In the beginning, world's best elevator speech

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Bible begins with the expression “In the Beginning”.

Fiction writers invented the expression “Once upon a time” and we read them in bedtime stories from childhood days. The expression “Once upon a time” suggests that according to the author the event happened at a certain point in time in history and is unsure when it happened. Such an expression also suggests there are events that have happened prior to this moment.

If Bible began with an expression, ‘Once upon a time God created heavens and earth’, it would have led to the obvious question what God created prior to this moment.

The expression “In the Beginning” refers to the very beginning of time. It was a point in time where time itself was introduced. It was a point in time where the Spiritual initiated the physical. Time is necessary for the physical world to function unlike the spiritual world which is not time bound. For them a thousand years is like a day (2 Pet 3:8) of ours.

This expression was well endorsed by John in his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and Word was God” (John 1:1). This confirms few important things. God used his own speech to initiate the creation. He could not have used anything else as nothing else existed besides the Trinity. The Word was from God, and the Word was God.

If John 1:1 had begun with a random and fanciful expression “In the beginning was the matter”, it would have led the natural man into the greatest confusion as to when the matter was created. So, if matter existed in the beginning, it is no more the beginning. So, when is the real beginning?

Gen 1:1 says, In the beginning God created heavens and the earth. This marks the beginning of all beginnings.

One misplaced word would have turned Bible into a careless myth. But take heart, Bible is authored by one of the Trinity itself, the Holy Spirit, who existed even before time began, through humans who submitted to the Holy Spirit. Our job is to read Bible in faith.

Gen 1:1 is a grand summary statement of the introduction of the entire physical. It would remain the greatest and the best elevator speech for all times to come, till the time, time exists.  

 

Prakash T John


Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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