What if I told you that the very first verses of the Bible reveal the presence of the Trinity in creation- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working together?
Genesis 1:1-5 doesn’t just tell us that God created everything – it reveals the the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit actively working together from the beginning. Each played a distinct role: the Father as the sovereign Creator, the Son as the divine Word, and the Holy Spirit as the life-giving presence over the waters. Let’s take a closer look at how Scripture unfolds this truth.
Want a quick overview? Watch this video where I walk through how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit worked together in creation. But if you’re looking for a deeper dive—including Hebrew word studies and scriptural cross-references—keep reading!
God's Sovereignty—The Trinity in Creation
God is, and from the beginning, has always been (Psalm 90:2). In other words, He has no beginning or end. The first to exist and eternally existent, He alone created the heavens, the earth, and the entire universe (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 45:18).
Not only did He create everything visible and invisible, but also He created it all out of nothing (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 11:3).
So let’s take a closer look at the first verse of Genesis:
The Hebrew Word “Bara” and its Significance
The Hebrew word used for create in Genesis 1:1 is bara, meaning to create, shape, or form. This verb signifies the start of something new, implying that God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing or, as theologians say, “ex nihilo.”
As Answers in Genesis, a leading biblical apologetics website, explains, God is always the subject of the verb bara (Did God Create Bara or Make Asah in Genesis 1?). Each time this word appears, it points to something only God can bring into existence. This verb is almost exclusively used for God’s creative work. For example, we see it in Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 40:26, and Psalm 51:10.
Now, let’s stop and ponder this for a moment. God created, shaped, and formed the heavens and the earth from nothing! Something from nothing. That’s truly mind-blowing! This really shows off God’s sovereignty and power. He is the ultimate source of everything and depends on nothing outside himself. Because of this, theologians call this God’s aseity.
How is God’s Creation Different from Other Ancient Accounts?
But there’s even more to consider. Did you know God’s act of creating out of nothing sets the Genesis creation account apart from others? Many ancient creation stories describe gods shaping or forming the world out of stuff that was already there. But not our God- He is unique. He doesn’t just build; He speaks, and what wasn’t suddenly is. No other “god” can do that. In fact, Scripture confirms this truth: God created the universe through His Word (Hebrews 11:3, Psalm 33:6-9).
Ultimately, God alone has the power to create out of nothing. God is all-powerful. Therefore, like the Psalmist in the Psalm above, my response is one of PRAISE!
Holy Spirit –The Spirit Over Chaos
Continuing, verse two paints a vivid picture of the Holy Spirit’s part in creation:
The Meaning of “Tohu” and “Vavohu”
Though verse two begins bleak, it ends with promise. The earth is formless, empty, and shrouded in darkness – a picture engulfed in the unknown. The original Hebrew uses the terms tohu תֹּהוּ and vavohu בֹּהוּ) to describe the earth’s state– formless, empty, with confusion and chaos reigning.
The Spirit’s Role in Bringing Order to Creation
Yet, even in the void, potential is present. From the beginning, the Trinity in creation is evident as God’s Spirit hovers over the face of the waters. The original language uses the word rachaph רָחַף to describe the movement of the Holy Spirit. This word evokes the imagery of a bird hovering over her nest, protecting and nurturing her eggs to ensure life. Holy Spirit hovers over the potential of what is to be, ready to form, fill, and bring life to what is empty. Even now, it is still the Spirit who gives life (Romans 8:11).
As we see throughout the remainder of Genesis, God did not create the heavens and earth to be empty but to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18).
God formed and filled His masterpiece through the Holy Spirit’s creative power. As we see unfold throughout the first few chapters of Genesis, and through His Son, God desired communion with His creation.
Jesus in Creation
We haven’t even made it to the third verse yet and are left breathless. Not only was the Holy Spirit active and present in creation, but so was the Son, Jesus Christ. And get this — through Him, all things were made (John 1:3).
But wait, Colossians 1:16 says that creation was made through and for Jesus. This shows us that the Trinity in creation as not just working together but was fully unified in purpose. Creation is a beautiful gift from the Father to the Son – meaning creation itself was designed to glorify the Son!
For more on Jesus’ role in creation, check out Jesus in Genesis: How Christ Was Present At Creation to explore how He was present and active from the very start.
Let There Be Light: The First Act of Creation
At last, we’ve arrived at the third verse. Its what we’ve been waiting for. God creates first light—without which life could not exist.
He says, “Let there be light, and there was light.”
What Was This Light Before the Sun?
You see, God created light before making the sun, moon, and stars. This hints at a greater reality—that true light comes not from created things but from God Himself. In John 1, we see that Jesus is this LIGHT
This theme played out in the very last book – Revelation – where we end where we started – once again with a “new heaven and a new earth.” And with that new heaven and new earth, there will be no need for a sun or moon because “the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:1, 23). And guess who the Lamb is – yes, Jesus Christ!
God’s Pattern of Separating Light From Darkness
As we continue reading, we are introduced in verse 4 to a key biblical theme that we see winding its way through the pages of the greatest story ever told: light vs. darkness.
God had just spoken, light be, and light was. Now, God sees that the light is good. So good that He separates it from the darkness.
The Biblical Theme of Light vs. Darkness
Throughout Scripture, light is a metaphor for all that is good. You see God created only that which is good—filling the earth with his goodness. For that alone, the Psalmist says we should stop and praise Him (Psalm 33:6).
How Jesus Fulfills This Theme In John 1
In addition to representing goodness in the world, light also represents truth and God’s presence. Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He also tells us, “I am the Light of the World,” and whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12).
The Trinity in Creation: Bringing Light and Life
From the very first moments of creation, we see the Trinity at work in creation—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit moving in perfect unity to bring order, light, and life. This pattern doesn’t just belong to the past. It’s the same way God works in our lives today. The Father speaks, Jesus is the Light who reveals truth, and the Holy Spirit moves in us, bringing new life.
How God Still Separates Light from Darkness Today
When we feel like our world is chaotic, empty, or dark, Genesis reminds us that God has always brought light into the darkness. Just as He did in the beginning, He still speaks today, His Spirit still moves, and His Son still shines as the Light of the World.
Looking Ahead: Jesus, the Light, and the Life
This theme doesn’t stop in Genesis- the Trinity in creation is a pattern we will see throughout all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. In our next deep dive, we’ll explore how John 1 confirms that Jesus—who was with God in the beginning—is still the Word, the Light, and the Life.
Genesis 1 Mystery: What Was the Light Before the Sun? #Genesis #shorts #biblestudy
Making Him Known February 28, 2025 9:13 am