The Beginning (or Foundation of the World)
One of the first things to state is that the beginning of the world is not an event or a moment but a period of time spanning at least from Genesis 1 to Genesis 11.
Span of this Period
The "Beginning of the World" is a period of time spanning from the creation of the world [Gen 1:1] to the Beginning of Nations at Babel [Gen 11:1-9].
- Start of this Period.
- It is plainly called "the Beginning" in the account of the creation of the world recorded in Genesis [Gen 1:1].
- End of this Period
- Jesus' words about the great tribulation when compared to Daniel's words concerning the same great tribulation reveal to us that this period ends with the division of men into nations [Gen 11:7-8].
What Daniel called "the beginning of nations" [Dan 12:1] Jesus referred to as "the beginning of the world" [Mat 24:21]
- Inclusions in this Period
- The creation of Adam and Eve and the institution of marriage by God [Mat 19:4]
- This period includes the murder of Abel by Cain [Luk 11:50-51]
Synonyms
The beginning is not always referred to as "the beginning" it may also be referred to as
- The beginning,
- The beginning of the world,
- The beginning of the creation,
- The foundation of the world (grk., kosmos)