Genesis 1:3 Let there be Light

[lentz]

It nags at me constantly....how could it be day without a sun.
I know someone is going to say Jesus was the light,but remember,he is the one creating. What was that light,with no sun?

 

[Waggles]

Of course it was Jesus
there are references to the glory of God being brighter than the noonday Sun.
Why would it not be the light of GOD ??

 

[Beetow]

● Gen 1:3 . . Then God said "Let there be light" and there was light.

The Earth wasn't illuminated by cosmic sources till the fourth day when God created
the Sun, Moon, and Stars; so the light in this verse is controversial.

In the very beginning, the Earth was chaotic, incoherent, and had neither form nor
function. As such it was unsuitable for human habitation (Isa 45:18). To get it into
a useful condition, it was necessary to subject the Earth to law and order. (cf. Prov
6:23 where law is depicted as light)

The laws of nature are sometimes very complex; as most anyone who's taken a
college course in Physics can verify. The laws of nature that God created for our
cosmos probably don't work up where He lives. That world is likely held together
and regulated by a Physics very different than ours.

● Gen 1:4a . . And God saw the light, that it was good

God didn't see the light until He said let there be light; meaning of course that
natural light didn't exist until God made it.

God declared that light is good; but He didn't declare that darkness is good. In
point of fact, darkness typically represents bad things in the Bible; while light
typically represents good things. It's been a rule of thumb from the very beginning.

NOTE: It's curious to me that most Bible students have no trouble readily conceding
that everything else in the first chapter of Genesis is natural, e.g. the cosmos, the
earth, the atmosphere, water, dry land, the Sun, the Moon, the stars, aqua life,
winged life, terra life, flora life, and human life. But when it comes to light they
choke; finding it impossible within themselves to believe that Genesis just might be
consistent in its description of the creative process.
_

 

[lentz]

● Gen 1:3 . . Then God said "Let there be light" and there was light.

The Earth wasn't illuminated by cosmic sources till the fourth day when God created
the Sun, Moon, and Stars; so the light in this verse is controversial.

In the very beginning, the Earth was chaotic, incoherent, and had neither form nor
function. As such it was unsuitable for human habitation (Isa 45:18). To get it into
a useful condition, it was necessary to subject the Earth to law and order. (cf. Prov
6:23 where law is depicted as light)

The laws of nature are sometimes very complex; as most anyone who's taken a
college course in Physics can verify. The laws of nature that God created for our
cosmos probably don't work up where He lives. That world is likely held together
and regulated by a Physics very different than ours.

● Gen 1:4a . . And God saw the light, that it was good

God didn't see the light until He said let there be light; meaning of course that
natural light didn't exist until God made it.

God declared that light is good; but He didn't declare that darkness is good. In
point of fact, darkness typically represents bad things in the Bible; while light
typically represents good things. It's been a rule of thumb from the very beginning.

NOTE: It's curious to me that most Bible students have no trouble readily conceding
that everything else in the first chapter of Genesis is natural, e.g. the cosmos, the
earth, the atmosphere, water, dry land, the Sun, the Moon, the stars, aqua life,
winged life, terra life, flora life, and human life. But when it comes to light they
choke; finding it impossible within themselves to believe that Genesis just might be
consistent in its description of the creative process.
_

But other than the creator,what was the light source. What is "natural"light as you call it. It gets dark still when the sun sets. That natural light disappeared as well.

 

[Beetow]

.

But other than the creator

According to 2Cor 4:6 the light wasn't introduced from outside the cosmos,
rather, it came from within, i.e. the cosmos was created to be self
illuminating. In other words: God himself wasn't the light spoken into
existence per Gen 1:3
_

 

[Waggles]

In other words: God himself wasn't the light spoken into
existence per Gen 1:3

I believe you to be wrong on this.
God is light and Jesus himself declares it
John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am Light of the world.
and, John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whoever believeth unto me remain not in the darkness.
Paul also refers to the light of God
Acts 22:6 And it came to pass, as I made my journey, and drew nigh to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone from the heaven round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
11 And when I could not look up for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those with me I came into Damascus.

Acts 26:12 On which errand as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
13 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.

As God is brighter than the Sun then there is no problem with the truth that the light of God provided sufficient for photosynthesis to all plantlife on Earth.

 

[lentz]

I believe you to be wrong on this.
God is light and Jesus himself declares it
John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am Light of the world.
and, John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whoever believeth unto me remain not in the darkness.
Paul also refers to the light of God
Acts 22:6 And it came to pass, as I made my journey, and drew nigh to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone from the heaven round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
11 And when I could not look up for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those with me I came into Damascus.

Acts 26:12 On which errand as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
13 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.

As God is brighter than the Sun then there is no problem with the truth that the light of God provided sufficient for photosynthesis to all plantlife on Earth.

But God was already there. Why would he say let there be light if he was the light there already being the light?

 

[Waggles]

But God was already there. Why would he say let there be light if he was the light there already being the light?

There are still wonderful mysteries concerning the creation of the universe, time, the planets, us ...
How God can speak things into existence is mind boggling and beyond my comprehension.

Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

A very brief sentence that explains very little as to the how and why of it all.
Perhaps it signifies the beginning of the physical creation process to bring the Earth to life ??
Perhaps it signifies God arriving over the Earth not in Spirit but as YHWH to change the Earth into a living planet ??
God is light and this planet can only sustain life through light and warmth - first God then our star Sol.

 

[MedicBravo]

In the Beginning, God went.....CLICK and flipped the lightswitch.

 

[Beetow]

According to Gen 2:1-4 & Ex 20:11, every one of the six days of creation were days
when God brought things into existence. Well; if God is the light spoken of in Gen 1:3,
then we'll have to remove the first day from the list of six otherwise we'd be driven to
madness trying to figure out how God brought Himself into existence.
_

 

[Waggles]

we'd be driven to
madness trying to figure out how God brought Himself into existence.

No not at all.
Genesis 1 is really without any specific details - just broad general statements of creation in certain time periods.
Which also brings up the issue of six periods of time or six 24 hour days?
There are far too many problems with the Young Earth Creation narrative.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

It nags at me constantly....how could it be day without a sun.
I know someone is going to say Jesus was the light,but remember,he is the one creating. What was that light,with no sun?

The primary translation of the word "Light" is 'A revelation of God' "Let there be light" and the glory of God shone forth.

 

[StewardoftheMystery]

God’s Word is the firstborn of every creature. God created all things by His Word, whom God gave the power of Life. Christ is the Word of God by which God created all things. He is the Light of the world.

Colossians 1:12-17​

​

King James Version​

​

​

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

1 John 1​

​

King James Version​

​

​

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)

John 1:9
That was the true Light, which lighteth everyman that cometh into the world.

Revelation 21:23
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

 

[Waggles]

Job 38 challenges all of us about our ignorance of the creation

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

 

[lentz]

The primary translation of the word "Light" is 'A revelation of God' "Let there be light" and the glory of God shone forth.

But he called it night and day. So thats nit right either

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

But he called it night and day. So thats nit right either

My friend....I was not there to see it....I would speculate though, that the Earth was round as it is now...and light travels in a straight line, as it does now. So one side of the Earth caught the light and the other was still in shadow...as it is now....Genesis 1:3 does not say the entire planet was bathed in light all at once. What do you think the answer is?

 

[Brother Paul]

It nags at me constantly....how could it be day without a sun.
I know someone is going to say Jesus was the light,but remember,he is the one creating. What was that light,with no sun?

It was a light that required no sun or star. We can still see the reflection of it everywhere in the Universe at 3 degrees Kelvin (literally everywhere). For a small example stare at a lit light bulb for 10 seconds or more and then have someone turn it off, and close your eyes. You can still see the reflection of this light and it lingers. God used this Light and sound (and God said) to bring about all the planets and stars. Physicists call it Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation but it is there.