S10E1. Genesis 1 - In the Beginning (Genesis 1-9 Deep Dive, Part One)

Step into the very first verse of the Bible with a new podcast series from Tyndale House, Cambridge, on Genesis (The Creation Story). 

Episode 1 explores the full depth of Genesis 1:1 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth'. This single verse has shaped centuries of belief, debate, and scholarship, and we unpack why it still matters today.

In this episode, we take a research‑rich, accessible journey through some of the most searched questions about the creation narrative:

• How does Genesis 1:1 compare to ancient Mesopotamian creation myths such as the Enuma Elish and other Near Eastern texts?
• Can we trust the historical reliability of this ancient narrative?
• What numerical patterns and structural features appear in the Hebrew text, and how might they highlight the intentional design of God’s Word?

Perfect for listeners searching for Genesis commentary, Bible Study podcasts, creation vs ancient myths, Old Testament background, and biblical numerology explained. 

Whether you’re exploring Scripture for the first time or diving deeper into familiar passages, this episode offers a thoughtful, engaging look at the verse that starts it all.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Peter Williams, Principal of Tyndale House, Cambridge and author of 'Can We Trust the Gospels?' And 'The Surprising Genius of Jesus'. He is joined by Dr. J Caleb Howard and Dr. James Bejon, who both work on the Old Testament names project at Tyndale house. 

Edited by Tyndale House

Music – Acoustic Happy Background used with a standard license from Adobe Stock.

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Timestamps 

00:00 Introduction 

00:35 Genesis 1:1

1:30 Is Genesis like Enūma eliš?

1:50 What is the link between Genesis 1&2

4:41 Genesis 1:1-5

6:30 Mesopotamian texts and the links to Genesis

8:54 Is Enūma Eliš well known in the Ancient Near East? (+ Star Wars)

10:10 Back to links between Mesopotamian texts and Genesis

12:30 Are there connections between Genesis 1:2 and Tiamat?

15:00 Is Genesis 1 poetry?

17:08 The descriptions of God in Genesis 1 in light of the canon of scripture

22:15 James’ love for biblical numerology

27:15 Caleb’s response