“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
The word “God” in this verse is the Hebrew word, ‘elohim. The greatly respected Bible translator Jospeh Bryant Rotherham has the following comment in The Emphasized Bible: “It should be carefully observed that, although ‘elohim is plural in form, yet when, as here, it is construed with a verb in the singular, it is naturally singular in sense; especially since the ‘plural of quality’ or ‘excellence’ abounds in Hebrew in cases where the reference is undeniably to something which must be understood in the singular number.”
Rotherham is explaining in Genesis 1:1 that “God” is grammatically defined as singular in concept. When the Bible uses the title ’elohim and a singular verb, ‘elohim is then understood as singular.
Furthermore, the Bible clearly teaches that God is the sole author of all creation; however, He employed His only begotten Son to be the active agency of His plans. Additionally, it is certainly probable that the Logos (Jesus in His pre-human existence) employed other helps such as the angels to aid Him in the tremendous endeavor of the creation of the physical universe.
This truth is explained in 1 Corinthians 8:6, “…there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” Simply put – creation is of the Father by the Son.
In summary: “God” in Genesis 1:1 has a plural form but it is followed by a singular verb. Therefore, God should be understood in the singular and as having great excellence. Additionally, creation was planned by God and then carried out through the Logos (now Jesus Christ).
