The First Day. -Genesis 1:1-5

Genesis 1:1-5 ESV
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 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.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Genesis 1:1-5 LXX
εν αρχη εποιησεν ο θεοσ τον ουρανον και την γην 2 η δε γη ην αορατοσ και ακατασκευαστοσ και σκοτοσ επανω τησ αβυσσου και πνευμα θεου επεφερετο επανω του υδατοσ 3 και ειπεν ο θεοσ γενηθητω φωσ και εγενετο φωσ 4 και ειδεν ο θεοσ το φωσ οτι καλον και διεχωρισεν ο θεοσ ανα μεσον του φωτοσ και ανα μεσον του σκοτουσ 5 και εκαλεσεν ο θεοσ το φωσ ημεραν και το σκοτοσ εκαλεσεν νυκτα και εγενετο εσπερα και εγενετο πρωι ημερα μια

It would seem that heaven and earth were created at the same time, at the beginning of time. Earth is the focus of the Bible, for the Bible is for us, though God's wisdom and glory will revealed to heaven and earth by the church brought forth by the Word of God. The story of creation is told using the framework of seven days, the number which implies perfection. It has become the template for our measurement of time we call a week. Then the days start over, which can remind us that this earth is passing away.

The earth comes into existence, but without form. The Greek word ακατασκευαστοσ, translated here as void, also carries the idea of "not ready". Darkness is present and is over the "face" of the deep. The Septuagint uses the Greek αβυσσου or abyss for deep, which is typically used to mean the bottomless pit, the home of demons. It is the place of darkness. Later we are introduced to the prince of darkness.

The waters come into view and we are told that the Spirit of God hovers, or moves over the "face" of the waters. We are told later by Jesus that one must be born of water and Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. The Greek word ἐπεφέρετο, translated here as "hover" carries an additional sense of judgement.

God begins to give order to creation. He brings forth light. Unlike the darkness, He calls the light good. He names them night and day. Again we see darkness precede the light. Through night and day, time is shown to have started and the first day is complete. The distinction of what is good and what is not begins.

Hovering

ἐπιφέρω [ἐπί, φέρω] – 1.bring on,inflict Ro 3:5 . – 2.attach, add Phil 1:16 f v.l. – 3.pronounce in a judicial sense Ac 25:18 v.l.; Jd 9 CGEL

ἐπιφέρω+ V 3-7-1-3-3-17 Gn 1:2; 7:18; 37:22; 1 Sm 22:17; 24:7 A: to bring, to put, to lay upon [τί τινι] Gn 37:22; to give [τί τινι] Jdt 8:8 ; P: to rush (upon) or (after) [ἐπάνω τινός] Gn 1:2; to be borne (on) [ἐπάνω τινός] Gn 7:18; to attack, to assault [τινι] 2 Mc 12:35; * Jb 15:12 LEH



2 Peter 3:5-7
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Ephesians 3:9-12
and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Colossians 1:16-20
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.