Creation
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Creation
In Genesis 1:3, God created light and separated the darkness and the light into day and night. If the sun, moon, and stars were not created until Day 4, how does the light of verse 3 relate to the lights of verse 14?
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
The light of the first day was, I presume, the light of the glory of God Himself. This is nowhere stated in direct terms, but there is probably a hint in this direction in the description of the New Heavens and the New Earth where we read that "the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it..." (Rev.21:23).
I see the successive creative acts of the creation week as representing the various stages of the work of God in the life of the believer, who is "a new creation" (2 Cor.5:17).
I am inclined to believe that the difference between the light that was directly from God (first day) and that which was entrusted to "light-bearers" (fourth day) was symbolically significant, in that the original light that is experienced by the new believer in becoming "a new creation" is direct illumination from God:
"For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor.4:6)
The light-bearers (sun, moon and stars) which came later seem to speak of the church's commission to be the light of the world (Matt.5:14/Eph.5:8/ Phil.2:15), a function that is fully realized later in the believer's experience (Dan.12:3/ Matt.13:43).
If one were to look for them, he can find many similar parallels between the creation week and the work of God in the new creation.
In addition to its symbolic value, the creation of light and life prior to the creation of the sun may serve a very practical purpose in declaring that the real origin of life is not the sun (worshipped as such by the heathen), but God Himself.
I see the successive creative acts of the creation week as representing the various stages of the work of God in the life of the believer, who is "a new creation" (2 Cor.5:17).
I am inclined to believe that the difference between the light that was directly from God (first day) and that which was entrusted to "light-bearers" (fourth day) was symbolically significant, in that the original light that is experienced by the new believer in becoming "a new creation" is direct illumination from God:
"For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor.4:6)
The light-bearers (sun, moon and stars) which came later seem to speak of the church's commission to be the light of the world (Matt.5:14/Eph.5:8/ Phil.2:15), a function that is fully realized later in the believer's experience (Dan.12:3/ Matt.13:43).
If one were to look for them, he can find many similar parallels between the creation week and the work of God in the new creation.
In addition to its symbolic value, the creation of light and life prior to the creation of the sun may serve a very practical purpose in declaring that the real origin of life is not the sun (worshipped as such by the heathen), but God Himself.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
In Jesus,
Steve
Steve
I agree with Steve, although I have something interesting to add. John begins his Gospel by talking about the "light that shined in darkness." That's an obvious reference to the light that appeared when God said "Let there be light" in Genesis 1. But notice what else John says about it:
"In Him [Jesus] was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in darkness, but the darkness could not overcome it. ...That was the true Light which lights every man who comes into the world."
What light (of men) which is life, lights every man who comes into the world? Well, consider how it was that Adam was given life: God breathed His Spirit into him, and he became a "living soul", a breathing creature. IT'S THE SPIRIT WHICH GIVES LIFE (John 6:63). Therefore, it was the Holy Spirit who lit up like a star on that first day of Creation!
By the way, does that give you any idea what the Star of Bethlehem might have been?
Anciently, a star or other "great light" - a-la Isaiah 9:2 - was commonly understood to be a sign heralding a messiah, an "anointed one". This understanding came directly out of the symbolism of the light of the first day of Creation. It wasn't just the Jews who understood this either. It was understood this way in Egypt and Mesopotamia as well.
Also, the Holy Spirit isn't only responsible for giving spiritual life to man at baptism. He is also responsible for giving physical life to man at birth, when the baby takes its first breath.
Damon
"In Him [Jesus] was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in darkness, but the darkness could not overcome it. ...That was the true Light which lights every man who comes into the world."
What light (of men) which is life, lights every man who comes into the world? Well, consider how it was that Adam was given life: God breathed His Spirit into him, and he became a "living soul", a breathing creature. IT'S THE SPIRIT WHICH GIVES LIFE (John 6:63). Therefore, it was the Holy Spirit who lit up like a star on that first day of Creation!
By the way, does that give you any idea what the Star of Bethlehem might have been?
Anciently, a star or other "great light" - a-la Isaiah 9:2 - was commonly understood to be a sign heralding a messiah, an "anointed one". This understanding came directly out of the symbolism of the light of the first day of Creation. It wasn't just the Jews who understood this either. It was understood this way in Egypt and Mesopotamia as well.
Also, the Holy Spirit isn't only responsible for giving spiritual life to man at baptism. He is also responsible for giving physical life to man at birth, when the baby takes its first breath.
Damon
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason: