(Gen. 1:3) How could God create light after the creation of the Earth?

CLAIM: Genesis teaches that God created light after the creation of the Earth. However, Earth came about after the existence of stars, which produce light.

RESPONSE: The text doesn’t say that God created light after the Earth (Hebrew bara). Instead, it says, “Let there be light…” Because the language is different, this must refer to the purpose of light –not the existence of it. For instance, the purpose of light was to differentiate day and night (v.5). In other words, the text is saying, “Let there be light for the purpose of telling day from night.” For another instance of this, see comments on Genesis 1:14.