Genesis 1 Why 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… בראשׁי ת Genesis 1:1 LHB (MT)LHB

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. 20:11Gen 1:26-27Gen 2:722Exod. 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 33:13Gen 31:23Gen 33:13

Ancient 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 23:16Prov 23:16 Hair length and fertility – 1 Cor. 11 Old Testament cosmology Human persons existing within ONE parent – Hebrews 7:4-10 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 Genesis 1:6 - And God said, “Let there be an expanse ( רקיע ; raqi ʿ a) 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 (raqi ʿ a) from the waters that were above the expanse (raqi ʿ a). And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse (raqi ʿ a) Heaven.

Prov. 8Prov. 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 ; ʾ amats ) 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 37Job 37: 14 Give ear to this, Job; Stop to consider the marvels of God. 15 Do you know what charge God lays upon them, When His lightning-clouds shine? 16 Do you know the marvels worked upon the expanse of clouds, By Him whose understanding is perfect, 17 Why your clothes become hot When the land is becalmed by the south wind? 18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard ( חזק ; ḥazaq ) as a cast metal ( מוצק ; mutsaq) mirror? mutsaq – casting of the laver; ḥazaq – 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 (repha ʾ im) 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 (repha ʾ im) 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