Knowing The Word in Genesis 1:1-2, The Creation of the World

1 In the beginning [of time itself], God [the second most frequent noun in the Old Testament and the first subject of Genesis] created the heavens and the earth. [This was the first act of creation. Verses 2 & 3 describe subsequent phases in God’s creative activity. “Heaven and earth” could also be translated as “everything” or “the universe.”] 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness [everything that is anti-God and out of order] was over the face of the deep [the primeval ocean that is supposed to surround and underlie the earth. This describes the state of the earth before the first command as unordered and dreadful.] And the Spirit [or Wind or Breath] of God was hovering over the face of the waters.