thinking bible.

You asked

what ancient near eastern creation stories might the genesis author have been responding to or engaging with?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The book of Genesis begins with a foundational narrative describing the creation of the cosmos. This opening account sets the stage for the entire biblical story, establishing God as the sole creator of everything that exists.

What does this passage communicate about the nature of creation, distinct from creation stories you might be familiar with?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Psalm 104:1-9

    This psalm offers a poetic retelling of creation, emphasizing God's grandeur and ordering of the natural world.

  • John 1:1-3

    The Gospel of John echoes Genesis, presenting Jesus as the divine 'Word' through whom all things were created.

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