Genesis 1: 20 Commentary

THE REAL GARDEN OF EDEN?

This is the first time that animal life is mentioned in the Bible and it is one thing in the story of creation that the Bible gets right: life originated in the water.

However the first water creatures were probably nothing like you would imagine. Not fish with fins drawing life from an abundance of small creatures that thrive where there is light and oxygen. In 1977 scientists traveled to the bottom of the ocean floor to study temperatures and chemistry and instead they found life - a Garden of Eden of live clams, mussels, anemones and brilliantly colored red-tipped worms living in total darkness with very little oxygen and eating nothing but chemicals. It is very possible that all life started in this way.
See: http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/dec/05/the-deep-sea-find-that-changed-biology/

By Charles Fiott (wrote 1421 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 12/6/2011 01:25 am

Verse 20. Let the waters bring forth… the moving creature . On the fifth day the birds and fishes are created. The blessing of God is added, that they may of themselves produce offspring. Here is a different kind of propagation from that in herbs and trees: for there the power of fructifying is in the plants, and that of germinating is in the seed; but here generation takes place. It seems, however, but little consonant with reason, that he declares birds to have proceeded from the waters; and, therefore this is seized upon by captious men as an occasion of calumny. But although there should appear no other reason but that it so pleased God, would it not be becoming in us to acquiesce in his judgment? Why should it not be lawful for him, who created the world out of nothing, to bring forth the birds out of water? And what greater absurdity, I pray, has the origin of birds from the water, than that of the light from darkness? Therefore, let those who so arrogantly assail their Creator, look for the Judge who shall reduce them to nothing. Nevertheless if we must use physical reasoning in the contest, we know that the water has greater affinity with the air than the earth has. But Moses ought rather to be listened to as our teacher, who would transport us with admiration of God through the consideration of his works. And, truly, the Lord, although he is the Author of nature, yet by no means has followed nature as his guide in the creation of the world, but has rather chosen to put forth such demonstrations of his power as should constrain us to wonder.

By John Calvin (wrote 19 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 10/22/2008 21:06 pm

1)God-”Elohim” occurs 35 times in the 34 verses in Gen.1:1-2:3.
2)”Let the waters”-See verses 3,6,9,11,14,20,24&26.Ps.33:9″For he spake,and it was done;he commanded & it stood fast.” God’s word accomplishes His purpose.Is.55:11.
3)The fifth day of creation corresponds to the second day of creation.On the second day God made the firmament which divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament.Gen.1:6,7.On the fifth day, God created the fish of the sea & the birds of the air.Read Ps.8:8.
4)Read Ps.104:24,25.God’s creation speaks of His wisdom & power.Innumerable & both great & small living creatures of the sea were created by God .
5)God formed the fowls of the air out of ground.Gen.2:18.Adam gave names to them.

By Alex (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 10/12/2008 23:45 pm