What happened when God said, Let there be Light?

[floydkeith]

Since the heavenly bodies that give light were not created until the forth day, what happened on the first day when God said, let there be light? Apparently it was not physical light.

[McCulloch]

Am I wrong to think this forum area is supposed to be between people who believe the bible is an inspired document? It seems like there are a lot of doubters in here. Some really sarcastic and egotistical ones, especially on some of the other threads. Should they be in here? Doesn't that seriously hamper those who believe and want to have a fruitful debate with others who also believe?

No problem, I am just saying it is confusing. How can they take a position since they don't believe?

This forum area is a place open to all to debate, but the assumption is that the Bible is true and authoritative. It matters not whether the debaters actually believe that assumption, just that they debate here within it. An example of the kinds of things which might be debated might be "Does the Bible teach either free will or determinism?" A person does not have to actually believe the Bible to debate either side of that debate, but the Bible itself would have to be the authoritative source for either side.

Those of us who do not believe, have to put on our what-if glasses to debate here. Sometimes we forget. Gentle reminders or rule violation reports are welcome.

[orthodox]

That is a tough question to answer.

Also a similar one is how long did creation last since the concept of a "day" did not exist until after the sun and moon were created on the 4th "day"

I believe the the heavens were created on day 2 so what is the light from day 1? I'm curious but i don't know.

But personally, I find it easier to believe the universe was created rather than saying it exists and always had. The fact that we know the Sun feeds off a fuel source within itself before it dies must be an indication that it was made or formed.

If we look at the present theory of the big bang all natural laws work right up until a split second after the big bang theory occurs. The problem is that we need supernatural laws to explain what happens just before the big bang happens.

What is the light? In the creed it is said Jesus Christ is "Light from Light" Is it possible that before all time began Christ who is of the same essence as God and is his very Word (the logos) was so on "day 1"

This is my thought only as there are few authorities on this that i know of and i haven't come across anything in my readings and this is not considered the teachings of the Orthodox Church.

[Kadmon]

Since the heavenly bodies that give light were not created until the forth day, what happened on the first day when God said, let there be light? Apparently it was not physical light.

All Hell Broke Loose !

[orthodox]

I'm so glad that respectful discussion remains. Not all humor is appropriate and that clip is a mockery.

I see it is now acceptable to mock Christianity. Because we don't understand something we should mock it...lets put that in the moral/ethics board...

[McCulloch]

Moderator Action

Please review the Rules.

I'm so glad that respectful discussion remains. Not all humor is appropriate and that clip is a mockery.

I see it is now acceptable to mock Christianity. Because we don't understand something we should mock it...lets put that in the moral/ethics board...

Orthodox is quite correct. I have removed posts by Scotracer and Jonah as the were both unsuitable to civil debate.

When the moderators feel the rules have been violated, a notice will frequently occur within the thread where the violation occurred, pointing out the violation and perhaps providing other moderator comments. Moderator warnings and comments are made publicly, within the thread, so that all members may see when and how the rules are being interpreted and enforced. However, note that any challenges or replies to moderator comments or warnings should be made via Private Message. This is so that threads do not get derailed into discussions about the rules.

[puddleglum]

If you read the passage carefully it does not actually say that the heavenly bodies were created on the fourth day but that they were placed in the expanse of the heavens. This wording could mean that they were already in existance but were not seen until the fourth day.

Verse one tells us that all of the universe, including the sun and moon, were created. Then after this it describes the earth as being in a chaotic condition and in darkness. There is no mention of time so it is not clear whether this describes the earth at the time it was created or at some later time.

One theory, which I agree with, is that the earth was created perfect but some catastrophe occurred which reduced it to the condition described in verse two. One result of this event was that something, perhaps a large cloud of dust, covered the earth and kept the light from the sun from reaching it. On the first day this cloud dissipated enough to allow light to reach the earth but not enough so that the sun could be seen. It was the same condition we experience today on a cloudy day. One the fourth day the cloud dispersed completely so that the sun, moon, and stars could be seen.

The most likely explanation for this condition of the earth is that it was one of the results of Satan's rebellion. Adam's sin resulted in the earth being subject to a curse which makes it more difficult to produce crops. Satan's rebellion could have resulted in a similar curse being placed on the entire universe.

It seems likely that many or all of the fossils we have found were the products of this original creation. When God restored the earth he evidently didn't recreate all of the forms of life that had been on the original earth.

[McCulloch]

If you read the passage carefully it does not actually say that the heavenly bodies were created on the fourth day but that they were placed in the expanse of the heavens. This wording could mean that they were already in existence but were not seen until the fourth day.

So what did God do on the fourth day? He put the pre-existing stars into the expanse of heaven, that is between the waters above and the waters below. Right?

Verse one tells us that all of the universe, including the sun and moon, were created. Then after this it describes the earth as being in a chaotic condition and in darkness. There is no mention of time so it is not clear whether this describes the earth at the time it was created or at some later time.

It is odd that the sun and the moon are not mentioned until day four. Oh, and water existed before light.

[puddleglum]

So what did God do on the fourth day? He put the pre-existing stars into the expanse of heaven, that is between the waters above and the waters below. Right?

He simply made the stars visible from the earth. And the waters above and below were all part of the earth and below the stars.

It is odd that the sun and the moon are not mentioned until day four. Oh, and water existed before light.

When God created the heavens and the earth the sun and moon were obviously included, so there was no reason to mention them until day four.

[GentleDove]

Since the heavenly bodies that give light were not created until the forth day, what happened on the first day when God said, let there be light? Apparently it was not physical light.

Is this a debate about what the Bible says? Well, the Bible says that when God said, let there be light, then there was light (Genesis 1:3). It was spoken into existence by the power of God's Word.

What would it have looked like to us if we had been there? I really can't answer authoritatively because I wasn't there, and the One Who was there didn't reveal that specifically. Perhaps there was an astral light projection or perhaps a light emanating from the spiritual presence of God Himself.

I don't understand what the OP means by "Apparently it was not physical light."

Does this mean that apparently God does not need a sun or stars to make light for Him? Or does this mean that apparently no physical (material) eyes yet existed to perceive the light? Or does this mean that apparently the light which God spoke into existence was metaphorical in some way or only spiritually discerned?

As none of us were there to witness it, we have two options, rationally speaking: 1) to speculate ignorantly or 2) to take God at His Word.

[McCulloch]

So what did God do on the fourth day? He put the pre-existing stars into the expanse of heaven, that is between the waters above and the waters below. Right?

He simply made the stars visible from the earth. And the waters above and below were all part of the earth and below the stars.

Read the text.

God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.
God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.
God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

Note that in the text, the expanse called heaven, separates the waters above from the waters below and that the stars and moon are put into that expanse of heaven.

It is odd that the sun and the moon are not mentioned until day four. Oh, and water existed before light.

When God created the heavens and the earth the sun and moon were obviously included, so there was no reason to mention them until day four.

It is not obvious in the text. Heaven is created in v7,8 on the second day. Why would anyone believe that the stars and the moon were created before day four? Oh, and the earth was created before day one.