I don't know if anyone else has come across this but I have heard that the first sentence of Genesis was not accurately translated from the ancient hebrew text. The correct translation being "with the first principle god created...". It isn't hard to see why they might have altered the translation. They probably didn't see why god should need a principle to create. By they way I got this from a jewish profesor of religion who has studied the ancient text extensively.

'reshiyth' is the hebrew commonly translated as "in the beginning" , It is used to denote the "first fruits" [best fruits for sacrifice/offering] at other places in genesis and the OT, perhaps that could be part of the issue, I dont know Ancient Hebrew Grammar, I have researched the base words in Strongs, ISH may be more able to help

I speak only as a beginning student of Hebrew and am using my professor's ideas.

The word is beginning, but some how it is related to wisdom (I think by a play on words). Later Israelites (Psalms, Proverbs) draw out this play by saying that through wisdom God made the world. Later, Paul picks this up and explores all the possibilities that the grammar will allow between languages saying "all things were created by Him, and through Him, and for Him" speaking of Jesus. My professor actually does a small thing on Gen 1:1 saying that there should not be a period after verse 1, and that verse 1 should be started, "When God began creating the heavens and earth, the earth was formless and void...." Thus he throws out the gap theory of creation.

I can see the logic of wisdom as a principle, perhaps even the first principle. I would tend to agree with your professor, but I would like to know his specific rational for doing so before I would support it.