Topic
Beginning
6 passages cited, from 1 classic reference work.
These works date from 1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Genesis 1:1ISBE
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
- Exodus 12:2ISBE
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
- Proverbs 1:7ISBE
¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- John 1:1ISBE
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Colossians 1:18ISBE
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
- Revelation 3:14ISBE
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
In the reference works
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 6 references
be-gin'-ing (re'-shith; arche): The natural meaning of the word is with reference to time. The primitive Greek root means "to be long," "to draw out." Thus, it is used to refer to some point of time long drawn out, or long past (Ge 1:1). It is used also to express the inauguration of a particular event (Ex 12:2). The principal interest in the word centers in the use of it in Joh 1:1. It must be interpreted here by that which follows in the statement as to the relation of the Logos to the Eternal God and the use of the word "was." It is true that the word arche cannot be separated from the idea of time, but when time began He already was, and therefore He was from eternity.
Figurative: in a figurative sense it is used of that which is most excellent, the chief part (Pr 1:7); of the most eminent person (Col 1:18); the author (Re 3:14).
Jacob W. Kapp
Texts: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.