Step 1: Core Premise Genesis 1 does not describe physical creation, but rather is a symbolic, prophetic summary of God's 7000-year plan to redeem fallen humanity—beginning after the fall of Adam, detailed throughout Scripture, and culminating in Christ’s reign and final redemption. Step 2: Key Contextual Evidence from Genesis 1 The earth is already present (Gen 1:2): Genesis begins with earth existing, but "formless, void, and dark." If taken prophetically, this "formless and void" state describes humanity’s spiritual condition after the Fall (sinful, chaotic, empty, separated from God). Consistent metaphor throughout Scripture: The Bible repeatedly associates darkness, chaos, and formlessness with human sinfulness and separation from God (Jer 4:23-28; Isa 8:22). Sequential, redemptive phases symbolized by the seven days: Each creation "day" matches closely key biblical epochs, from the promise of redemption (Day 1: “Let there be light”) through to the final kingdom restoration and Sabbath rest (Day 7). Step 3: How John 1 Fits Perfectly Into This Model a. "In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1) John clearly references Genesis' "In the beginning" phrase. But instead of echoing physical creation, he's introducing a fresh theological perspective—the beginning of the redemptive work through Christ. Corroboration: Jesus chosen "before the foundation of the world" (1 Pet 1:20, Eph 1:4) aligns directly with a redemptive reading—God had already prepared His solution (Christ) immediately after the Fall (Gen 3:15). b. "All things came into being through Him" (John 1:3) The Greek πάντων ("all things") does not need to reference physical objects. John commonly uses universal language symbolically to indicate spiritual realities, relationships, and stages in God’s purposes (e.g., John 3:35; 17:7). If Genesis 1 is a symbolic, redemptive outline, then John 1:3 is naturally understood as saying: "Every redemptive purpose and fulfillment (symbolized by the creation days) came into existence through Christ’s foreordained role." Thus, John explicitly states that Jesus alone is the channel through which every aspect of the redemptive plan—promised, prophesied, typologically encoded—has unfolded. No stage of God's salvation program could proceed apart from Him. c. "Life was in Him, and that Life was the Light" (John 1:4-5) John explicitly identifies Christ’s role as “Light” against the background of darkness—the darkness clearly representing sin and spiritual death, not physical absence of photons. Genesis 1’s first day ("Let there be Light") clearly matches John’s language, explicitly Christological: Christ is the spiritual and moral illumination that begins the redemptive narrative after humanity plunged into darkness. Thus, "all things made" (John 1:3) points to the unfolding of moral/spiritual order (Light overcoming darkness, redemption overcoming sin)—exactly matching a symbolic Genesis 1 reading. d. John 1:10—“the world (κόσμος) came into being through Him” κόσμος in John's Gospel primarily means humanity as a system of moral and spiritual beings—not primarily the physical planet. For instance, "God so loved the world" (John 3:16) refers clearly to humanity, not the literal earth. John’s use of κόσμος is consistently symbolic or relational. Thus, "world came into being" (John 1:10) aligns with God’s formation of a redeemed, ordered humanity (believers redeemed out of darkness)—not the literal geological planet. Step 4: Clear scriptural parallels Symbol in Genesis 1 Redemptive Fulfillment in Christ (John 1) Day 1: Let there be Light Christ, Light of redemption overcoming darkness (John 1:5, 8:12) Day 2: Waters above/below separated Christ separates spiritual from carnal (John 3:5-7, Spirit vs. flesh) Day 3: Dry land appears, vegetation grows God's people gathered from nations, fruitful lives (John 15:5) Day 4: Sun/moon/stars govern Christ & apostles give spiritual light, guidance, governance (Matt 5:14-16, Rev 1:20) Day 5: Swarming life in waters Gentiles evangelized, life multiplies in gospel era (Matt 4:19) Day 6: Man in God’s image, given dominion Believers transformed into Christ’s image, given kingdom rule (Rom 8:29, Rev 20:4-6) Day 7: God’s rest, Sabbath Final redemption & rest under Christ’s millennial reign (Heb 4:9-10, Rev 20-22) Every day of Genesis 1 symbolically matches the redemption history unfolded through Christ (precisely “all things” of John 1). Step 5: Resolving textual tensions This reading resolves common textual problems clearly: "In Him all things hold together" (Col 1:17): Refers to Christ sustaining every element of God's salvation plan—not a physical force holding matter. Universal worship of Christ (Rev 5:13-14): Delegated authority after faithful redemption aligns naturally—He’s worshipped because of His role in redemption. "Firstborn of Creation" (Col 1:15): Naturally identifies Christ as the first to be "born" or raised into eternal glory within God’s redemptive plan, not physical chronology. Isaiah’s "I created alone" (Isa 44:24): Explicitly about material creation (physical), irrelevant to this spiritual/prophetic plan—no contradiction arises. Step 6: Objective summary of strengths This interpretation objectively accomplishes: ✅ Matches Scripture's consistent symbolic use of darkness/light imagery. ✅ Explains apparent contradictions in chronology of Genesis (no forced concordism). ✅ Resolves problematic texts about universal creation, worship, and subordination coherently. ✅ Directly matches John's language—"Light overcoming darkness," "Life," "world," clearly pointing to moral-spiritual realities, not physical cosmology. ✅ Strengthens explicit scriptural statements of Christ's central redemptive role ("chosen before the foundation").
There is one true God, Jehovah. Christ is His firstborn creation, the agent through whom all things were made. Framework: Three Roles Must Be Distinguished Jehovah – The uncreated God, the origin of will, authority, and plan The Word (Christ) – The first creation, the executor and revealer of that plan The Spirit – The power that enacts and animates the plan within creation Your struggle is natural because Scripture presents them in unified function—but it also maintains role distinction. WHO DESIGNED THE PLAN? ✅ Jehovah – The Originator “…to us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things…” (1 Cor 8:6) Jehovah is the source. The plan originates in His mind He is the one who sends the Son (John 3:16) He is the one who anoints the Son (Isaiah 61:1; Hebrews 1:9) He is the God of Christ (John 20:17) Jehovah is the architect. ️ WHO CARRIED OUT THE PLAN? ✅ The Son (Christ) – The Agent “…and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things…” (1 Cor 8:6) “Through Him all things were made…” (John 1:3) Christ is the executor: He builds what Jehovah wills He is the Logos—the expressed thought, voice, and blueprint He is the Lamb slain from the foundation He is the Foundation Himself Christ is the builder of the plan—but not its originator. WHO IS STILL AT WORK? ✅ Jehovah continues to oversee “My Father is always working, and I too am working.” (John 5:17) Jesus acknowledges: The Father is not inactive The Son mirrors what the Father shows (John 5:19) The will of the Father is what the Son does The Father never steps back—He governs the process through the Son. SYNTHESIS: WHO CREATED THE PLAN? Role Person Scripture Function Author Jehovah 1 Cor 8:6 (from whom are all things) Architect Agent Christ John 1:3, Heb 1:2 (through whom) Builder Animator Spirit Gen 1:2; Rom 8:11 Power So when Jesus credits His Father, He speaks truthfully: He’s not diminishing His role—He’s recognizing origin Jehovah created through the Son, but the will came from the Father ✅ Conclusion: No Contradiction—Just Order Jehovah created the plan Christ carried it out The Spirit empowers it All three are united, but not identical. Christ always points to the Father—not because He is nothing, but because the glory of a Son is to serve the will of the Father. “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 6:38)