https://doi.org/10.1177/0309089217734746 Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 2019, Vol. 43(3) 385–394 © The Author(s) 2019 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/0309089217734746 journals.sagepub.com/home/jot Genesis 1.1 as the first act of creation Nathan Chambers Durham University, UK Abstract In contrast to the contemporary trend of reading Gen. 1.1 as either a heading to the chapter or a subordinate clause, this essay argues that the verse can be responsibly read as the first step in the process of creation. In particular, it is argued that attending to the two senses of ‘heaven’ in biblical Hebrew is a necessary prerequisite for reading Gen. 1.1. Moreover, the final form of Gen. 1 reveals the use of both bipartite and tripartite cosmological formulae. Taking these observations seriously lays the foundation for reading Gen. 1.1 as the first step in the process of creation. In turn, it is argued that this reading of the narrative is theologically suggestive. Keywords Biblical theology, creation, earth, Genesis 1, heaven, Hebrew cosmology 1. Introduction Questions about the syntax of Gen. 1.1-3 have long been raised and have become the focus of such vigorous debate in the last century that I offer my own thoughts here with considerable trepidation. The primary options that have emerged from the debate are (1) to read Gen. 1.1 as a relative clause, dependent on either (a) Gen. 1.2 or (b) Gen. 1.3 as the main clause, or (2) to read Gen. 1.1 as an independent clause that either (a) functions as a heading to the narrative or (b) describes the first action of the narrative. In this article I argue, albeit in a tentative and rather experimental manner, that the first verse of Genesis, in the MT, can plausibly be read as describing the first steps in the process of creation. 1 Although this option has fallen out of favour, it was the predominant view in the early and medieval church, often developed in dialogue with various metaphysical theories. My own argument, however, is not an attempt to recover this traditional reading but rather to propose a reading of the first verse on the grounds of a literary-canonical Corresponding author: Nathan Chambers, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, Abbey House, Palace Green, Durham DH1 3RS, UK. Email: nathanjchambers@gmail.com 734746JOT 0 0 10.1177/0309089217734746Journal for the Study of the Old TestamentChambers research-article 2019 Original Article 1. For the sake of space, I do not here consider the effects of the variances between MT and LXX on the issues considered.