Psalm 100:5 KITOVADONAI Becausegood (is) the LORD LE’OLAMH ̣ ASDO (2X) To eternity (is)His hesed VE’ADDORVE-DOR (2X) And unto generation and generation EMUNATO His faithfulness

An Announcement and Introductory Question Talk on the Big Bang – this evening at 7:15 in J 237 What have been for you the most challenging aspects of Genesis 1-3? Review: the importance of general and special revelation

Genesis: The Creation Accounts

An Overview of Genesis Meaning of “genesis” Universal focus in chs 1-11: origins of… –Universe –Humankind –Sin –Covenant –Ethnic distinctions Chs – Abraham and the covenant with the Chosen People

Potential for Controversy Authorship and date Purpose(s) of composition: historically/factually truthful or “myth”? –Myth – narrative that is not factually accurate but conveys universal truths Creation and evolution Implications regarding gender relationships Thoughts regarding the origin of evil

Exploring creation and evolution Each term has its own multiple interpretations In this discussion, evolution has particular reference to origin of life and the appearance of humankind It is important to distinguish between macro-and micro- as well as evolutionary processes in the solar system that do not have directly to do with the appearance of life The evolutionary model necessitates reading Genesis 1- 2 as either a myth or as a solely theological statement In the creation model, God is the Beginner, the Designer, and Source of life. Thus, there is intrinsic value to all of life, especially humankind. The creation model encompasses both young earth and old earth approaches

The Biblical Data “In the beginning God…” The account is poetic, ordered, and brief but encompasses the entire universe. It is structured by the Word. Water is a key element and the Spirit moved on the face of the waters. Light and goodness are significant; there is a fundamentally moral nature to the universe

Further Biblical Data Increasing order and complexity with each creative day; parallel developments: –Day 1 light/darknessDay 4 specific lights –Day 2 waters/skyDay 5 creatures of water and sky –Day 3 land/vegetationDay 6 all creatures of land Day 7 – God rested and the Sabbath is blessed

Two additional biblical matters… The verbs used in the narrative/poetry suggest God’s intimate involvement with the process (“made”, “set”, “created”, “formed”, “planted”) in conjunction with the land and the water “bringing forth”. Yom (the word translated “day”) even in the immediate context (2:4) does not exclusively mean 24 hour period

Data from general revelation (example: the “Owl Nebula”) 2600 light years away (light travels 5.8 trillion miles in one year) Very close – part of the Milky Way

Surveying General Revelation All aspects of nature - geological and astronomical evidence - indicate a 4.5 billion year old earth (geological evidence and fossil materials) and a 13.7 billion year old universe (light travel time; distance of galaxies; expanding universe)

Important Distinctions Data are the facts as discovered in both the biblical text and the created world Theories are what theologians, on the one hand, and scientists, on the other, have proposed to explain the data. In regard to the data from nature, it is important to distinguish between the geological record (continuous) and the fossil record (intermittent).

Several interpretive options Theistic evolution – God’s chosen mechanism Progressive creationism: “Day-age” or “pronouncement days” – an old earth but a creationist perspective Framework hypothesis - avoids the “age” questions and is instead a theological approach Young earth creationism - “days” are 24 hour periods; earth is approximately 10,000 years old Revelatory days – has nothing to do with creative days but refers to the days Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving revelation about creation (cf. Exodus 24:16)

Brief observations It is necessary to treat all the data, both biblical and scientific, with integrity Creation is a testimony to God, not a veil (Psalm 19 and Romans 1) – the “apparent age” option is questionable In creation, God used both miracle and natural processes

“and He created adam (humankind  “male and female”) in His own image…” (1:27) Ancient Near Eastern thinking about image focused on function rather than physical representation “composition” – God’s breath and dust of the earth Ezer kenegdo – “a help opposite him” Purposes –Be fruitful and multiply –Work with and tend creation –“vehicle” for the incarnation Significance of the names of God: Both Elohim and Yahweh in chapter 2 –Note that the serpent and Eve will only use Elohim (ch 3)

“When on high…” (the Enuma Elish) The parallels –creation from nothing –water and darkness prominent The contrasts –dualism (Apsu divine patron of fresh water and Tiamat of salt water) –mindless frenzy of gods –deities are “created after the image of humans” – squabbling and assassinations