In recent weeks I have written a series of blogs about the first verses of Genesis and related topics, because I had received questions about them. I have particularly discussed the so-called doctrine of restitution, which presupposes a judgment between Gen.1:1 and 1:2 and reads that judgment into 2 Peter 3:6.
hole
If one has this view, one must assume that Gen. 1:2 states that the earth has become desolate and empty, so that a gap “arises” between the creation of the heavens and the earth and the moment the earth “has become” desolate and empty. This judgment can be placed in the space that is thus created. In the previous blog we saw that Peter does not talk about a flood in the time of Genesis 1, but speaks about the flood in the days of Noah.
Most current translations render Genesis 1:1 roughly the same:
– In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (KJV)
– In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (ESV and NIV)
– In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (NKJV)
formless beginning
The discussion surrounding the next verse is usually whether the earth was, or became, or has become, without form and void. I have indicated in my blogs that the translation choice for became or has become is not evidence for a judgment between Gen.1:1 and 1:2. God initially created the earth desolate and empty, just as every artist and master builder (Heb. 11:10) begins with a formless beginning. The beginning of man is also like this (Ps.139:16)!
alternative translations
To my surprise, I was pointed out from various sources to translations that are based on an alternative reading that fits seamlessly with what I have put forward about the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Young’s Literal Translation
The first one I want to mention is an English translation: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT). The YLT is a translation from 1862 and is not just a translation that was made for “pleasant reading”, but the creator, Robert Young, had the intention of making a translation that is as close as possible to the original text. It goes too far to say more about it here, but the page on Wikipedia about the YLT provides more information and this can also be found in other places on the internet.
The translation of the first verses of Genesis 1 in the YLT shows that God created the earth in the beginning desolate and empty.
Genesis 1
1 In the beginning of God’s preparing the heavens and the earth-
2 the earth hath existed waste and void, and darkness on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God fluttering on the face of the waters, –
3 and God said, “Let light be”, and light is.
the Naardense Bible
The aim of the Naardense Bible is to translate literally. When reading, you notice that certain translation choices have been made that make the translation sound more poetic than other translations. A brief explanation of the choices that have been made can be read on the Naardense Bible website. The idea that God created a formless beginning and from there began to fill and order it can also be found here in the translation of the first verses of Genesis.
1 In the beginning God began to create,
– the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth in its creation became desolate and confused,
and darkness upon the face of the deep,
-and spirit breath of God swirling over the face of the waters.
3 Then God says: let there be light!
-and light comes.
the Dutch Concordant Translation
Finally, I would like to mention the Dutch Concordante Translation (NCV), which is published on the Concordante Publications website. A translation of the New Testament is available from the NCV and a free app with an interlinear. Work has recently begun on translating the Old Testament, a project that will not be completed for the time being. In an article, the authors of the NCV propose to translate the first verses of Genesis 1 as follows:
1 When God began to create the heavens and the land,
2 – the land was chaos and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep, and the spirit of God fluttered over the face of the water–
3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
In this translation, the main sentence of verse 1 continues into verse 3 and verse 2 is a parenthetical sentence. In the article mentioned, the makers of the NCV provide a plausible explanation for this translation choice.