The Alpha: In The Beginning

Genesis 1:1-4

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

Theological Implications of Genesis 1:

From Genesis 1 alone, it is hard not to see the intentionality and brilliance of the created order and the complexity that reflects the immensely glorious and infinitely multifaceted master-mind of a Triune God as the Creator. I've talked to a few Orthodox and Progressive Jews about the book of Genesis and how it points to a Triune GOD. While the conversations have proved fruitful and thought-provoking, they have often inspired me to go back and take a microscopic look into the parts of Genesis that might either highlight or dispute the Trinitarian nature of GOD.

Within the first page of the Bible, it's clear to see at least two of the three persons of the Trinity are explicitly mentioned. In all of Genesis, the word for GOD in the Hebrew that is most often used is Elohim. In the Hebrew, when Elohim is when used of the one true living GOD, it is used in the singular, as a composite unity. But when it is used of false gods it is used in the plural. It is a plural noun. I have had this discussion with Jewish friends who care to know about the Christian understanding of the Trinity. Our conversation usually centers around Genesis 1:26 which says,

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

The Jewish tradition gives an argument that usually goes something along the lines of, "God was merely speaking to the heavenly hosts as a reference to 'us' and 'our'." Yet, the name of God as Elohim would not permit that. "Let us make man in OUR image" is an appeal to self; not to God and the angels. God is speaking of Himself and with Himself in the plural number. Another article lays out another possible argument:

"Others would say this is a reference to the fullness of the divine power and attributes He possesses. This only part of it as God’s Divine Being is more than His powers and attributes for within contains persons. He would not be speaking to his attributes but to that which can respond." (Let Us Reason, 2009)

Furthermore, several other parts of Genesis refers to the person of God as Spirit. According to Genesis 1:2, "The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Interestingly enough, Scripture tells us that the Spirit of God precedes the Word of God which spoke matter into existence. Although Genesis doesn't tell us the purpose behind the Spirit "hovering over" the face of the waters, it is clear that the author goes out of the way to highlight the fact that the Spirit of GOD (in Hebrew "Ruah" which in its primary sense means breath, air, wind, is present in this verse) is present and is distinguished from the word Elohim.

Lastly, I spent time highlighting verses with theological significance and I found Genesis 1:27 to be thoroughly fascinating. Let me highlight aspects of this text which I found thoroughly engaging.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them"

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them"

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them"

In just one verse, the subject of God is repeated three times; the act of "created" is mentioned three times; and the "image of God", which the original blueprint of mankind is based and also reveals the unity amidst diversity of the Godhead as a reflection of mankind as "male and female," are present and mentioned three times.

Personal Implications of Genesis 1:

Welcome. This is the universe of the Triune Godhead of Elohim. It is both created and sustained by His word (Hebrews 1:3). Throughout all of Scripture the plurality of these persons make Himself intelligible simultaneously through the Father, as revealed through the Son, and confirmed by the Holy Spirit-- all in perfect unity within Himself. This is the God to whom all earth worships and sings praises to (Psalms 66:4). This is the God to whom the very stones cry out in worship (Luke 19:40). This is our God to whom absolutely everyone is accountable to and is without excuse-- "for His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world" (Romans 1:20). But this is only the beginning of what was meant to be a perfect world. Praise God for Genesis. Because this is only the beginning...