In the context of biblical literature, "chaos" often refers to the state of disorder and confusion that existed before God's creative order was established. The concept of chaos is primarily associated with the creation narrative found in the Book of Genesis.

Genesis and the Primordial Chaos

The opening verses of Genesis describe the earth as "formless and void" (Genesis 1:2), with darkness over the surface of the deep. This depiction suggests a primordial chaos, a state of disorder that precedes the divine act of creation. The Hebrew term "tohu wa-bohu" is often translated as "formless and void," indicating a lack of structure and order. The Spirit of God hovering over the waters signifies the impending transformation from chaos to cosmos, as God begins to speak creation into existence.

Chaos in Ancient Near Eastern Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, chaos was often personified as a cosmic sea or a dragon-like creature that needed to be subdued by a deity. While the Bible does not explicitly personify chaos in this way, the imagery of God bringing order to the chaotic waters aligns with these cultural motifs. The biblical narrative, however, emphasizes the sovereignty and power of the one true God over any chaotic forces, contrasting with polytheistic myths where gods struggle against chaos.

Theological Implications

The biblical account of creation underscores the theme of God's sovereignty and order. By transforming chaos into a structured and harmonious universe, God establishes His authority over all creation. This act of bringing order out of chaos is foundational to understanding God's nature as a God of order, not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Chaos and Eschatology

In eschatological passages, chaos is often depicted as a force that will be ultimately subdued in the final establishment of God's kingdom. The imagery of a new heaven and a new earth in Revelation suggests a return to divine order, where chaos and disorder are permanently eradicated. Revelation 21:1 states, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." The absence of the sea, often symbolic of chaos, indicates the complete triumph of God's order.

Moral and Spiritual Chaos

Beyond the physical realm, chaos can also refer to moral and spiritual disorder. The Bible frequently addresses the chaos that results from sin and rebellion against God. The fall of humanity introduced a moral chaos that disrupted the intended harmony between God, humanity, and creation. Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to live in accordance with His divine order, offering redemption and restoration through Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of chaos serves as a backdrop for understanding God's creative power, His sovereignty over disorder, and His ultimate plan to restore order to His creation. Through the narrative of Scripture, chaos is depicted not as an insurmountable force, but as a condition that God has already begun to transform and will ultimately overcome in the fulfillment of His divine purposes.Luke 10:38-42
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Topicalbible.org

Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Topicalbible.org

1. (n.) A disorderly, confused, condition or state.

2. (n.) The confused, unorganized condition or mass of matter before the creation of distinct and orderly forms.

3. (n.) Any confused or disordered collection or state of things; a confused mixture; confusion; disorder.

8414. tohu -- formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition formlessness, confusion, unreality,
emptiness NASB Word Usage chaos (1), confusion (1), desolation (1), emptiness (1 ...
/hebrew/8414.htm - 6k

A Chaos of Hatreds
... BOOK III A CHAOS OF HATREDS. Omai convien che tu cos?� ti spoltre, Disse il maestro;
ch?? seggendo in piuma. In fama non si vien, n?? sotto coltre. Dante, Inf. ...
/.../gathering clouds a tale of the days of st chrysostom/a chaos of hatreds.htm

Origin of Chaos.
... Homily VI. Chapter IV."Origin of Chaos. "This matter, of four kinds, and
endowed with life, was an entire infinite abyss, so to ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter iv origin of chaos.htm

Through all this Chaos, Then we Come Back once More to Our Main ...
... Chapter 36 Through all this chaos, then we come back once more to our main
conclusion.? Through all this chaos, then we come back ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 36 through all this.htm

The Gradual Development of Cosmical Order Out of Chaos in the ...
... Chapter XXIX."The Gradual Development of Cosmical Order Out of Chaos in
the Creation, Beautifully Stated. God, indeed, consummated ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xxix the gradual development of.htm

Appion Proceeds to Interpret the Myths.
... "There was once a time when nothing existed but chaos and a confused mixture of
orderless elements, which were as yet simply heaped together. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter iii appion proceeds to interpret.htm

Hesiod on the Origin of the World.
... "First of all things was chaos made, and next. Broad-bosom'd earth's foundations
firm were fixed,. ... From chaos Erebus and night were born,. ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter vi hesiod on the origin.htm

part i.
... Phenomena were studied alone. The world then was a chaos, a collection of
single, isolated, and independent facts. Deeper thinkers saw ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/part i.htm

The Last Two Verses of Chapterviii. ...
... Nothing could so powerfully speak the awful chaos of his soul; and"mark it
well"in that same awful chaos would you and I be at any moment, my reader, if we ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter ix the last two.htm

Significant Phrases
... analytical and critical. anarchy and chaos. ancient and venerable. anecdote and
reminiscence. ... change and variety. chaos and confusion. character and temperament. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section ii significant phrases.htm

O God of Our Salvation,
... Arose from brooding night; And chaos, and confusion,. To form and order sped,. ... Speak
as of old, and banish. The chaos and the night,. And bid their sorrows vanish ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/o god of our salvation.htm

Chaos (4 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Any confused or disordered collection or state of things; a confused mixture;
confusion; disorder. Multi-Version Concordance Chaos (4 Occurrences). ...
/c/chaos.htm - 7k

Cosmological
... Hesiod's poem is a confused story of how from Chaos came forth Earth, Tartarus
(Hell), Eros (Love) and Erebus (Night). Erebus gives birth to Aether (Day). ...
/c/cosmological.htm - 33k

World (2829 Occurrences)
... Hesiod's poem is a confused story of how from Chaos came forth Earth, Tartarus
(Hell), Eros (Love) and Erebus (Night). Erebus gives birth to Aether (Day). ...
/w/world.htm - 40k

Chapel (1 Occurrence)

/c/chapel.htm - 8k

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)
... of his acts" we are referred, also for the last time, to the "book of the kings
of Israel and Judah." 2. Prophetic: For the moral and spiritual chaos of the ...
/j/jehoiakim.htm - 33k

Deep (237 Occurrences)
... Used to denote (1) the grave or the abyss (Romans 10:7; Luke 8:31); (2) the deepest
part of the sea (Psalm 69:15); (3) the chaos mentioned in Genesis 1:2; (4 ...
/d/deep.htm - 41k

Benammi (1 Occurrence)
... Gunkel (Schopfung und Chaos, 190) suggests that the narrative (Genesis 19:30-38)
was originally a Moabitic account tracing the common origin of Moab and Ammon ...
/b/benammi.htm - 9k

Ben-ammi (1 Occurrence)
... Gunkel (Schopfung und Chaos, 190) suggests that the narrative (Genesis 19:30-38)
was originally a Moabitic account tracing the common origin of Moab and Ammon ...
/b/ben-ammi.htm - 9k

Chanuneus

/c/chanuneus.htm - 6k

Astronomy
... 2) The Alexandrian Conception 4. The Windows of Heaven 5. Rain 6. Clouds 7. The
Deep (1) Meaning of the Word (2) The Babylonian Dragon of Chaos LITERATURE The ...
/a/astronomy.htm - 40k

What does it mean that God is not the author of confusion? | GotQuestions.org

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Chaos: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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