Genesis 1Why More than One View of Creationism is Biblically Possible

Important, Uncertain, Not Central

The meaning of bara’ (ברא)▫Argument that it means creation “from nothing”

The meaning of yom (יום) Especially when accompanied by a numeral

Real Issue: Clause Structure

What is a clause?

A group of related words containing a subject and a verb

• May or may not express a complete thought

• Verb may be expressed or not present -- just understood

Types of Clauses

INDEPENDENT clause

•A group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.

Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam.

Real Issue: Clause Structure

DEPENDENT clause

•A group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.

When Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam

Real Issue: Clause Structure

▫Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam

▫When Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam

Real Issue: Clause Structure

▫When Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam.

▫When Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam, he was able to concentrate.

▫His brother stayed away when Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam.

▫When Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam, he was able to concentrate.

▫His brother stayed away when Jim studied in his room for his chemistry exam.

Clause Questions

• INDEPENDENT or DEPENDENT?

Which is necessary for knowing …

What is the main idea? What modifies / describes what?

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth

Now the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters

And God said, “Let there be light”

And there was light

Genesis 1:1-3 independent

dependent

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the

deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the

face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there

was light.TRADITIONAL

VIEW

RESULT

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth

When God began to create the heavens and the earth

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth

When God began to create the heavens and the earth…

בראשAית

בראשAית

Genesis 1:1 LHB (MT)

1 When God began to create the heavens and the earth—

2 Now the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the

deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters—

3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:1-3 independent

dependent

SET UP verse 3

HEBREW SYNTAX VIEW

v. 3 = first creative act, not v.1

What’s the Importance?•Traditional View = Chronological Sequence

v. 1

• In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

v. 2

• [The result being] The earth was formless and empty, and

• Darkness was upon the face of the deep…and

• The Spirit of God was hovering…

v. 3

• [Then, next] God said, “Let there be light,”

• And there was light.

What’s the Importance?• Alternative Describes Conditions BEFORE the

first creative act

v. 1

• When God began to create the heavens and the earth.

v. 2

• [Here were the conditions:]• The earth was [at that moment] formless

and empty, and• Darkness was upon the face of the

deep…and• The Spirit of God was hovering…

v. 3

• [Then] God said, “Let there be light,”• And there was light.

Ramifications•The grammar and syntax of Genesis 1:1-3

allows these assertions:

• Genesis 1:1 • is not the absolute beginning

• Genesis 1:1-3 • describes an ORDERING or re-fashioning of matter (“heavens and earth”) that was ALREADY EXISTING when God got to work.

Important, Uncertain, Not Central

The meaning of bara’ (ברא)▫Argument that it means creation “from nothing”

• bara’ does not inherently speak of “creation from nothing”

• Alternate clause view does not support a context for that meaning.

• Gen 1:26-27; Gen 2:7, 22; Exod. 20:11

Important, Uncertain, Not Central

The meaning of yom (יום) Especially when accompanied by a numeral

yom (יום) + numeral • does not inherently require a 24-hour period

• e.g., Gen 31:23; Gen 33:13

Israelite WorldviewAncient People

Ancient Thinking

If the material is incomprehensible to its original audience, it is not revelation.

Pre-Scientific Biblical Thinking•Seat of thought & emotions = kidneys /

intestines – Prov 23:16

Hair length and fertility – 1 Cor. 11

Old Testament cosmology

Human persons existing within ONE parent – Hebrews 7:4-10

Israelite Cosmology•OT shares terms and ideas with ANE “pagans”

We see these terms as metaphorical—because we know better; they didn’t.

Exodus 20:4 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved

image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

The New Testament echoes this same cosmology.

Philippians 2: 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 5: 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.

The Waters Above and Below the Heavens

Genesis 1:6 - And God said, “Let there be an expanse (רקיע; raqiʿa) in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse (raqiʿa) from the waters that were above the expanse (raqiʿa). And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse (raqiʿa) Heaven.

Prov. 8: 27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm (אמץ; ʾamats) the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep. (cp. Isa 44:14 – lets the tree “grow firm” - אמץ ).

Psalm 148: Praise Him, highest heavens, and you waters that are above the heavens.

Job 37: 14Give ear to this, Job; Stop to consider the marvels of God. 15Do you know what charge God lays upon them, When His lightning-clouds shine? 16Do you know the marvels worked upon the expanse of clouds, By Him whose understanding is perfect, 17Why your clothes become hot When the land is becalmed by the south wind? 18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard (חזק;

hazaq) as a cast metal (מוצק; mutsaq) mirror?mutsaq – casting of the laver; hazaq – flint rock (Ezek 3:9)

Job 22:13  But you say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness? 14 Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.’

Psalm 29:10 – The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.

“God’s Eye” View of the Created World

EARTH

Job 26: 10 - He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.

Prov. 8: 27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep.

Gen 1: 9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called seas.

Job 26:11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.

2 Samuel 2:28 Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry.

Gen 8:2 - The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained.

Psalm 78:23 - Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven.

1 Sam 2:8 - For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.

Job 38: 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? . . . 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone?

Psalm 104:5 – He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

Psa 136:6 - to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Sheol is Under the Earth

Job 26:  5  The dead (rephaʾim) tremble under the waters and their inhabitants. 6 Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.

Isa 14:9  Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades (rephaʾim) to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations.

Everyone (righteous or wicked) goes to Sheol: Psalm 89:48 - What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah