-myth-borrowing-objection/) - [Genesis Hermeneutics](/codex/genesis-hermeneutics/) - [Genesis Interpretation Spread](/codex/genesis-interpretation-spread/) - [Hexaemeron Tradition](/codex/hexaemeron-tradition/) - [Idealism](/codex/idealism/) - [Information Argument for Design](/codex/information-argument-for-design/) - [Law of Biogenesis](/codex/law-of-biogenesis/) - [Laws of the Universe as Witness to Design](/codex/laws-of-the-universe-as-witness-to-design/) - [Methodological Naturalism](/codex/naturalism/) - [Multiverse](/codex/multiverse/) - [Old Earth Creationism](/codex/old-earth-creationism/) - [Old Testament Witness to the Deity of Christ](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/) - [Origins and Cosmology](/codex/origins-and-cosmology/) - [OT Polytheism Objection](/codex/ot-polytheism-objection/) - [Pantheism](/codex/pantheism/) - [Process Theism](/codex/process-theism/) - [Soul and Spirit, Origin and Awareness](/codex/soul-and-spirit-origin-and-awareness/) - [Teleological Arguments](/codex/teleological-arguments/) - [Trinity Plural-Hebrew-Noun Stack](/codex/trinity-plural-hebrew-noun-stack/) - [Two Powers in Heaven](/codex/two-powers-in-heaven/) - [Water Older Than the Sun](/codex/water-older-than-the-sun/), via [Genesis 1.1-2](/codex/genesis-1-1-2/) - [Young Earth Creationism](/codex/young-earth-creationism/) - [Young's Literal Translation](/codex/ylt/) - [Zero and the Metaphysics of Nothing](/codex/zero-and-the-metaphysics-of-nothing/) **People:** - [Henry Morris](/codex/henry-morris/) - [John Currid](/codex/john-currid/), via [Genesis 1.1-11](/codex/genesis-1-1-11/) - [Maimonides](/codex/maimonides/) - [Nachmanides](/codex/nachmanides/) - [Philo of Alexandria](/codex/philo-of-alexandria/) - [Plato](/codex/plato/) **Lexicon:** - [G0746 - arche](/codex/g0746-arche/) - [G2889 - kosmos](/codex/g2889-kosmos/) - [H0410 - el](/codex/h0410-el/) - [H0430 - elohim](/codex/h0430-elohim/) - [H1254 - bara](/codex/h1254-bara/) - [H1285 - berith](/codex/h1285-berith/) - [H1697 - dabar](/codex/h1697-dabar/) - [H2896 - tov](/codex/h2896-tov/) - [H6213 - asah](/codex/h6213-asah/) - [H7218 - rosh](/codex/h7218-rosh/) - [H7225 - reshit](/codex/h7225-reshit/) - [H7307 - ruach](/codex/h7307-ruach/) - [H7706 - shaddai](/codex/h7706-shaddai/) **Guides:** - [02 Faith and Worldview](/codex/02-faith-and-worldview/) **Passages:** - [1 Chronicles 21.15](/codex/1-chronicles-21-15/) - [1 Chronicles 28.20](/codex/1-chronicles-28-20/) - [1 Chronicles 9](/codex/1-chronicles-9/) - [1 Kings 10.1-13](/codex/1-kings-10-1-13/) - [1 Kings 19.9-18](/codex/1-kings-19-9-18/) - [1 Kings 8.57](/codex/1-kings-8-57/) - [1 Samuel 15.9-21](/codex/1-samuel-15-9-21/) - [1 Samuel 28](/codex/1-samuel-28/) - [1 Samuel 3](/codex/1-samuel-3/) - [2 Chronicles 9.1-12](/codex/2-chronicles-9-1-12/) - [2 Kings 1.3](/codex/2-kings-1-3/) - [2 Kings 17.37](/codex/2-kings-17-37/) - [2 Kings 18](/codex/2-kings-18/) - [Amos 4.11](/codex/amos-4-11/) - [Amos 5.26](/codex/amos-5-26/) - [Colossians 1.15-20](/codex/colossians-1-15-20/) - [Colossians 1.16](/codex/colossians-1-16/) - [Colossians 1.16-17](/codex/colossians-1-16-17/) - [Colossians 1.17](/codex/colossians-1-17/) - [Daniel 9](/codex/daniel-9/) - [Deuteronomy 13.3-5](/codex/deuteronomy-13-3-5/) - [Deuteronomy 15.15](/codex/deuteronomy-15-15/) - [Deuteronomy 18.10-12](/codex/deuteronomy-18-10-12/) - [Deuteronomy 18.15](/codex/deuteronomy-18-15/) - [Deuteronomy 18.5](/codex/deuteronomy-18-5/) - [Deuteronomy 18.7](/codex/deuteronomy-18-7/) - [Deuteronomy 18.9-12](/codex/deuteronomy-18-9-12/) - [Deuteronomy 18.9-14](/codex/deuteronomy-18-9-14/) - [Deuteronomy 21](/codex/deuteronomy-21/) - [Deuteronomy 21.10-14](/codex/deuteronomy-21-10-14/) - [Deuteronomy 21.22-23](/codex/deuteronomy-21-22-23/) - [Deuteronomy 21.23](/codex/deuteronomy-21-23/) - [Deuteronomy 22](/codex/deuteronomy-22/) - [Deuteronomy 25.17-19](/codex/deuteronomy-25-17-19/) - [Deuteronomy 28](/codex/deuteronomy-28/) - [Deuteronomy 28.2](/codex/deuteronomy-28-2/) - [Deuteronomy 28.36](/codex/deuteronomy-28-36/) - [Deuteronomy 31.6](/codex/deuteronomy-31-6/) - [Deuteronomy 32.17](/codex/deuteronomy-32-17/) - [Deuteronomy 4.24](/codex/deuteronomy-4-24/) - [Deuteronomy 4.35](/codex/deuteronomy-4-35/) - [Deuteronomy 4.39](/codex/deuteronomy-4-39/) - [Deuteronomy 5.12](/codex/deuteronomy-5-12/) - [Deuteronomy 6.4-5](/codex/deuteronomy-6-4-5/) - [Deuteronomy 6.4-9](/codex/deuteronomy-6-4-9/) - [Deuteronomy 7](/codex/deuteronomy-7/) - [Deuteronomy 7.1-2](/codex/deuteronomy-7-1-2/) - [Deuteronomy 7.9](/codex/deuteronomy-7-9/) - [Deuteronomy 8.18](/codex/deuteronomy-8-18/) - [Deuteronomy 8.2](/codex/deuteronomy-8-2/) - [Deuteronomy 9.4-5](/codex/deuteronomy-9-4-5/) - [Ecclesiastes 12.7](/codex/ecclesiastes-12-7/) - [Ecclesiastes 3.12-13](/codex/ecclesiastes-3-12-13/) - [Exodus 14.19-24](/codex/exodus-14-19-24/) - [Exodus 15.26](/codex/exodus-15-26/) - [Exodus 19.10-19](/codex/exodus-19-10-19/) - [Exodus 20.1-17](/codex/exodus-20-1-17/) - [Exodus 20.3](/codex/exodus-20-3/) - [Exodus 20.4-6](/codex/exodus-20-4-6/) - [Exodus 24.10](/codex/exodus-24-10/) - [Exodus 3](/codex/exodus-3/) - [Exodus 3.1-15](/codex/exodus-3-1-15/) - [Exodus 3.1-4](/codex/exodus-3-1-4/) - [Exodus 3.13-14](/codex/exodus-3-13-14/) - [Exodus 3.14-15](/codex/exodus-3-14-15/) - [Exodus 3.2-6](/codex/exodus-3-2-6/) - [Exodus 4.16](/codex/exodus-4-16/) - [Exodus 7](/codex/exodus-7/) - [Exodus 7.1](/codex/exodus-7-1/) - [Exodus 7.16](/codex/exodus-7-16/) - [Ezekiel 1.1-3](/codex/ezekiel-1-1-3/) - [Ezekiel 28.11-17](/codex/ezekiel-28-11-17/) - [Ezekiel 36](/codex/ezekiel-36/) - [Ezekiel 37.24-28](/codex/ezekiel-37-24-28/) - [Ezekiel 39](/codex/ezekiel-39/) - [Ezra 1.1-2](/codex/ezra-1-1-2/) - [Ezra 2](/codex/ezra-2/) - [Ezra 7.6](/codex/ezra-7-6/) - [Genesis 1.14-19](/codex/genesis-1-14-19/) - [Genesis 1.21](/codex/genesis-1-21/) - [Genesis 1.24-28](/codex/genesis-1-24-28/) - [Genesis 1.28](/codex/genesis-1-28/) - [Genesis 1.29](/codex/genesis-1-29/) - [Genesis 11](/codex/genesis-11/) - [Genesis 2.18](/codex/genesis-2-18/) - [Genesis 2.4](/codex/genesis-2-4/) - [Genesis 20.3](/codex/genesis-20-3/) - [Genesis 22.11-18](/codex/genesis-22-11-18/) - [Genesis 22.12](/codex/genesis-22-12/) - [Genesis 28](/codex/genesis-28/) - [Genesis 28.10-22](/codex/genesis-28-10-22/) - [Genesis 3](/codex/genesis-3/) - [Genesis 3.8](/codex/genesis-3-8/) - [Genesis 31.11-13](/codex/genesis-31-11-13/) - [Genesis 32.30](/codex/genesis-32-30/) - [Genesis 48.15-16](/codex/genesis-48-15-16/) - [Genesis 6.1-4](/codex/genesis-6-1-4/) - [Genesis 6.11-12](/codex/genesis-6-11-12/) - [Genesis 6.13-14](/codex/genesis-6-13-14/) - [Genesis 6.2](/codex/genesis-6-2/) - [Genesis 6.4](/codex/genesis-6-4/) - [Genesis 9.1](/codex/genesis-9-1/) - [Genesis 9.26](/codex/genesis-9-26/) - [Hebrews 11.3](/codex/hebrews-11-3/) - [Hosea 12.3](/codex/hosea-12-3/) - [Hosea 12.3-5](/codex/hosea-12-3-5/) - [Hosea 13.4](/codex/hosea-13-4/) - [Hosea 2.21-23](/codex/hosea-2-21-23/) - [Hosea 4.12](/codex/hosea-4-12/) - [Hosea 4.6](/codex/hosea-4-6/) - [Hosea 5.4](/codex/hosea-5-4/) - [Hosea 9.10](/codex/hosea-9-10/) - [Isaiah 13](/codex/isaiah-13/) - [Isaiah 21](/codex/isaiah-21/) - [Isaiah 35.4-5](/codex/isaiah-35-4-5/) - [Isaiah 37.34-38](/codex/isaiah-37-34-38/) - [Isaiah 40](/codex/isaiah-40/) - [Isaiah 40.3](/codex/isaiah-40-3/) - [Isaiah 40.3-5](/codex/isaiah-40-3-5/) - [Isaiah 40.8](/codex/isaiah-40-8/) - [Isaiah 41.10](/codex/isaiah-41-10/) - [Isaiah 41.17](/codex/isaiah-41-17/) - [Isaiah 42.1-5](/codex/isaiah-42-1-5/) - [Isaiah 43.1](/codex/isaiah-43-1/) - [Isaiah 43.15](/codex/isaiah-43-15/) - [Isaiah 45.12](/codex/isaiah-45-12/) - [Isaiah 45.18](/codex/isaiah-45-18/) - [Isaiah 45.21](/codex/isaiah-45-21/) - [Isaiah 45.5](/codex/isaiah-45-5/) - [Isaiah 45.5-7](/codex/isaiah-45-5-7/) - [Isaiah 45.7](/codex/isaiah-45-7/) - [Isaiah 46.10](/codex/isaiah-46-10/) - [Isaiah 49.1-7](/codex/isaiah-49-1-7/) - [Isaiah 53.1-12](/codex/isaiah-53-1-12/) - [Isaiah 53.4](/codex/isaiah-53-4/) - [Isaiah 61.1-2](/codex/isaiah-61-1-2/) - [Isaiah 61.1-6](/codex/isaiah-61-1-6/) - [Isaiah 61.2](/codex/isaiah-61-2/) - [Isaiah 62](/codex/isaiah-62/) - [Jeremiah 28.13-14](/codex/jeremiah-28-13-14/) - [Jeremiah 31.29-34](/codex/jeremiah-31-29-34/) - [Jeremiah 32.27](/codex/jeremiah-32-27/) - [Jeremiah 32.38-39](/codex/jeremiah-32-38-39/) - [Jeremiah 7.18](/codex/jeremiah-7-18/) - [Job 1.6-8](/codex/job-1-6-8/) - [John 1.1-18](/codex/john-1-1-18/) - [John 1.1-3](/codex/john-1-1-3/) - [Jonah 3.10](/codex/jonah-3-10/) - [Joshua 24.26](/codex/joshua-24-26/) - [Joshua 8.30-35](/codex/joshua-8-30-35/) - [Judges 13.3-22](/codex/judges-13-3-22/) - [Judges 2.1-5](/codex/judges-2-1-5/) - [Judges 4](/codex/judges-4/) - [Judges 6.11-24](/codex/judges-6-11-24/) - [Leviticus 19.2](/codex/leviticus-19-2/) - [Leviticus 19.33-34](/codex/leviticus-19-33-34/) - [Leviticus 19.34](/codex/leviticus-19-34/) - [Leviticus 25.39-43](/codex/leviticus-25-39-43/) - [Leviticus 26.13](/codex/leviticus-26-13/) - [Malachi 2.10](/codex/malachi-2-10/) - [Malachi 2.15](/codex/malachi-2-15/) - [Micah 5](/codex/micah-5/) - [Numbers 22.22-35](/codex/numbers-22-22-35/) - [Numbers 25](/codex/numbers-25/) - [Numbers 25.1-3](/codex/numbers-25-1-3/) - [Proverbs 1.7](/codex/proverbs-1-7/) - [Proverbs 17.14](/codex/proverbs-17-14/) - [Proverbs 4.7](/codex/proverbs-4-7/) - [Psalms 104.30](/codex/psalms-104-30/) - [Psalms 136](/codex/psalms-136/) - [Psalms 143.10](/codex/psalms-143-10/) - [Psalms 27](/codex/psalms-27/) - [Psalms 33.12](/codex/psalms-33-12/) - [Psalms 42.1](/codex/psalms-42-1/) - [Psalms 42.5](/codex/psalms-42-5/) - [Psalms 45.6](/codex/psalms-45-6/) - [Psalms 46.1](/codex/psalms-46-1/) - [Psalms 49.15](/codex/psalms-49-15/) - [Psalms 5.2](/codex/psalms-5-2/) - [Psalms 51](/codex/psalms-51/) - [Psalms 51.1-2](/codex/psalms-51-1-2/) - [Psalms 51.10](/codex/psalms-51-10/) - [Psalms 51.16-19](/codex/psalms-51-16-19/) - [Psalms 53.1](/codex/psalms-53-1/) - [Psalms 55.12-14](/codex/psalms-55-12-14/) - [Psalms 68.18](/codex/psalms-68-18/) - [Psalms 68.31](/codex/psalms-68-31/) - [Psalms 68.5](/codex/psalms-68-5/) - [Psalms 8.5](/codex/psalms-8-5/) - [Psalms 82.1-8](/codex/psalms-82-1-8/) - [Psalms 82.6](/codex/psalms-82-6/) - [Psalms 82.6-7](/codex/psalms-82-6-7/) - [Psalms 86.10](/codex/psalms-86-10/) - [Psalms 90.17](/codex/psalms-90-17/) - [Psalms 91.1-2](/codex/psalms-91-1-2/) - [Psalms 91.2](/codex/psalms-91-2/) - [Romans 1.20](/codex/romans-1-20/) - [Zechariah 12](/codex/zechariah-12/) **Other pages:** - [Light of Day 1, Christological Reading](/codex/light-of-day-1-christological-reading/) --- _Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_