1 起初神創造天地。
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
注意,這第一節「造」的是「天地」,英文是「heavens and the earth」。再看看上面引用過的「出埃及記」經文的中英文對照:
出埃及記 20:11 因為六日之內,耶和華造天,地,海,和其中的萬物,第七日便安息,所以耶和華賜福與安息日,定為聖日。
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
出埃及記 31:17 這是我和以色列人永遠的證據,因為六日之內耶和華造天地,第七日便安息舒暢。
It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'"
顯然,上面的經文明確地說了,「六日之內」,耶和華創造了 「天,地,海,和其中的萬物」,而這裡的「天地」正是「heavens and the earth」,也就是第一節經文「起初神創造天地」里說的「天地」。所以,「創世紀」第一節經文說的「神創造天地」就是包括在「六日創世」之內。也就是說,「第一節經文和第二節經文中間有很長很長的一段時間」的說法是不符合「聖經」的。
創世記1:1 起初神創造天地。
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
出埃及記20:11 因為六日之內,耶和華造天,地,海,和其中的萬物,第七日便安息,所以耶和華賜福與安息日,定為聖日。
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
創世紀第一節里的「造天地」的「天地」是指 「heavens and the earth」,出埃及記里的「天地」也是指「heavens and the earth」,而這兩段經文一處用「create」,一處用的是「made」,由此可見,「聖經」裡面有關「創世」的部分,「create」和 「made」是通用的。
再看下面這一段:
創世記2:3 神賜福給第七日,定為聖日,因為在這日神歇了他一切創造的工,就安息了。
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.