The Time and Content of Bereshith in Genesis 1:1

Without a doubt the title of this essay assigned to us requires a word of explanation before we begin to discuss the ideas expressed in it. Many of our readers would like to know, and properly so, what this; essay is all about before they begin to read it. From past experience undersigned can well imagine that some of our readers will say to themselves, "Well, now what does that Latin or Greek word "bereshith" mean anyway?" Many of our younger generation are apt to ask what this Dutch word...