A Literal Theistic Evolutionary Reading of Genesis 1

By the way, if you are wondering why I like the Matthew's Bible the best, it's because on facebook every scholar is challenged by the Tyndale challenge. Everybody comes out liking the Matthew's Bible the best. I don't know every scholar on FB, only friends with a few. I see there is a huge crowd of them in many various groups I'm in. I try my best to learn from the best and fortunately on facebook there are some real good ones that truly set high standards for the rest of us. Its a matter of dedication and discipline for most of them. You can always tell who is very discipline from those who aren't as disciplined. It's really the discipline that makes a scholar great -- discipline due to serious dedication. So speaking only for myself, I try my best to learn things the right way, applying proper exegesis and learning how to handle Scripture with the highest respect and responsibility. My biggest fear is being a false witness or saying something that isn't true. I am always concerned about this. This is why there are many views in theology I have not committed myself to a certain viewpoint yet. I remain silent on those things I know little about.

Ragdoll said:

I also read and study Scripture. I have an armory of study tools and 84 Bibles of various translations and languages. I read Hebrew, Greek and Latin and prefer those Bibles over the English ones. But the English Bibles I like the most are as listed in order of best to least best:

1. 1537 Matthew's Bible (the crown jewel of English translations).
2. 1539 Great Bible
3. 1535 Coverdale Bible
4. 1568 Bishop's Bible
5. 1769 King James Oxford Edition
6. 1611 King James
7. NKJV
8. MEV (best for Genesis chapter 1)
9. The Orthodox Study Bible
10. ESV (best for Genesis chapter 1)
11. RSV
12. HCSB
13. NIV (1978 & 1984 Editions only)
14. YLT
15. NLT

These are the English Bibles I usually consult but there are others as well. I have many lexicons that cover everything, including lexicons for the Greek Septuagint. There are words in the LXX that do not appear in the New Testament. So the Strong's does not cover all the Greek words used in the Old Testament. The only lexicon I no longer use is the BDB. That lexicon is not good for much. I'll even consult the NIV lexicon before the BDB and that NIV - a 5 volume lexicon - is extremely liberal as though Antifa wrote it. But as much as I detest that lexicon, its actually more useful in study than the BDB. The BDB just regurgitates everything in the KJV. I already have plenty of KJV Bibles. Don't have no use for the BDB when I have many KJVs lol! But the most reliable lexicon I have is the Strong's. You cannot ever go wrong with the Strong's. Hey, I didn't try to make that rhyme lol! But can't go wrong with the Strong's.

Then there are commentaries. These can be very useful but not as useful as I find lexicons. I have many commentaries and some are better than others. I have many tools and find them all useful for my study purposes.

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Yes, at times when a verse has a real mystery, I go past my normal list to look at (along of course with related cross reference verses and their passages) the Hebrew or Greek with Strong's , at biblehub -- Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. -- that's all down the page under the translations (and also at times YLT is useful too). But as I always say to people now, the main thing to help us most by far is to just read through fully (entire chapters at a time, and also entire books instead of pieces) with listening, first and foremost. (And another very helpful thing I try to point out to first or second time readers is that sometimes they need to just wait, and continue reading, more fully through the Bible, for something to more fully open up.)

And about the NLT (New Living Translation). I think this is a Bible more suitable for Pastors and Bible students than for beginners. Why? Because an experienced reader of the Bible can see through the bad renditions and see the better renderings that are useful for teaching. The beginner needs a more accurate translation. If the NLT could be revised to correct some of the bad renderings, then I suppose I would go out of my way to promote than translation. Its easy enough to read. I just think it needs a serious revision.

Ragdoll said:

And about the NLT (New Living Translation). I think this is a Bible more suitable for Pastors and Bible students than for beginners. Why? Because an experienced reader of the Bible can see through the bad renditions and see the better renderings that are useful for teaching. The beginner needs a more accurate translation. If the NLT could be revised to correct some of the bad renderings, then I suppose I would go out of my way to promote than translation. Its easy enough to read. I just think it needs a serious revision.

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The NLT being so paraphrased is a way to help someone at times. But it can have a real cost at times (of course), and that's a good reason just like you seem to suggest to never recommend it to a first or 2nd time reader.
To tell the young reader: get rid of that NLT immediately!
Here's one of the worst instances, on one of the most divinely wonderful verses in all of the entire bible:

(I'm going to leave out the NLT at first, and put it later)

New International Version
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(NLT here, but I'll move it to the end)

English Standard Version
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Berean Study Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Berean Literal Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

King James Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

New King James Version
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

New American Standard Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

NASB 1995
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
...
Christian Standard Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

American Standard Version
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Literal Standard Version
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;

New American Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

NET Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.

New Revised Standard Version
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

New Heart English Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Weymouth New Testament
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

World English Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Young's Literal Translation
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;

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And the awful thing the NLT does to this transcendent divine wording:


New Living Translation
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.


It's so...so bad to just insert some extraneous doctrinal point into perfect divine wording, that I didn't even want to copy the NLT version here....

Ragdoll said:

While God is light, the light God created was not Himself. There are no ancient scholars who interpret the light as God creating Himself.
View attachment 315600

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But He did create Himself in the flesh....Jesus.
Jesus was at the very beginning of the origin of creation.


“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;”
— Revelation 3:14 (KJV)
Colossians 1 (KJV)
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¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Unless you dispute scripture and are a non-trinity believer then I think that light could very be God...His Shekana Glory shining and separating good from evil.

Heart2Soul said:

But He did create Himself in the flesh....Jesus.
Jesus was at the very beginning of the origin of creation.


“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;”
— Revelation 3:14 (KJV)
Colossians 1 (KJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Unless you dispute scripture and are a non-trinity believer then I think that light could very be God...His Shekana Glory shining and separating good from evil.

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Jesus is co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit. The verse is not figurative. The whole chapter is about the literal creation of the heavens and earth and everything therein.

True, Jesus is the light of the world. But that is not what Gen.1:3 is speaking about when God creates the light. Jesus in the flesh didn't happen until 2000 years ago.

Ragdoll said:

Jesus is co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit. The verse is not figurative. The whole chapter is about the literal creation of the heavens and earth and everything therein.

True, Jesus is the light of the world. But that is not what Gen.1:3 is speaking about when God creates the light. Jesus in the flesh didn't happen until 2000 years ago.

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But Jesus said Himself that He is who was, who is and who is to come....
Also Jesus said..
John 8 (KJV)
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⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
⁵⁷ Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
⁵⁸ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

In the beginning was the Word...the Word was with God, the Word was God and the Word became flesh...

John 1 (KJV)
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⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

…
¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
God spoke