In previous postings, I have examined three reasons commonly-advanced for favoring the two alternative translations to the traditional rendering of Gen. 1:1 as an absolute beginning (“In-the-beginning God created the-heavens [or heaven] and-the-earth”). The arguments are based on grammar, style, and theology. In each instance I indicated why the arguments are not fully persuasive. In this post, I’ll address yet another area of inquiry: historical precedence in translation. This fourth area in my opinion tips the probability scales decidedly in favor...Read More