HEBREWS 11.3: By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (ESV)
The verse above is very difficult to translate out of its original Greek language text. The translator, in my opinion, has to do extra interpretive work to arrive at and communicate what is being said. So much so that I’m going to set it forth in the text’s word order, complying with the grammar, and using the predominant meanings associated with each word. It can be seen that this verse takes a considerable effort to understand, and the translators of the version above did a great job.
Hebrews 11.3: “By faith we understand to have been put in order the ages by word of God, so that the thing not from giving light the thing being seen to have become.”
This verse tells us what we need to know about the origin of the universe to direct us by faith to God. I have heard it said, “I believe God made me”, in response to seeking to understand the creation account of Genesis 1. It seems to me that this is the first step in understanding how it is that we have a right relationship with God.
For me the idea of “to have been put in order” is in keeping with the concept of a designed universe. And the word for “word” is the word which most communicates “spoken word”. The word for “ages”, which is how it is mostly translated, can also be translated with the idea of “spatial world”. If this verse was only referring to the physical universe it seems to me it would have used the word, “kosmos”. So introducing a time element indicates to me that the verse is communicating that God has been at work continually from the beginning, bringing the universe to its present state of being.
And the expression, “from giving light” brings to my mind the stars in their expanse. I think the singular use of “thing” indicates a collective reference.
The material universe did not come into being out of anything that is seen, or that shines at us from the sky. Pre-existing matter did not give birth to the universe, nor did matter put itself in order. God spoke the universe into being from nothing, and brought about its order and design.