O man, why wander thus from the truth, and imagine for thyself that which will cause thy perdition?  The word is simple and within the comprehension of all.  “The earth was invisible.”  Why?  Because the “deep” was spread over its surface.  What is “the deep”?  A mass of water of extreme depth.  But we know that we can see many bodies through clear and transparent water.  How then was it that no part of the earth appeared through the water?  Because the air which surrounded it was still without light and in darkness.  The rays of the sun, penetrating the water, often allow us to see the pebbles which form the bed of the river, but in a dark night it is impossible for our glance to penetrate under the water.  Thus, these words “the earth was invisible” are explained by those that follow; “the deep” covered it and itself was in darkness.  Thus, the deep is not a multitude of hostile powers, as has been imagined; i.e. by those who would identify the ἄβυσσος (Tehôm) of Gen. i. 2 with that of Luke i. 31, and understand it to mean the abode in prison of evil spirits.  The Hebrew word occurs in Job xxviii. 14 and Deut. xxxiii. 13 for the depth of waters. nor “darkness” an evil sovereign force in enmity with good.  In reality two rival principles of equal power, if engaged without ceasing in a war of mutual attacks, will end in self destruction.  But if one should gain the mastery it would completely annihilate the conquered.  Thus, to maintain the balance in the struggle between good and evil is to represent them as engaged in a war without end and in perpetual destruction, where the opponents are at the same time conquerors and conquered.  If good is the stronger, what is there to prevent evil being completely annihilated?  But if that be the case, the very utterance of which is impious, I ask myself how it is that they themselves are not filled with horror to think that they have imagined such abominable blasphemies.