Out of Nothing?

Imagine you pick up a book titled “Coren returns from Ireland.”

Where would you expect the story to begin?

Every story starts somewhere.

… Probably in Ireland. The book is about my return journey; therefore, it would make sense if it began with me wandering the streets of Dublin looking for a bus to hop on or a boat to sail.

Now imagine opening a different book and reading the first line: “Coren returns from Ireland.”

Now this is no longer a title announcing the story but, instead, it is the first sentence of the story. After reading this opening line, you would assume that I am no longer in Ireland but that I have just completed my return journey. The trip has already happened.

The placement of “Coren returns from Ireland” alters the line’s meaning and changes its impact on the story.

As a title, it prepares the reader for the entire story to come.

As an opening line, it is the story, describing what happens.

Why does this matter?

Well, I’m wondering if something similar to this has happened with one of humanity's most foundational writings: Genesis.

If you open your Bible, you’ll find the title of the first writing to be “Genesis.” Below it, you’ll see a subtitle that reads something like “Creation” or “The History of Creation.” Then comes the opening line, Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Here is the problem: Genesis is a Greek title that was added once the Old Testament writings were being translated into Greek, long after the original account was written.

The subtitle “Creation” was not added until even later, when the writing was finally translated into English.

But what is the actual title, the one the original author chose?

In ancient literature, writings were often identified by their opening words rather than by the big, bold headlines commonly used today.

Could Genesis 1:1 have had that function? Could it be that this well-known line is not part of the opening event at all, but is instead a heading?

What if this account was never supposed to be called “Genesis,” but was instead intended to be known as “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth?”

… And we have accidentally not only added two excessive titles in its stead but have also been reading the title as the beginning of the story.

The “Coren returns from Ireland” example above showed just how impactful the positioning of a title or opening line can be.

In the case of Genesis, such a change would have a significant impact on the rest of the creation account.

Let me explain:

Reading “Genesis” as the title and “In the beginning …” as the opening line creates the following meaning:

First, in Genesis 1:1, God created the heavens and the earth. Then, as we move into Genesis 1:2, the narrative that began in the first line simply continues: After God created heaven and earth, the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep … and so on.

What happened in the beginning?

Before creation.

Alternatively, accepting Genesis 1:1 as the title would mean that “God created the heavens and the earth” is not a process that began and was completed before we move on to Genesis 1:2. Instead, it is a title that summarizes the entire creation process.

The actual narrative would then begin in Genesis 1:2 …

“The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

When read this way, these first lines in the Bible no longer describe God’s first creative act. Rather, they describe the state of existence before creation!

Then, in Genesis 1:3, everything changes: God speaks. Creation begins.

Taking Genesis 1:1 and placing it in the appropriate position at the head of the writing as the title offers a completely different perspective:

God no longer created out of nothing.

Instead, something else already existed.

And God spoke light into it.

So, what existed before God spoke?

Stay tuned to read about that in Part II.

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