historical · Gen 1:1–31 · ✓ Approved

Christian readings of Genesis 1, from Theophilus to Keil

Says Gen 1:1 opens “In the beginning” (BSB). The lights come on day four (1:14–19), after three evenings and mornings (1:5, 8, 13). God says, “Let Us make man in Our image” (1:26); 1:27 continues with a singular verb, וַיִּבְרָא (wayyivra, “so … created”).

Theophilus takes the three days before the lights as types of God, his Word and his Wisdom, and hears “Let Us make” spoken to his Word and Wisdom (Autol. 2.15, 2.18). Basil says “twenty-four hours fill up the space of one day” and reads “one day” as eternity’s type (Hex. II.8; pp. 64–65, n149–150). He takes “Let us make man” as the Father addressing the Son, not himself or angels (Hex. IX.6; p. 106, n191). Augustine finds the sunless first days hard or impossible to conceive (Civ. 11.6–7); six signifies perfection, since God could have created all at once (Civ. 11.30). Calvin rejects creation “in a moment”: God “took the space of six days” to suit “the capacity of men” (Genesis, p. 78, n87). Keil holds 1:1 is “not a mere heading,” “in the beginning” being absolute, not a subordinate clause (Pentateuch 1:46, n49). For the Word in creation, see note.exegetical.John.1.3.agent-of-creation. These are their views.

Uncertain The syntax of 1:1–3, how the days are to be read (calendar days, ages, a literary framework, analogical days, or temple inauguration), and the referent of “Let Us” are open. No lean is taken here, and this background does not fix the meaning of 1:1–3, 1:26 or the days.

Claims

SaysGen 1:1 opens “In the beginning”; 1:14–19 places the lights on the fourth day after three evenings and mornings (1:5, 8, 13); 1:26 has “Let Us make man in Our image,” and 1:27 continues with the singular verb וַיִּבְרָא.
UncertainThe syntax of Gen 1:1–3, how the days are to be read (calendar days, day-age, framework, analogical days, or temple inauguration) and the referent of “Let Us” are open; no lean, and Christian readings from Theophilus to Keil (Calvin included) do not fix Gen 1:1–3, 1:26 or the days.

Citations

BSB public domain Gen 1:1, 5, 8, 13, 14–19, 26–27
OSHB CC BY 4.0 Gen 1:27 (WLC/OSHB), cantillation removed
ANF public domain ANF 2: Theophilus, To Autolycus 2.15, 2.18 (trans. Marcus Dods; CCEL anf02.iv.ii.ii.xv and anf02.iv.ii.ii.xviii), read 2026-11-10; paraphrased
Basil, Hexaemeron (NPNF2 vol. 8) public domain Hex., trans. Jackson, NPNF² 8 (1895): Hom. II.8, pp. 64–65 (n149–n150); Hom. IX.6, p. 106 (n191; §6 begins p. 105, n190); read on the page images; II.8 (p. 64) quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Augustine, City of God (NPNF1 vol. 2) public domain Civ. 11.6–7, p. 208 (n231); 11.30, p. 222 (n245) (trans. Dods, NPNF¹ 2; CCEL npnf102.iv.XI.6, npnf102.iv.XI.7, npnf102.iv.XI.30); read on the page images; paraphrased
Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain Calvin, Genesis (King, CTS 1847), p. 78 (n87), on Gen 1:5; read on the page image; quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Keil–Delitzsch, Pentateuch 1 public domain Keil, Pentateuch vol. 1 (Clark, Martin trans., 1868), on Gen 1:1, p. 46 (n49), read on the page image; “not a mere heading” quoted, otherwise paraphrased

Sources BSB public domain OSHB CC BY 4.0 ANF public domain Basil, Hexaemeron (NPNF2 vol. 8) public domain Augustine, City of God (NPNF1 vol. 2) public domain Calvin, Genesis (King) 1 public domain Keil–Delitzsch, Pentateuch 1 public domain Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0

2026-11-10

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