The American Standard Version

1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

1:2 And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

1:11 And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so.

1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good.

1:13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

1:15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

1:16 And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

1:17 And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth,

1:18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

1:19 And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

1:20 And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

1:21 And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

1:22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.

1:23 And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth after their kind: and it was so.

1:25 And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the ground after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

1:27 And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

1:28 And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food:

1:30 and to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so.

1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Study Instructions for Each Echelon

• Echelon 1: Enthusiast - Understanding Our Origin and Purpose

  • Read: Focus on the narrative of creation, particularly noting the sequential and orderly manner in which God creates the universe, culminating in humanity.

  • Reflect: Consider what it means to be created in the image of God (Imago Dei). How does this inform your understanding of your own worth and potential? Reflect on how this foundational truth impacts your approach to self-awareness and personal development.

  • Apply: Think about ways in which understanding your divine origin can influence your daily decisions, the management of your personal responsibilities, and your interactions with others and the environment.

• Echelon 4: Emissary - Stewardship of Creation

  • Read: Examine the specific elements of creation over which humanity is given stewardship, noting the command to "subdue" and "have dominion" over the earth.

  • Reflect: Analyze the balance of power and responsibility in your role as a steward. How does managing your personal impulses relate to the broader concept of stewardship described in Genesis 1?

  • Teach: Prepare to communicate the concept of stewardship to others, using personal examples of how you exercise care over your environment, relationships, and self. Encourage your peers or followers to consider how they can act as stewards in their own lives and communities.

• Echelon 5: Master - Remembering the Foundations of Creation

  • Read: Revisit Genesis 1 with a focus on the sovereignty of God in creation. Pay particular attention to the phrase "And God saw that it was good" as it is repeated throughout the chapter.

  • Reflect: Consider the implications of God’s intentional and good creation on your role as a leader in a faith community. How does this influence your understanding of God’s order and your place within it?

  • Lead: Develop ways to incorporate the themes of creation, stewardship, and purpose into your teaching or mentoring. Craft lessons or discussions that help others connect their personal growth with their responsibilities as caretakers of God's creation, emphasizing the integration of faith, discipline, and leadership in every aspect of life.

These instructions aim to guide each echelon through a thoughtful engagement with Genesis 1, tailored to their developmental stage in the self-help methodology. The goal is to deepen understanding, inspire reflection, and encourage practical application of the principles derived from the creation narrative.

Genesis 1 Notes:

Genesis 1, the opening chapter of the Bible, is a foundational text that sets the stage for the entire biblical narrative. It describes the creation of the world by God in a series of deliberate and purposeful acts, emphasizing a universe created by divine command and imbued with order and goodness. The narrative unfolds over the course of six days, each marked by a specific creative act, culminating in the creation of humanity, made in the image of God.

In the beginning, the earth is formless, void, and cloaked in darkness. The spirit of God moves over the waters, and with the command "Let there be light," the separation of light from darkness introduces the recurring theme of order from chaos. This theme is further developed as the narrative progresses, with each day building upon the previous one to create a structured and habitable world. The sky, land, seas, and vegetation are all brought into being through God’s spoken word, highlighting the power and authority of divine speech.

The creation of celestial bodies on the fourth day serves to govern time and mark seasons, days, and years, illustrating the meticulous care taken to create a universe governed by predictable and stable laws. This precision underscores the dependability and faithfulness of the Creator, characteristics that provide a foundation for the relationship between God and humanity.

The narrative reaches its climax with the creation of living creatures, culminating in the creation of humankind on the sixth day. Unlike the rest of creation, humans are made in God's image, reflecting a unique relationship with the Creator. They are given dominion over the earth and responsibility for its stewardship, establishing humanity’s role as caretakers of the world. This creation of humans is God's final act before resting on the seventh day, a rest that sanctifies and blesses the day, setting a pattern for human rest and worship.

Genesis 1 is not only a story of origins but also a profound statement about the nature of God and the intended harmony of creation. The repeated affirmation that creation is "good" emphasizes the benevolence of God and the intrinsic value of the world. The chapter serves as an invitation to marvel at the complexity and order of the universe, to recognize humanity’s place within creation, and to acknowledge the divine grace that sustains all life. As such, Genesis 1 lays the theological and cosmological groundwork that will permeate the rest of the biblical text, framing all subsequent narratives within the context of a world created and ordered by a purposeful and loving God.