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1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (AV) Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
In approaching the Lord Jesus’ Supper, we read that well known and definitive passage in 1 Corinthians 11 to guide us.
What does it mean when the Bible says: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”? There is a serious doctrinal difference of opinion on this, chiefly because of what we want it to say. In general what you believe about the timeframe of creation, determines your understanding of this verse. A study on how the Hebrew word for it is used in other instances in the Bible, would certainly clear up any doubts and reveal whether the translators of the Authorised Version (and in fact most other Bible versions) made a fundamental mistake in the second word of their translation of the Bible or not.
A search through the Bible for the word “beginning” yields that it appears in a 108 verses, of which 57 occurs in the Old Testament, using derivatives of two different Hebrew root words. We are particularly interested in the first, since that word is used in the first verse in the Bible. Explained by the Strong’s Concordance, the two words used for beginning are as follow:
A search for the Strong’s word code, H7225 (רֵאשִׁיתּ), brings up a result of 49, which by nature of the obvious fact that it is a Hebrew word, only appears in the Old Testament. So this particular root and its derivatives are used in 49 verses in the Bible. There are two verses where it appears twice in one verse; Deuteronomy 18:4 and Ezekiel 44:30. So it brings the total to 51 actual instances where it is used. Let us examine each one of them in the Hebrew text and compare it to the English translation of the King James Version. To understand what we are trying to achieve in this study, let us define clearly what the problem is. Essentially the core issue here is the lack of a visible definite article in the Hebrew word. In order for the “old earth” approach to work, it is assumed that the Hebrew word, בְּרֵאשִׁית, is missing the linguistic trace of the prefixed letter ‘hey’ in order for it to be translated as “in the beginning”. This leaves the possibility that there could have been many beginnings for the earth and that בְּרֵאשִׁית only means in a beginning and not in the beginning in this case. This linguistic trace is explained below. In his book, “A practical grammar for classical Hebrew”, Dr. J. Weingreen wrote in section B on page 28 of the second edition, the following: When the inseparable preposition is followed by the article, e.g. ‘to the king’ (which we should expect to be לְהַמֶּ֫לֶךְ), the ה of the article (is scarcely audible and, in fact,) falls away, surrendering its vowel to the preposition, thus: לַמֶּ֫לֶךְ. In the same way, ‘to the man’ (לְהָֽאָדָם) becomes לָֽאָדָם, ‘to the darkness’ (לְהַח֫שֶׁךְ) becomes לַח֫שֶׁךְ, and ‘to the dust’ (לְהֶֽעָפָר) becomes לֶֽעָפָר. Just as לְהַ׳ becomes לַ׳, so בְּהַ׳ becomes בַּ׳ and כְּהַ׳ becomes כַּ׳ Just as לְהָ׳ becomes לָ׳, so בְּהָ׳ becomes בָּ׳ and כְּהָ׳ becomes כָּ׳ Just as לְהֶ׳ becomes לֶ׳, so בְּהֶ׳ becomes בֶּ׳ and כְּהֶ׳ becomes כֶּ׳ So from the above mentioned rules we may deduce that for Genesis 1:1 to mean “In the beginning...” it should have said בָּרֵאשִׁית instead of בְּרֵאשִׁית. (Notice the different vowels used for the ב, the first letter of the word. Qamets instead of sheva.) However, looking at the normal usage of the word רֵאשִׁית, it is found to be generally used in the Bible as if it already contains the definite article, although hidden in this same particular way as in Genesis 1:1. Be aware that it is not always translated as beginning, but sometimes rather into a comparable word, appropriate for that particular instance. Note also very carefully in the study below that in all of the 17 times where Moses used this word’s derivatives (i.e. in the first five books of the Bible), it is never with the definite article in Hebrew, but always translated with it in English. Verses without the definite article but translated with the definite article: בראשית 1:1 בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. בראשית 10:10 וַתְּהִי רֵאשִׁית מַמְלַכְתֹּו בָּבֶל וְאֶרֶךְ וְאַכַּד וְכַלְנֵה בְּאֶרֶץ שִׁנְעָֽר׃ Genesis 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. בראשית 49:3 רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹרִי אַתָּה כֹּחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אֹונִי יֶתֶר שְׂאֵת וְיֶתֶר עָֽז׃ Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: שמות 23:19 רֵאשִׁית בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ תָּבִיא בֵּית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לֹֽא־תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי בַּחֲלֵב אִמֹּֽו׃ ס Exodus 23:19 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] שמות 34:26 רֵאשִׁית בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ תָּבִיא בֵּית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לֹא־תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי בַּחֲלֵב אִמֹּֽו׃ פ Exodus 34:26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] ויקרא 2:12 קָרְבַּן רֵאשִׁית תַּקְרִיבוּ אֹתָם לַיהוָה וְאֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לֹא־יַעֲלוּ לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹֽחַ׃ Leviticus 2:12 As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. them, they).] ויקרא 23:10 דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם כִּֽי־תָבֹאוּ אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם וּקְצַרְתֶּם אֶת־קְצִירָהּ וַהֲבֵאתֶם אֶת־עֹמֶר רֵאשִׁית קְצִירְכֶם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ Leviticus 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. reap the harvest thereof, a sheaf of, of your harvest).] במדבר 15:20 רֵאשִׁית עֲרִסֹתֵכֶם חַלָּה תָּרִימוּ תְרוּמָה כִּתְרוּמַת גֹּרֶן כֵּן תָּרִימוּ אֹתָֽהּ׃ Numbers 15:20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] במדבר 15:21 מֵרֵאשִׁית עֲרִסֹתֵיכֶם תִּתְּנוּ לַיהוָה תְּרוּמָה לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ ס Numbers 15:21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] במדבר 18:12 כֹּל חֵלֶב יִצְהָר וְכָל־חֵלֶב תִּירֹושׁ וְדָגָן רֵאשִׁיתָם אֲשֶׁר־יִתְּנוּ לַֽיהוָה לְךָ נְתַתִּֽים׃ Numbers 18:12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. of them, they).] במדבר 24:20 וַיַּרְא אֶת־עֲמָלֵק וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלֹו וַיֹּאמַר רֵאשִׁית גֹּויִם עֲמָלֵק וְאַחֲרִיתֹו עֲדֵי אֹבֵֽד׃ Numbers 24:20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] דברים 11:12 אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ דֹּרֵשׁ אֹתָהּ תָּמִיד עֵינֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּהּ מֵֽרֵשִׁית הַשָּׁנָה וְעַד אַחֲרִית שָׁנָֽה׃ ס Deuteronomy 11:12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. דברים 18:4 רֵאשִׁית דְּגָֽנְךָ תִּֽירֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ וְרֵאשִׁית גֵּז צֹאנְךָ תִּתֶּן־לֹּֽו׃ Deuteronomy 18:4 The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. [Occurring twice in this verse, not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruit to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] דברים 21:17 כִּי אֶת־הַבְּכֹר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָה יַכִּיר לָתֶת לֹו פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵא לֹו כִּי־הוּא רֵאשִׁית אֹנֹו לֹו מִשְׁפַּט הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ ס Deuteronomy 21:17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. דברים 26:2 וְלָקַחְתָּ מֵרֵאשִׁית ׀ כָּל־פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר תָּבִיא מֵֽאַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ וְשַׂמְתָּ בַטֶּנֶא וְהָֽלַכְתָּ אֶל־הַמָּקֹום אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמֹו שָֽׁם׃ Deuteronomy 26:2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] דברים 26:10 וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה הֵבֵאתִי אֶת־רֵאשִׁית פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתָּה לִּי יְהוָה וְהִנַּחְתֹּו לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ Deuteronomy 26:10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first (note the separate Hebrew word for fruits) to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] דברים 33:21 וַיַּרְא רֵאשִׁית לֹו כִּי־שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן וַיֵּתֵא רָאשֵׁי עָם צִדְקַת יְהוָה עָשָׂה וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס Deuteronomy 33:21 And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] שמואל א 2:29 לָמָּה תִבְעֲטוּ בְּזִבְחִי וּבְמִנְחָתִי אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי מָעֹון וַתְּכַבֵּד אֶת־בָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶם מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל־מִנְחַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעַמִּֽי׃ 1 Samuel 2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chiefest to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] שמואל א 15:21 וַיִּקַּח הָעָם מֵהַשָּׁלָל צֹאן וּבָקָר רֵאשִׁית הַחֵרֶם לִזְבֹּחַ לַֽיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃ 1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chief to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] דברי הימים ב 31:5 וְכִפְרֹץ הַדָּבָר הִרְבּוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל רֵאשִׁית דָּגָן תִּירֹושׁ וְיִצְהָר וּדְבַשׁ וְכֹל תְּבוּאַת שָׂדֶה וּמַעְשַׂר הַכֹּל לָרֹב הֵבִֽיאוּ׃ 2 Chronicles 31:5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. and of all, and the tithe of all).] איוב 40:19 הוּא רֵאשִׁית דַּרְכֵי־אֵל הָעֹשֹׂו יַגֵּשׁ חַרְבֹּֽו׃ Job 40:19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chief to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] תהלים 78:51 וַיַּךְ כָּל־בְּכֹור בְּמִצְרָיִם רֵאשִׁית אֹונִים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃ Psalms 78:51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chief to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] תהלים 105:36 וַיַּךְ כָּל־בְּכֹור בְּאַרְצָם רֵאשִׁית לְכָל־אֹונָֽם׃ Psalms 105:36 He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chief to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] תהלים 111:10 רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה ׀ יִרְאַת יְהוָה שֵׂכֶל טֹוב לְכָל־עֹשֵׂיהֶם תְּהִלָּתֹו עֹמֶדֶת לָעַֽד׃ Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. משלי 1:7 יִרְאַת יְהוָה רֵאשִׁית דָּעַת חָכְמָה וּמוּסָר אֱוִילִים בָּֽזוּ׃ פ Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. משלי 3:9 כַּבֵּד אֶת־יְהוָה מֵהֹונֶךָ וּמֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל־תְּבוּאָתֶֽךָ׃ Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. them, they).] משלי 4:7 רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה קְנֵה חָכְמָה וּבְכָל־קִנְיָנְךָ קְנֵה בִינָֽה׃ Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as principal to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] משלי 8:22 יְֽהוָה קָנָנִי רֵאשִׁית דַּרְכֹּו קֶדֶם מִפְעָלָיו מֵאָֽז׃ Proverbs 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. משלי 17:14 פֹּוטֵֽר מַיִם רֵאשִׁית מָדֹון וְלִפְנֵי הִתְגַּלַּע הָרִיב נְטֹֽושׁ׃ Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. ישעיה 46:10 מַגִּיד מֵֽרֵאשִׁית אַחֲרִית וּמִקֶּדֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־נַעֲשׂוּ אֹמֵר עֲצָתִי תָקוּם וְכָל־חֶפְצִי אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃ Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: ירמיה 2:3 קֹדֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַיהוָה רֵאשִׁית תְּבוּאָתֹה כָּל־אֹכְלָיו יֶאְשָׁמוּ רָעָה תָּבֹא אֲלֵיהֶם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ פ Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. of his increase).] ירמיה 26:1 בְּרֵאשִׁית מַמְלְכוּת יְהֹויָקִים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה הָיָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה מֵאֵת יְהוָה לֵאמֹֽר׃ Jeremiah 26:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, [Usage here is exactly the same as in the first verse of the Bible and in this instance only the translation of it with the definite article would make any sense at all.] ירמיה 27:1 בְּרֵאשִׁית מַמְלֶכֶת יְהֹויָקִם בֶּן־יֹאושִׁיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה הָיָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָה מֵאֵת יְהוָה לֵאמֹֽר׃ Jeremiah 27:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, [Usage here is exactly the same as in the first verse of the Bible and in this instance only the translation of it with the definite article would make any sense at all.] ירמיה 28:1 וַיְהִי ׀ בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִיא בְּרֵאשִׁית מַמְלֶכֶת צִדְקִיָּה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה [בִּשְׁנַת כ] (בַּשָּׁנָה ק) הָֽרְבִעִית בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי אָמַר אֵלַי חֲנַנְיָה בֶן־עַזּוּר הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר מִגִּבְעֹון בְּבֵית יְהוָה לְעֵינֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים וְכָל־הָעָם לֵאמֹֽר׃ Jeremiah 28:1 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, [Usage here is exactly the same as in the first verse of the Bible and in this instance only the translation of it with the definite article would make any sense at all.] ירמיה 49:34 אֲשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא אֶל־עֵילָם בְּרֵאשִׁית מַלְכוּת צִדְקִיָּה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה לֵאמֹֽר׃ Jeremiah 49:34 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, [Usage here is exactly the same as in the first verse of the Bible and in this instance only the translation of it with the definite article would make any sense at all.] ירמיה 49:35 כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאֹות הִנְנִי שֹׁבֵר אֶת־קֶשֶׁת עֵילָם רֵאשִׁית גְּבוּרָתָֽם׃ Jeremiah 49:35 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chief to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] יחזקאל 44:30 וְרֵאשִׁית כָּל־בִּכּוּרֵי כֹל וְכָל־תְּרוּמַת כֹּל מִכֹּל תְּרוּמֹותֵיכֶם לַכֹּהֲנִים יִֽהְיֶה וְרֵאשִׁית עֲרִסֹֽותֵיכֶם תִּתְּנוּ לַכֹּהֵן לְהָנִיחַ בְּרָכָה אֶל־בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃ Ezekiel 44:30 And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house. [Occurring twice in this verse, not translated as beginning but rather wisely as first to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] יחזקאל 48:14 וְלֹא־יִמְכְּרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא יָמֵר וְלֹא [יַעֲבוּר כ] (יַעֲבִיר ק) רֵאשִׁית הָאָרֶץ כִּי־קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָֽה׃ Ezekiel 48:14 And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. of the land: for it is holy).] דניאל 11:41 וּבָא בְּאֶרֶץ הַצְּבִי וְרַבֹּות יִכָּשֵׁלוּ וְאֵלֶּה יִמָּלְטוּ מִיָּדֹו אֱדֹום וּמֹואָב וְרֵאשִׁית בְּנֵי עַמֹּֽון׃ Daniel 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chief to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] עמוס 6:6 הַשֹּׁתִים בְּמִזְרְקֵי יַיִן וְרֵאשִׁית שְׁמָנִים יִמְשָׁחוּ וְלֹא נֶחְלוּ עַל־שֵׁבֶר יֹוסֵֽף׃ Amos 6:6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chief to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article.] מיכה 1:13 רְתֹם הַמֶּרְכָּבָה לָרֶכֶשׁ יֹושֶׁבֶת לָכִישׁ רֵאשִׁית חַטָּאת הִיא לְבַת־צִיֹּון כִּי־בָךְ נִמְצְאוּ פִּשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Micah 1:13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. Verses with the definite article ‘hidden’ and translated with the definite article: נחמיה 10:38 וְאֶת־רֵאשִׁית עֲרִיסֹתֵינוּ וּתְרוּמֹתֵינוּ וּפְרִי כָל־עֵץ תִּירֹושׁ וְיִצְהָר נָבִיא לַכֹּהֲנִים אֶל־לִשְׁכֹות בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵינוּ וּמַעְשַׂר אַדְמָתֵנוּ לַלְוִיִּם וְהֵם הַלְוִיִּם הַֽמְעַשְּׂרִים בְּכֹל עָרֵי עֲבֹדָתֵֽנוּ׃ Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. [This example does contain a trace of a definite article in a sense, because of the Hebrew word אֶת before רֵאשִׁית. It is the preposition used before a direct object. So the word firstfruits here could not be translated without the definite article, yet it also need to be plural since it points not only to one fruit offered first of all, but the general offering of all the firstfruits. Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. of our dough, and our offerings, etc.). Note as well that the verse numbering differ here between the two texts for referential purposes.] איוב 8:7 וְהָיָה רֵאשִׁיתְךָ מִצְעָר וְאַחֲרִיתְךָ יִשְׂגֶּה מְאֹֽד׃ Job 8:7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. [Not translated with the definite article yet it clearly contains the definite article ‘hidden’ since it evidently refers to the only one beginning Job could have. Not multiple beginnings or one of multiple beginnings.] איוב 42:12 וַֽיהוָה בֵּרַךְ אֶת־אַחֲרִית אִיֹּוב מֵרֵאשִׁתֹו וַֽיְהִי־לֹו אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אֶלֶף צֹאן וְשֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים גְּמַלִּים וְאֶֽלֶף־צֶמֶד בָּקָר וְאֶלֶף אֲתֹונֹֽות׃ Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. [Not translated with the definite article yet it clearly contains the definite article ‘hidden’ since it evidently refers to the only one beginning Job could have. Not multiple beginnings or one of multiple beginnings.] יחזקאל 20:40 כִּי בְהַר־קָדְשִׁי בְּהַר ׀ מְרֹום יִשְׂרָאֵל נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה שָׁם יַעַבְדֻנִי כָּל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלֹּה בָּאָרֶץ שָׁם אֶרְצֵם וְשָׁם אֶדְרֹושׁ אֶת־תְּרוּמֹֽתֵיכֶם וְאֶת־רֵאשִׁית מַשְׂאֹותֵיכֶם בְּכָל־קָדְשֵׁיכֶֽם׃ Ezekiel 20:40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. [This example does contain a trace of a definite article in a sense, because of the Hebrew word אֶת before רֵאשִׁית. It is the preposition used before a direct object. So the word firstfruits here could not be translated without the definite article, yet it also need to be plural since it points not only to one fruit offered first of all, but the general offering of all the firstfruits. Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context, yet still with the definite article. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. of your oblations).] הושע 9:10 כַּעֲנָבִים בַּמִּדְבָּר מָצָאתִי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּבִכּוּרָה בִתְאֵנָה בְּרֵאשִׁיתָהּ רָאִיתִי אֲבֹֽותֵיכֶם הֵמָּה בָּאוּ בַֽעַל־פְּעֹור וַיִּנָּֽזְרוּ לַבֹּשֶׁת וַיִּהְיוּ שִׁקּוּצִים כְּאָהֳבָֽם׃ Hosea 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved. [Not translated with the definite article yet it clearly contains the definite article ‘hidden’ since it evidently refers to the only one beginning Israel, the fig tree, could have. Not multiple beginnings or one of multiple beginnings.] Verses with the definite article and translated with the definite article: נחמיה 12:44 וַיִּפָּקְדוּ בַיֹּום הַהוּא אֲנָשִׁים עַל־הַנְּשָׁכֹות לָאֹוצָרֹות לַתְּרוּמֹות לָרֵאשִׁית וְלַמַּֽעַשְׂרֹות לִכְנֹוס בָּהֶם לִשְׂדֵי הֶעָרִים מְנָאֹות הַתֹּורָה לַכֹּהֲנִים וְלַלְוִיִּם כִּי שִׂמְחַת יְהוּדָה עַל־הַכֹּהֲנִים וְעַל־הַלְוִיִּם הָעֹמְדִֽים׃ Nehemiah 12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as firstfruits to make sense of the context. Notice the use also of the plural here to fit in with the rest of the verse (i.e. the portions of the law for the priests and Levites).] קהלת 7:8 טֹוב אַחֲרִית דָּבָר מֵֽרֵאשִׁיתֹו טֹוב אֶֽרֶךְ־רוּחַ מִגְּבַהּ־רֽוּחַ׃ Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Verses without the definite article and translated without the definite article: עמוס 6:1 הֹוי הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּים בְּצִיֹּון וְהַבֹּטְחִים בְּהַר שֹׁמְרֹון נְקֻבֵי רֵאשִׁית הַגֹּויִם וּבָאוּ לָהֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! [Not translated as beginning but rather wisely as chief to make sense of the context. The reason for this particular translation of it might be due to the fact that ‘them that are at ease in Zion’ are plural and they collectively ‘are named chief of the nations’. If you had it translated with the definite article it would more correctly be referring to a singular person instead of a group of people.] Conclusion: Amos 6:1 is really the only verse of all 51 to be translated in the way of the multiple beginnings argument for Genesis 1:1, and it can be seen that there is a good explanation of why it deviates from the manner set by the other verses. Comparing these verses does clearly show though that viewing the basic meaning of רֵאשִׁית as ‘beginning’ (in effect implying ‘the beginning’) is by far the norm, rather than the exception, and to interpret Genesis 1:1 in the ‘a beginning’ way would honestly be going against all the other similar usages of it and therefore be incorrect. A verse such as Exodus 20:11 also shows that every created thing such as Heaven and earth and all created things in them, were in fact created in those very six 24 hour days when the earth were created. It would therefore include all of the angels as well. Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Please take a moment to consider the time and the effort God had spent over these many years to come and make Himself known in your own life. Ponder the countless times He came back after each rejection you gave to His call. The continual, patient knocking and waiting at the door to your heart. This is the great underlying theme of the understanding of God’s love for him, that the Apostle John had as he wrote down his record of the Gospel of Christ. He knew himself to be ‘a wicked, lost, hell-bound sinner’ saved by the unfathomable grace of God through the Son of God. To such an extent was his comprehension of this that he durst not bring any attention to himself, but simply out of a great appreciation and thanks wrote of himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. One would like to think that had yourself been there with the Lord for that last supper, you too would be that disciple that wanted to be so close to his God as to be the one even lying on the Lord’s breast.
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Moses' seatWe are very much like the Pharisees mentioned in Matthew 23, where because of our position of teachers/preachers we are able to speak from the seat of Moses, so that men believe our teaching to be from God. Thus we need to take heed that unlike the Pharisees we do not estrange people from God but rather bring them closer unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Archives
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