Chapter 1:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 1
Concise Complete
God creates heaven and earth. (1,2) The creation of
light. (3-5) God separates the earth from the waters, and makes it fruitful.
(6-13) God forms the sun, moon, and stars. (14-19) Animals created. (20-25) Man
created in the image of God. (26-28) Food appointed. (29,30) The work of
creation ended and approved. (31)
Verses 1-2 The
first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and useful account of the origin
of the earth and the heavens. The faith of humble Christians understands this
better than the fancy of the most learned men. From what we see of heaven and
earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make and place as
men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to keep heaven in our eye, and
the earth under our feet. The Son of God, one with the Father, was with him when
he made the world; nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and
nothing was made without him. Oh, what high thoughts should there be in our
minds, of that great God whom we worship, and of that great Mediator in whose
name we pray! And here, at the beginning of the sacred volume, we read of that
Divine Spirit, whose work upon the heart of man is so often mentioned in other
parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be
seen, for the world was without form, and void; it was confusion, and emptiness.
In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a
graceless soul, one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and
every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it
is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a
change in us.
Verses 3-5 God
said, Let there be light; he willed it, and at once there was light. Oh, the
power of the word of God! And in the new creation, the first thing that is
wrought in the soul is light: the blessed Spirit works upon the will and
affections by enlightening the understanding. Those who by sin were darkness, by
grace become light in the Lord. Darkness would have been always upon fallen man,
if the Son of God had not come and given
1 john approved of. God
divided the light from the darkness; for what fellowship has light with
darkness? In heaven there is perfect light, and no darkness at all; in hell,
utter darkness, and no gleam of light. The day and the night are the Lord's; let
us use both to his honour, by working for him every day, and resting in him
every night, meditating in his law both day and night.
Verses 6-13 The
earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became full of God's riches, and
his they are still. Though the use of them is allowed to man, they are from God,
and to his service and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command,
brings forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all the
benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we have, through grace, an
interest in Him who is the Fountain, we may rejoice in him when the streams of
temporal mercies are dried up.
Verses 14-19 In
the fourth day's work, the creation of the sun, moon, and stars is accounted
for. All these are the works of God. The stars are spoken of as they appear to
our eyes, without telling their number, nature, place, size, or motions; for the
Scriptures were written, not to gratify curiosity, or make us astronomers, but
to lead us to God, and make us saints. The lights of heaven are made to serve
him; they do it faithfully, and shine in their season without fail. We are set
as lights in this world to serve God; but do we in like manner answer the end of
our creation? We do not: our light does not shine before God, as his lights
shine before us. We burn our Master's candles, but do not mind our Master's
work.
Verses 20-25 God
commanded the fish and fowl to be produced. This command he himself executed.
Insects, which are more numerous than the birds and beasts, and as curious, seem
to have been part of this day's work. The Creator's wisdom and power are to be
admired as much in an ant as in an elephant. The power of God's providence
preserves all things, and fruitfulness is the effect of his blessing.
Verses 26-28 Man
was made last of all the creatures: this was both an honour and a favour to him.
Yet man was made the same day that the beasts were; his body was made of the
same earth with theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth
with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the desires of it, we
should make ourselves like the beasts that perish! Man was to be a creature
different from all that had been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and
earth, must be put together in him. God said, "Let us make man." Man, when he
was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into that great name
we are baptized, for to that great name we owe our being. It is the soul of man
that especially bears God's image. Man was made upright,
ecclesiastes 7:29.
His understanding saw Divine things clearly and truly; there were no errors or
mistakes in his knowledge; his will consented at once, and in all things, to the
will of God. His affections were all regular, and he had no bad appetites or
passions. His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thus
holy, thus happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon them.
But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the Lord renew it upon our
souls by his grace!
Verses 29-30
Herbs and fruits must be man's food, including corn, and all the products of the
earth. Let God's people cast their care upon him, and not be troubled about what
they shall eat, and what they shall drink. He that feeds his birds will not
starve his babes.
Verse 31 When we
come to think about our works, we find, to our shame, that much has been very
bad; but when God saw his work, all was very good. Good, for it was all just as
the Creator would have it to be. All his works, in all places of his dominion,
bless him; and therefore, bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Let us bless God for
the gospel of Christ, and when we consider his almighty power, let us sinners
flee from the wrath to come. If new-created unto the image of God in holiness,
we shall at length enter the "new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness."
Chapter 1:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
