The Scriptures Are Real S5 E6 God, Light, Darkness, Chaos, Forms, and Voidness Explained (week 3 part 2)
Jan 11, 2026
Kent P. Jackson and Josh Sears, both Old Testament scholars from BYU, delve into the depths of Genesis 1, exploring the ancient views of order versus chaos. They unpack the meaning of creation as organizing rather than creating from nothing and the significance of light as God's presence. The discussion highlights the structure of days in the creation narrative, showing how each day addresses chaos. They also unravel the library-like nature of the Old Testament, discussing its varied genres and the process of textual transmission, emphasizing the enduring value of biblical covenants.
42:36
Creation As Ordering, Not From Nothing
- Ancient Near Eastern cultures saw creation as ordering chaotic material, not creation from nothing.
- Kerry Muhlestein explains Hebrew 'bara' means to organize or fashion rather than create ex nihilo.
Water Symbolizes Primordial Chaos
- Water functions as the prime symbol of chaotic, formless material in Genesis and nearby cultures.
- Water symbolizes both life-giving and destructive potential that requires ordering by God.
Tohu V'Bohu: Two Creation Problems
- The Hebrew phrase tohu v'bohu describes two distinct creation problems: uncultivated and unpopulated.
- Kerry defines tohu as uncultivated (without form) and bohu as unpopulated (void).
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Intro
00:00 • 11sec
Ancient View of Order and Chaos
00:11 • 3min
Water as Symbol of Primordial Chaos
02:58 • 1min
Genesis 1: God Organizes, Not Ex Nihilo
04:23 • 48sec
Day One: Let There Be Light
05:12 • 3min
Days Two and Three: Creating Space and Land
08:00 • 4min
Parallel Structure: Days Four to Six
11:42 • 2min
Tohu and Bohu Solved by Six Days
13:41 • 2min
Why Study the Creation Account?
15:33 • 2min
Creation's Purposes: Probation and Atonement
17:29 • 1min
How Creation Informs Our Place and Priorities
18:50 • 1min
Book of Abraham and Multiple Creation Accounts
20:03 • 2min
Creation's Purpose: Mankind as Crowning Work
21:34 • 17sec
Ad break
21:51 • 22sec
Roundtable: What Is the Old Testament?
22:13 • 44sec
Genres and Library Nature
22:58 • 1min
Pentateuch and Historical Framework
24:00 • 1min
Prophetic Books and Chronology
25:20 • 1min
Reading Schedule Impacts Experience
26:22 • 1min
Intermixing Chronology and Themes
27:29 • 2min
Authorship and Redaction Questions
29:15 • 51sec
Book of Mormon Comparison
30:06 • 2min
Preservers of the Biblical Record
31:46 • 27sec
Prophetic Validation Over Time
32:13 • 25sec
Kings, Chronicles, and Editorial Perspectives
32:38 • 1min
Compilation Processes Remain Partly Unknown
33:50 • 2min
Ancient Libraries and Lost Writings
35:30 • 14sec
Moses' Language and Textual Transmission
35:44 • 55sec
Preserved Poems as Early Hebrew
36:39 • 38sec
Diverse Traditions Form a Coherent Whole
37:17 • 38sec
Book of Mormon on the Bible's Worth
37:55 • 1min
Core Message: Covenant and Consequence
39:10 • 1min
Masoretic Text and Careful Preservation
40:20 • 59sec
Divine Value and Gratitude for Preservation
41:19 • 1min
Outro
42:25 • 3sec
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We have fantastic extra content for you that you will love on our Patreon Website https://www.patreon.com/c/EnlightenEdgeEDU . Please join us there so that you can participate in our in-depth lessons. This week we will address questions many people have about the creation and show how it all focuses on God and His Son.
In this weeks episode Kerry examines in detail the first part of the text of Genesis 1. He particularly explores the symbolism behind the words used for creation and shows how the order of creation makes sense, fixes the problems on non-creation and chaos, and accomplishes God's purposes. He will help you make sense of terms and symbols that may have eluded you before.
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