The Book of Beginnings

Exposition of Genesis 1-11

How Far Weve Come
The biology department of Calvin
College in Michigan issued a
statement on May 7: We teach
evolutionary theory as the best
scientific explanation for the
dynamic diversity of life on
Earth...We teach biology from an
evolutionary paradigm (WORLD,
Sept 2010, p. 39).
Christiananswers.net lists 220 (out
of over 900) Christian colleges,
universities, and seminaries in the
US who accept and teach a literal
Genesis - including a six 24-hour
day Creation, no death before sin,
a global Flood and a young Earth.
 How Did We Get Here?
All alternative models to a literal 6 day creation and a
young earth are based upon an unquestioning
acceptance of the scientific evidence for the antiquity of
the earth and a compulsion to reconcile this scientific
evidence with the biblical account in Genesis 1.
Influenced by backlash to the 16th century Copernican
Revolution?
...if the data is overwhelmingly in favor of evolution, to deny that
reality will make us a cultsome odd group that is not really
interacting with the world. And rightly so, because we are not
using our gifts and trusting Gods Providence that brought us to
this point of our awareness (Bruce Waltke, in 2009 Biologos
interview).
In short, men monkey with the biblical text to make it fit
the science!
 An Interesting Admission by an
Evolutionist
[Evolution is] a theory universally
accepted not because it can be proved by
logically coherent evidence to be true but
because the only alternative, special
creation, is clearly incredible (D.M.S.
Watson, Adaptation, Nature, Vol. 124
[1929], p. 233).
 Some Wrong Interpretations of
Genesis 1
Theistic Evolution Based upon an unquestioning
acceptance of the theory of evolution coupled with an
acknowledgement of the existence of God and an
acceptance of the Genesis account as poetical and non-
historical.
Denies the validity and authority of special revelation.
Progressive Creationism Based upon an unquestioning
acceptance of the scientific evidence for the antiquity of
the earth coupled with God being actively and creatively
involved at certain stages in the process of evolutionary
development.
Re-defines day as a day-age. Claims to interpret Gen 1
literally! Denies any interpretive value to Exod 20:8-11; 31:15-17.
Hugh Ross is a well-known progressive creationist who accepts
the scientifically determined age of the earth (14 billion years)
but rejects the theory of species evolving into higher forms.
 Some Wrong Interpretations of
Genesis 1
Gap Theory (Ruin-Reconstruction) Based upon an unquestioning
acceptance of the scientific evidence for the antiquity of the earth
coupled with God refurbishing or reconstructing the earth after the
judgment resulting from the fall of Satan; takes was in Gen 1:2 to
mean became.
Since there was a long period between vv. 1 and 2, can still hold to 24
hour days in Genesis 1.
Poses the gap to reconcile Gen 1 with modern scientific theory. No
evidence for such a gap either in Genesis or elsewhere in Scripture.
Pre-creation Chaos Theory Based upon an unquestioning
acceptance of the scientific evidence for the antiquity of the earth
coupled with God not giving a final word on origins, plus the impact
of ancient mythological cosmogonies having included chaos prior to
construction.
Denies the account having any reference to creatio ex nihilo.
Denies an absolute beginning in v. 1 and assumes that physical
existence is present at the beginning.
Poses without form and void to mean something negative and sinister,
a watery chaos, which God then proceeds to overcome.
Posits Gods creative activity only beginning in v. 3.
 The Proper Response
Recognize that the creation account in Genesis
1 is from the Creator Himself and is in that sense
an eyewitness account!
Interpret Genesis 1 with a historical-grammatical
hermeneutic, according to what the words
actually say and in their historical context.
Allow Genesis 1 to say what it says, without
trying to reconcile it to scientific theory. Interpret
creation in light of the Bible, not vice versa.
Next Week: Creation
Part I
Gen 1:1-23