Your reading into the text an assumption. You are assuming that verse 1 describes a different creation than found in the six days of creation. You are assuming what is found in verse 1 is created in contrast to what is found in verses 3-31 which is "made." You are placing a "gap" of time between verse 1 and six days. That is a "gap" and it is part of the "gap" theory.
My position assumes verse 1 is the creation of the substance and verses 2-31 is the formation and filling of the substance all within six days.
Your posit of a "gap" between what is found in verse 1 and what is found in verses 3-31 based merely on the distinction between "created" and "made" contradicts other clear scripture as no New Testament writer posits such a "gap" or refers to any previous creation. Such a position requires destruction of life and thus contradictory to Romans 5:12 and many other scriptures that trace sin and decay to one man Adam and the garden of Eden.
I said nothing about life, that is another question [as for the use of 'gap' that only ads confusion because I am NOT referring to the 'gap theory']
All I posted related only to the the fact that we have nothing in Scripture on which to base the age of the planet earth [which, obviously, was lifeless for some period of time whatever your position is].
I am 'assuming' as the text says in verse one that God created the universe. How do you get a 'different creation?...that is gap theory, and as I plainly stated, I, like you, reject that theory. Your continued attack on the gap theory is your strawman. I have no dog in that fight.
I am 'assuming' as verse two says that the earth was lifeless at this point.
And what the time lapse was before God began the forming and filling on day one, no man can say based on this text.
YOU are assuming that verse one is not an ablsolute statement about God's creation of the universe. The empty, dark earth precedes day one in a literal understanding of the text. The three conditions of an EXISTING earth that are described in verse two are then remedied by God beginnning with light for the dark earth.
The earth of verse 2 exists prior to the six days of setting it in order.
[Look at the clear structure of the text. The beginnning of each day is clearly marked with the exact same phrase, "And God said....," the first of which begins in verse 3, FOLLOWING the existing, dark, empty earth of verse 2]