The Uncreation

God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:31  NASB All that He had made – Gutenberg destroyed the Bible.  Oh, yes, he printed it in German, but in the process he forever changed that way we understand the…

A Space for Time

He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name.  Psalm 111:9  NASB Forever – How long is forever?  Ah, that might seem like a strange question, but the term lʿôlām doesn’t always mean what we think of as forever.  Note two explanations: Forever does not always mean…

Radical Amazement

In the beginning God created . . . Genesis 1:1 NASB God created – We have often heard the statement that the Hebraic cosmogony is different from all other ancient accounts of creation.  It lacks the explicit or implicit overtones of violence, sexuality and conflict, as other ancient accounts include.  It emphasizes the particular creation…

Homo Ex Nihilo

“But where can wisdom be found?  And where is the place of understanding?”  Job 28:12  NASB Where – What is the source of wisdom?  Where do you go to get understanding?  “Just tell me where to look so that I can find the answers,” seems to be the consistent cry of those who have embarked on…

Strangers in a Strange Land

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Genesis 1:1 NASB Created – Why do we love sunsets? Or being at the ocean? Or viewing majestic mountain ranges? Do you have the same feelings when you see city streets, tall buildings or sports stadiums? Why are we so thrilled with natural beauty? Even…

The Creation of the ‘Olam Ha’ba

in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the [c]world. Hebrews 1:2 NASB The world – At least they added a footnote. The footnote indicates that the Greek word here is not “cosmos,” the word we would have expected in a translation such as “world”…

Once More With Feeling

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;  Genesis 1:26a NASB Image/likeness – Michelangelo’s ceiling artistry is arguably the most famous painting in the world about the creation of Man. It’s magnificent, isn’t it? But have you ever thought about what it communicates? Let’s consider the meaning behind the media. First,…

Incomplete Creation

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 NASB Not good – God looked at His own work and decided it wasn’t good enough. Don’t you find that a bit surprising? Doesn’t God create perfectly? But here we have evidence…

Restart

In the beginning . . . Genesis 1:1 (virtually all translations) Beginning – If you have been paying attention for the last few years, you know that the opening word of Scripture is bere’shit. It does not mean “in the beginning.” If it did, it would require a definite article (“the”) incorporated into the word…

The Difference

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 NASB Eternal life – Let’s not get wrapped up in the Trinitarian implications here. Just remember that Yeshua says (or at least John says that he says) that eternal life is about knowing…