Genesis 1:1-26

GENESIS—NOTE ON Genesis 1:1 Primeval History. Genesis 1:1 surveys the history of the world before Abraham, while chs. Genesis 12:1 focus on one main family. There are no real parallels to chs. Genesis 12:1 in the literature of other ancient civilizations. However, other ancient stories do exist about both creation and the flood. These stories stand in sharp contrast to the biblical account. Generally they depict creation as a great struggle, often involving conflict between the gods. For example, they claim that the flood was sent because the gods could not stand the noise made by human beings but were unable to control it in any other way. Genesis 1:1 disproves such stories by its teachings. There is only one God, whose word is almighty. He spoke the world into being. The sun and moon are not gods in their own right but are created by the one God. It is human sin that prompts the flood. These principles in Genesis 1:1 run through the rest of Scripture.