Question on Genesis 1:3

[IowaPastor]

Hello everyone!

Just so you know, I also posted this question in the Spirit Filled/Charismatic section as well (yesterday).

I have a question on Genesis 1:3. This came up in Sunday school; it was posed by the adult who is assisting me with the youth (middle school) class. I really sent myself up for this one when I started the class asking them if anyone had any questions on any topic. What was I thinking!!??

The Scripture states (in KJV): "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." My initial thought was that perhaps God was the light (because we know in the New Heaven and New Earth there will be no sun or moon because the Lord will be the light). Also, perhaps this verse is an abbreviated account of what is discussed in more detail later on.

I've done a bit of research and have a few thoughts jotted down. My first note...I have no idea where it came from! Indicates that's it's not totally possible to know the light source. This initial light source was temporary; replaced by the sun on day four. Light is energy, light is fundamental, more so than light givers (sun, moon, stars).

Then from Genesis in the Cokesbury Basic Bible Study Commentary: light comes not from the sun, moon, or stars. They just carry the light (perhaps reflect would be a better word?) and help to mark day and night. "God is the source" (p. 16) Life can only exsist where there is light; thus light was created before life.

I found this question to be most interesting and have been mulling it over since Sunday.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[wildboar]

God created light itself and then the sun and moon were created later on. What the light would have looked like exactly is not stated.

 

[ebia]

Hello everyone!

Just so you know, I also posted this question in the Spirit Filled/Charismatic section as well (yesterday).

I have a question on Genesis 1:3. This came up in Sunday school; it was posed by the adult who is assisting me with the youth (middle school) class. I really sent myself up for this one when I started the class asking them if anyone had any questions on any topic. What was I thinking!!??

The Scripture states (in KJV): "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." My initial thought was that perhaps God was the light (because we know in the New Heaven and New Earth there will be no sun or moon because the Lord will be the light). Also, perhaps this verse is an abbreviated account of what is discussed in more detail later on.

I've done a bit of research and have a few thoughts jotted down. My first note...I have no idea where it came from! Indicates that's it's not totally possible to know the light source. This initial light source was temporary; replaced by the sun on day four. Light is energy, light is fundamental, more so than light givers (sun, moon, stars).

Then from Genesis in the Cokesbury Basic Bible Study Commentary: light comes not from the sun, moon, or stars. They just carry the light (perhaps reflect would be a better word?) and help to mark day and night. "God is the source" (p. 16) Life can only exsist where there is light; thus light was created before life.

I found this question to be most interesting and have been mulling it over since Sunday.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!

Genesis was written at a time when people did not realise that all the light that lightens the earth comes from the sun. They understood that the sun came up during the day, but not that it provided all that light - after all the sky also seems bright, it is still light (albeit less so) when the sun is covered by cloud, and so on.

Genesis 1 is amazing literature about the order-bringing, creative power of the one true God, about where we stand in creation, and so on. But it is written in terms of the cosmology of 3,000 years ago - trying to read it in terms of science is silly.

 

[SoldierInGodsArmy]

What Ebia said was interesting. I look at this and say, God created light. Does that mean there was light? No, just means it came into existence. Light was allowed, but wasn't used. Do you get what I mean?

Since Moses a typical human wrote Genesis, I imagine he was referring to light as we see it (from the sun), what lets us see (physically). When the Bible speaks of God BEING the light, its referring to a spiritual level, which is not with our physical eyes.

Just as the commentary said, REFLECT, Gods greatness is like light, its EVERYWHERE (give or take a few spaces *cough* Africa *cough*), and to belong to the light (God) of this world (universe), is reflecting God to the world. We act as mirrors, when someone looks in us, they should see the "light of Christ".

I hope I did not confuse you, I would be glad to elabrote and reword more if you needed me too!

 

[IowaPastor]

What Ebia said was interesting. I look at this and say, God created light. Does that mean there was light? No, just means it came into existence. Light was allowed, but wasn't used. Do you get what I mean?

Since Moses a typical human wrote Genesis, I imagine he was referring to light as we see it (from the sun), what lets us see (physically). When the Bible speaks of God BEING the light, its referring to a spiritual level, which is not with our physical eyes.

Just as the commentary said, REFLECT, Gods greatness is like light, its EVERYWHERE (give or take a few spaces *cough* Africa *cough*), and to belong to the light (God) of this world (universe), is reflecting God to the world. We act as mirrors, when someone looks in us, they should see the "light of Christ".

I hope I did not confuse you, I would be glad to elabrote and reword more if you needed me too!

Thanks for your response. Would you mind elaborating on your first paragraph? I think I know what you're getting at but want to be sure.

Thanks again!

 

[IowaPastor]

Genesis was written at a time when people did not realise that all the light that lightens the earth comes from the sun. They understood that the sun came up during the day, but not that it provided all that light - after all the sky also seems bright, it is still light (albeit less so) when the sun is covered by cloud, and so on.

Genesis 1 is amazing literature about the order-bringing, creative power of the one true God, about where we stand in creation, and so on. But it is written in terms of the cosmology of 3,000 years ago - trying to read it in terms of science is silly.

Thanks so much for your response. I agree, Genesis 1 is amazing. But I also think that the whole of Scripture is amazing.

Blessings...

 

[IowaPastor]

God created light itself and then the sun and moon were created later on. What the light would have looked like exactly is not stated.

Thank you!

Be Blessed...

 

[SoldierInGodsArmy]

What Ebia said was interesting. I look at this and say, God created light. Does that mean there was light? No, just means it came into existence. Light was allowed, but wasn't used. Do you get what I mean?

Sure!

It's like having an empty cup. Water is allowed in it, but is there actually any water in it? No. In the same way, God created light, light was as of now allowed in the world. But was there any light? No.

Just because something is allowed or in existence, doesn't mean it has to actually be there.

 

[IowaPastor]

Sure!

It's like having an empty cup. Water is allowed in it, but is there actually any water in it? No. In the same way, God created light, light was as of now allowed in the world. But was there any light? No.

Just because something is allowed or in existence, doesn't mean it has to actually be there.

Thanks!

 

[JHM]

Try the "Big Bang'. That would have created LOTS of light, before any of the stars galaxies planets etc. existed.

 

[SoldierInGodsArmy]

The Big Bang theory is when God took his hands and went ..BAM!

 

[IowaPastor]

The Big Bang theory is when God took his hands and went ..BAM!

Great response!

Be Blessed...