Beginnings in the Bible

The word "beginning" as well as the expression, "the beginning," are used in various ways in the Bible. It is not always referring to the beginning of the universe, or the beginning of the world of mankind, etc. The Hebrew word often transliterated as "Re'shiyth" [or, reshith - Strong's Hebrew #7225], is translated "beginning" in connection with the creation of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), and of the angels before the creation of the heavens and the earth (Proverbs 8:22). The Greek word often transliterated as "arche" [or, arch, arkhe, as some prefer -- Strong's Greek #746], is translated "beginning" in connection with the creation of the earth and the heavens (Hebrews 1:10), of the world of mankind (John 1:1,2,10), and of the church as God's new creation. (2 Thessalonians 2:13) Neither of these words ever mean eternity, or a beginning in eternity (outside of time, that is, a beginning in the realm where time does not exist), nor that there was no "time" before the "beginning" spoken of, as some try to read that thought into Genesis 1:1; Proverbs 8:22; John 1:1,2; Colossians 1:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and some other scriptures.

That "resheth" means any beginning, but never means eternity -- without time, or eternal duration before the beginning spoken of -- is evident from the following verses: Deuteronomy 11:12; 21:17; Job 8:7; 42:12; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 17:14; Ecclesiastes 7:8; Isaiah 46:10; Jeremiah 26:1; 28:1; Micah 1:13. That "arche" means any beginning, but never means eternity -- without time, or eternal duration before the beginning spoken of -- is evident from the following passages: Matthew 19:4,8; 24:8,21; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:2; John 2:11; 6:64; 8:25,44; 16:4; Acts 11:15; Philippians 4:15; Hebrews 1:10; 3:14; 7:3; 2 Peter 3:4; 1 John 1:1; 2:7,13,14,24; 3:8,11; 2 John 5,6; Revelation 1:8; 3:14.

Therefore, we understand that in Genesis 1:1; Proverbs 8:22; John 1:1,2; Colossians 1:15,18 , and 2 Thessalonians 2:13, several different beginnings of God's creative work may be referred to, at different points in time. There may be some dispute regarding the exact order of these beginnings, but we believe that they were as follows.

Of course, for God there was no beginning. "Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.." (Psalm 41:13, American Standard Version) He is "from everlasting to everlasting". (Psalm 90:2) There was a time when he was all alone. Being alone he began his creative work, we believe, first, by bringing the material universe into existence. Thus the "beginning" for the actual physical heavens and the physical earth -- the material universe, was before the six days of creation referred to in Exodus 20:11; 31:17. -- Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 8:3; Isaiah 44:24.

The first beginning of any living creation is that of the spirit creature referred to as the Logos, also referred to as the wisdom of God. -- "[Jehovah] had constituted me [Wisdom] the beginning of his way, before his works [that being referred to in context, the earth, mountains, etc.], at the commencement of that time; At the outset of the ages, had I been established, in advance of the antiquities of the earth [not necessarily the planet earth itself, but the 'earth' referred to in Genesis 1:1,10; Exodus 20:11; 31:17. The physical universe probably already had been in existence, although most likely without the order in it as we know today. -- Isaiah 44:24]: "When there was no resounding deep, I had been brought forth, when there were no fountains, abounding with water;" (Proverbs 8:22-24, Rotherham) What of the expression "beginning of his way"? Did Jehovah have a beginning? Was there ever a beginning of Jehovah's way? We have already said that Jehovah never had a beginning, so how could there be a beginning of Jehovah's "way"? Evidently "way" here is in reference to Jehovah's creation pertaining to the earth, as can be seen from the context. Thus notice these translations: "[Jehovah] made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old." (Jewish Publication Society - 1917, Holy Name Restored) "[Jehovah] brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old." (New International Version, Holy Name Restored).

Was God's attribute of 'wisdom' "brought forth" at some time? No, his attribute of wisdom has always been. It did not need to be brought forth. Thus Proverbs 8:22 refers to a person, Jesus, and not to God's attribute of wisdom, since God's attribute of wisdom has always existed. Earlier in Proverbs 8 Wisdom is being personified as an attribute; however beginning with verse 8 we see a change in its application from an attribute to a person who actually had a beginning, who was "brought forth" before there were oceans and seas, before there were mountains and hills, before the earth [land area, not the planet -- Genesis 1:10] and fields were made. Thus we read of "Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption." -- 1 Corinthians 1:30.
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See Frank Shallieu's book, Portions of the Book of Proverbs, discussion on Proverbs Chapter 8. This book is also available on the Bible Students' DVD Library.
https://www.revelation-research.org/pdf/Proverbs.pdf
https://herald-magazine.com/bible-student-library/

See our study: Proverbs 8:22,23 - Proof that Jesus Existed For All Eternity Past?

Thus we read that Jesus is the "The firstborn of every creature." (Colossians 1:15 -- the context of this verse shows that this is referring to the living creation in heaven and on earth.) "The beginning of the creation of God." -- Revelation 3:14.
See our study: Is Jesus the Beginning, Ruler or Beginner of Creation?
See also: Links to some of our studies related to Colossians 1:15.

Another beginning alluded to in scripture is the beginning of other spirit creatures, such as the angels. The physical universe in some fashion probably already existed before the creation of the spirit beings. (Isaiah 44:24) We know from Job that the spirit beings were created and had their beginning before man, and before the "earth" as referred to in Genesis 1:1,10. -- Job 38:7; compare: Hebrews 1:7; Ezekiel 28:11-19. But according to Isaiah 44:20, it is probable that they were not in existence at the initial creation of the material universe itself. With this in mind, we conclude that the spirit beings were created after the creation of the material universe, but before the creation of the world of mankind.

Next, we have the beginning which refers to the creation of the physical skies and the land upon the already existing planet we call earth; this is called the beginning of the heavens (sky) and the earth (land) as the world in which man lives, the famed six days of creation. -- John 1:1,2,10; Genesis 1:1; 2:1-4; Exodus 20:11; 31:17; Matthew 19:4,5; 2 Peter 3:4.

There are also other beginnings that are relative to a creative process. One of these (Colossians 1:18) in point of time is God's Son as the beginning of those being born from the dead. -- Acts 13:33-37; Hebrews 1:3-5; Revelation 1:5.

Likewise, another beginning (2 Thessalonians 2:13) that is related to a point of time is the period from Pentecost 33 onward when the disciples were anointed with the holy spirit, as God began the generation of the new creation of the church, Christ's body. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10,15; 4:24; Colossians 3:10; James 1:18.

Accordingly, the words "reshith" and "arche", used in respect to creation, refer to starting points of new and various creative periods, and, of course, do not mean eternity, but to bring to our attention the first starts of distinctive creative periods of various creatures of God.

See also Paul S. L. Johnson's book, Creation, pages 35,36.

For more information on the refutation of the trinity/oneness doctrines, see our site: Jesus and His God

https://jesusnotyhwh.blogspot.com/p/posts.html

Ronald R. Day, Sr., Restoration Light Bible Study Services (RLBible; ResLight)