1. The Biblical Account of Origins Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 14/1 (Spring 2003) 4-43
By Richard M. Davidson
The Biblical Account of Origins, by Richard M. Davidson

2. basic elements in the biblical account
“In the beginning—the “when” of origins
“God”—the “Who” of origins
“created”—the “how” of origins
“the heavens and the earth”—the “what” of origins
Dr. Davidson’s article focuses on the basic elements in the biblical account of origins, which are summarized in the opening verse of the Bible / the When/ Who/ how/ and what of origins (2x)

3. When who how what
This article deals with each of these elements…

4. When who how what
…with special emphasis on the “when” and aspects of the other elements that involve the relationship between Scripture and science.

5. Absolute or Relative Beginning?
When who how what
Absolute or Relative Beginning?
The first question involving the “when” of origins asks whether Genesis 1-2 describes an absolute or relative beginning.

6. Two major translations
The answer depends on the translation of Genesis 1:1.
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

7. Two major translations
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
There are two major translations or interpretations.
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

8. Two major translations
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
”In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
KJV, NIV, NJB, NLT, NASB, NKJV, REB, RSV
The standard translation until recently is an independent clause (in other words, a complete sentence that can stand alone) /—“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” This translation implies that God existed before matter, and that He created planet earth “out of nothing.”
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

9. Two major translations
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
”In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
KJV, NIV, NJB, NLT, NASB, NKJV, REB, RSV
“When God began to create the heavens and the earth….”
NJPS , NAB, NRSV, NEB
In recent decades, some versions have translated Genesis 1:1 as a dependent clause (or a phrase that is not a complete sentence) instead:/ “When God began to create the heavens and the earth…”
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

10. Two major translations
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
Creatio ex nihilo is explicitly affirmed.
God exists before matter.
God creates the heavens, earth, darkness, the deep, and water.
There is an absolute beginning of time for the cosmos.
No creatio ex nihilo is mentioned.
Matter is already in existence when God begins to create.
The heavens, earth, darkness, the deep, and water already exist at the beginning of God’s creative activity.
No absolute beginning is indicated.
Let’s compare the two and notice the theological implications: / The independent clause explicitly affirms the concept of creation out of nothing. / The dependent clause does not. /
With the independent clause, God exists before matter. / With the dependent clause, matter is already in existence when God begins to create. / In the standard translation, God creates the heavens, earth, darkness, the deep, and water. / In the more recent translation, these things already exist at the beginning of God’s creative activity. / With the independent clause, there is an absolute beginning of time for the cosmos. / With the dependent clause, there is not. (2x)
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

11. WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?
importance
“The issue between these two options…is not esoteric quibbling…does Genesis 1:1 suggest that in the beginning there was one—God; or does it suggest that in the beginning there were two—God and preexistent chaos?”
Victor P. Hamilton,
The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17
The importance of this question boils down to this: does Genesis 1:1 suggest that in the beginning there was just God—or that in the beginning there was something else there with God?
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

12. Evidence for independent clause
According to Hebrew grammar and syntax, the natural reading of Genesis 1:1 is as an independent clause: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
The author of this article prefers the standard translation. Let’s look at the evidence for Genesis 1:1 being an independent clause. / According to Hebrew grammar and syntax, the natural reading of Genesis 1:1 is as an independent clause: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

13. Evidence for independent clause
The short, stylistic structure matches the rest of the chapter.
The short, stylistic structure matches the rest of the chapter.
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

14. Evidence for independent clause
The theological thrust of a God who transcends matter matches the rest of the chapter.
The theological thrust of a God who transcends matter matches the rest of the chapter.
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

15. Evidence for independent clause
All the ancient versions (LXX, Vulgate, etc.) use the independent clause.
All the ancient versions use the independent clause.
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

16. Evidence for independent clause
John 1:1 alludes to Genesis 1:1 and uses the independent clause.
“In the beginning was the word…”
John 1:1 alludes to Genesis 1:1 and uses the independent clause. “In the beginning was the word…”
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

17. Conclusion—absolute beginning
“I find the weight of evidence within Scripture decisive in pointing toward the traditional translation of Genesis 1:1 as an independent clause: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’”
From the evidence the author concludes that Genesis 1:1 points toward the traditional translation of Genesis 1:1 and describes an absolute beginning.
WHEN--Absolute or Relative Beginning?

18. When who how what
Continuing with the “when” of origins…

19. Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?
When who how what
Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?
The next question asks whether the Genesis account of creation is meant to be taken literally or not.

20. WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?
importance
Without a literal beginning, there is no literal end.
The doctrines of humanity, sin, salvation, judgment, Sabbath, etc., presented already in the opening chapters of Genesis, all hinge upon a literal interpretation of origins.
The answer to this question is important for at least two reasons: / There are many scriptural links between the opening chapters of the OT and the closing chapters of the NT. Without a literal beginning, would we expect there to be a literal ending? / Also, the doctrines of humanity, sin, salvation, judgment, Sabbath, etc., presented already in the opening chapters of Genesis, all hinge upon a literal interpretation of origins.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

21. Evidence for literal beginning
Literary genre of Genesis 1-11 points to the literal historical nature of the creation account.
Best genre designation is “historical narrative prose”
The narratives of Genesis 1-2 lack any clues that they are to be taken as non-literal
The creation narratives are different than later biblical narratives, but this is because of their subject matter (creation) and not their literary form (narrative)
Let’s examine the evidence for a literal beginning: / The contents of Genesis 1 do not fit into the genres of parable, vision, or liturgy. Walter Kaiser says the best genre designation is historical narrative prose. / The narratives of Genesis 1-2 lack any clues that they are to be taken as something non-literal. / The creation narratives are different than later biblical narratives, but this is because of their subject matter and not their literary form. Although God did an extraordinary work in that week, far transcending anything that has occurred since, it was still a real and literal week, just like we ourselves experience every seven days.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

22. Evidence for literal beginning
The literary structure of Genesis as a whole indicates the intended literal nature of the creation narratives
Genesis structured by the word “generations”
Used in the setting of genealogies concerned with the accurate account of time and history
“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth” shows the author intends it to be literal
We find other evidence in the literary structure of Genesis as a whole. / The whole book is structured by the word generations. This word appears in each section of Genesis, for a total of 13 times. / This word is used in the setting of genealogies concerned with the accurate account of time and history. / The use of generations in Genesis 2:4 shows that the author intends the creation account to be taken literally.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

23. Evidence for literal beginning
The use of specific temporal terms
“Evening and morning” at the conclusion of each of the six days of creation
Use of “evening” and “morning” together outside of Genesis 1, invariably, without exception in the OT (57 times) indicate a literal solar day
The use of specific temporal terms in the creation account is evidence that it is to be taken literally. “Evening and morning” at the conclusion of each of the six days of creation clearly defines the nature of the days as literal, 24-hour days. / The use of these words together outside of Genesis 1 invariably and without exception in the OT indicate a literal solar day.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

24. Evidence for literal beginning
The use of specific temporal terms
The occurrence of the Hebrew word for day (yom) with ordinal numbers (first day, second day, third day, etc.) elsewhere in Scripture reveals that such usage always refers to literal days
References to the function of the sun and moon for signs, seasons, days, and years indicates literal time
The occurrence of the Hebrew word for day with ordinal numbers, like the first day, second day, third day, etc. elsewhere in Scripture reveals that such usage always refers to literal days. /
References to the function of the sun and moon for signs, seasons, days, and years indicates literal time.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

25. Evidence for literal beginning
The divine Lawgiver unequivocally interprets the first week as a literal week, consisting of seven consecutive, contiguous twenty-four-hour days.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy…six days shalt thou labor…but the seventh day is the Sabbath… for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is… Exodus 20:8-11
Let’s look at how the creation story has been interpreted elsewhere in Scripture. / The divine Lawgiver Himself, when He was giving the 10 Commandments to Moses unequivocally interprets the first week as a literal week. / “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy…six days shalt thou labor…but the seventh day is the Sabbath…for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is…
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

26. Evidence for literal beginning
Jesus refers to Genesis 1-11 with the underlying assumption that it is literal, reliable history
Jesus refers to Genesis 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
Jesus refers to Genesis 1-11 with the underlying assumption that it is literal, reliable history. He specifically refers to Genesis chapters 1-7.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

27. Evidence for literal beginning
The biblical writers understood the six days of creation as six literal, historical, contiguous, creative, natural twenty- four-days.
All NT writers refer to Genesis 1-11 with the underlying assumption that it is literal, reliable history
Every chapter of Genesis 1-11 is referred to somewhere in the NT
Biblical writers understood the six days of creation as literal./ All NT writers refer to Genesis 1-11, / and every chapter of Genesis 1-11 is referred to somewhere in the NT.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

28. Evidence for literal beginning
“The author of Genesis 1 could not have produced more comprehensive and all-inclusive ways to express the idea of a literal ‘day’ than the one chosen.” (Hasel, “The ‘Days’ of Creation in Genesis 1”)
Gerhard Hasel in his article The Days of Creation in Genesis 1 says this: “The author of Genesis 1 could not have produced more comprehensive and all-inclusive ways to express the idea of a literal day than the one chosen.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

29. WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?
Conclusion—literal
Based upon the testimony of the Genesis account and later intertextual allusions to this account, I must join the host of scholars, ancient and modern—both critical and evangelical—who affirm the literal, historical nature of Genesis 1 and 2, with a literal creation week consisting of six historical, contiguous, creative, natural twenty-four-hour days, followed immediately by a literal twenty-four-hour seventh day, during which God rested, blessing and sanctifying the Sabbath as a memorial of creation.
The author concludes: Based upon the testimony of the Genesis account and later intertextual allusions to this account, I must join the host of scholars, ancient and modern—both critical and evangelical—who affirm the literal, historical nature of Genesis 1 and 2, with a literal creation week consisting of six historical, contiguous, creative, natural twenty-four-hour days, followed immediately by a literal twenty-four-hour seventh day, during which God rested, blessing and sanctifying the Sabbath as a memorial of creation.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

30. WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?
Even critical scholars protest non-literal interpretations
As many evangelical scholars have moved away from a literal interpretation, critical scholars who do not even believe in the authority of the early chapters of Genesis themselves protest this misinterpretation of the obvious intent of scripture..
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

31. WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?
…so far as I know there is no professor of Hebrew or Old Testament at any world-class university who does not believe that the writer(s) of Genesis 1-11 intended to convey to their readers the idea that creation took place in a series of six days which were the same as the days of 24 hours we now experience…
James Barr, critical scholar
Critical scholar, James Barr says this: …so far as I know there is no professor of Hebrew or Old Testament at any world-class university who does not believe that the writer of Genesis 1-11 intended to convey to their readers the idea that creation took place in a series of six days which were the same as the days of 24 hours we now experience…
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

32. WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?
Everything that is said here [in Genesis 1] is to be accepted exactly as it is written; nothing is to be interpreted symbolically or metaphorically.
Gerhard von Rad, critical scholar
Another giant in OT scholarship, Gerhard von Rad, says: Everything that is said here [in Genesis 1] is to be accepted exactly as it is written; nothing is to be interpreted symbolically or metaphorically.
WHEN—Literal or Non-Literal Beginning?

33. It is not the text that causes people to think otherwise, only the demands of trying to harmonize with modern science.
One commentary suggests that it is not the text that causes people to think otherwise, only the demands of trying to harmonize with modern science.

34. When who how what
(no script—advance to the next slide)

35. Multiple of Single Beginnings?
When who how what
Multiple of Single Beginnings?
The third “when” question deals with whether there were multiple beginnings or only a single beginning. In other words, is there some kind of time gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:3ff?

36. WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?
Active gap theory
“The earth became without form and void”
Active Gap Theory—”ruin restoration”
Satan ruled an originally perfect creation some unknown time ago, before his rebellion
Earth became chaotic because of
Satan’s experimentation
God’s judgment
Translating Genesis 1:2 as “the earth became without form and void” has produced the active gap theory in which it is hypothesized that Satan ruled a perfect creation here before his rebellion. / According to this idea, the chaotic state described in verse 2 happened as a result of experimentation by Satan or judgment by God because of Satan’s rebellion.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

37. WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?
Active gap theory
Theory flounders on grammatical grounds
“The earth was without form and void”
Hebrew grammar leaves no room for this interpretation
This theory flounders purely on grammatical grounds. / According to the laws of Hebrew grammar, one must translate “the earth was unformed and unfilled,” not “the earth became unformed and unfilled.”/ Hebrew grammar leaves no room for the active gap theory.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

38. Initial “unformed-unfilled” view
Traditional view, supported by majority of Jewish and Christian interpreters through history
God created “the heavens and the earth” out of nothing at the time of their absolute beginning
The traditional view, called the initial “unformed-unfilled” view declares that God created “the heavens and earth” out of nothing at the time of their absolute beginning.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

39. Conclusion--initial unformed unfilled
God is before all creation (v 1)
There is an absolute beginning of time (v 1)
God creates the heavens and earth (v 1) but (at least) the earth is at first different than now—it is unformed and unfilled (v 2)
On the first day of the seven-day creation week, God begins to form and fill (v 3ff)
The forming and filling creative activity of God is accomplished in six successive, literal, 24-hour days
At the end of creation week, the heavens and earth are finally finished (Gen. 2:1) What God began in v 1 is now completed)
God rests on the 7th day, blessing and sanctifying it as a memorial of creation (2:1-4)
The author concurs with this view because it is the only interpretation that cohesively follows the natural flow of the verses, without contradiction or omission of any element of the text.
God is before all creation (v 1)
There is an absolute beginning of time (v 1)
God creates the heavens and earth (v 1) but (at least) the earth is at first different than now—it is unformed and unfilled (v 2)
On the first day of the seven-day creation week, God begins to form and fill (vv 3ff)
The forming and filling creative activity of God is accomplished in six successive literal twenty-four-hour days
At the end of creation week, the heavens and earth are finally finished (Gen. 2:1). What God began in v. 1 is now completed.
God rests on the seventh day, blessing and sanctifying it as a memorial of creation (2:1-4)
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

40. when was the absolute beginning?
No Gap
Passive Gap
Genesis 1:1-2 are on day one
Raw materials are included in the first day of the seven- day creation week
Genesis 1:1-2 go together but are separated from verse 3 by a gap
Raw materials of the earth in their unformed-unfilled state were created before— perhaps long before—the seven days of creation week
There is one crucial aspect in this creation process about which it may not be possible to be dogmatic—when the absolute beginning of the heavens and earth in v. 1 occurred. / The “no gap” interpretation / sees vv. 1-2 all as part of the first day of the seven-day creation week. / The raw materials described in Genesis 1:1-2 were created on the first day. / The “passive gap” interpretation / says that verses 1-2 go together but are separated from verse 3 by gap of time. / The raw materials were created before—perhaps long before—the seven-day creation week. Both believe God was before any matter. The only question is when the absolute beginning occurred.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

41. Evidence for passive gap
“And God said… …and there was evening and there was morning”
The author prefers the passive gap interpretation for several reasons. Genesis describes each day of creation week using two phrases. The description of each day begins with “And God said…” and ends with “and there was evening and morning…”
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

42. Evidence for passive gap
1. If the description of the first day is consistent with the other five, this would place verses 1-2 outside of the first day.
If the description of the first day is consistent with the other five, this would place verses 1-2 outside of the first day.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

43. Evidence for passive gap
1. If the description of the first day is consistent with the other five, this would place verses 1-2 outside of the first day. 2. The dyad “heavens and earth” (entire universe) are to be distinguished from the triad (heaven, earth, and sea” (the three earth habitats).
When the “heavens and earth” appear together (as opposed to the heaven, earth, and sea) it refers to the entire universe. Since Job records that the “sons of God” sang for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid, the beginning of the universe must have pre-dated creation week.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

44. Evidence for passive gap
3. The Hebrew word for “beginning” in 1:1 does not refer to a point in time, but to a period or duration of time which falls before a series of events.
The Hebrew word for beginning used in Genesis 1:1 does not refer to a point in time, but to a period or duration of time which falls before a series of events. So this verse may refer to a process of time during which God created the universe. As a potter or architect first gathers his materials and then at some point later begins shaping the pot or constructing the building, God first created the raw materials and at the appropriate time began to form and fill the earth during the six literal days of creation week.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

45. Evidence for passive gap
3. The Hebrew word for “beginning” in 1:1 does not refer to a point in time, but to a period or duration of time which falls before a series of events. 4. Already in the creation account, there is an emphasis upon God’s creating by differentiation or separation involving previously-created materials.
In the creation account there is an emphasis on God creating by separating previously created materials.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

46. Evidence for passive gap
5. The complementary creation account of chapter 2 reveals such a two-stage process of creation. Beginning with the raw materials—the clay—He formed Adam and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God also used a two-stage process to create Eve from the raw material of Adam’s rib.
The complementary creation account of chapter 2 reveals such a two-stage process of creation. Beginning with the raw materials—the clay—He formed Adam and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God also used a two-stage process to create Eve from the raw material of Adam’s rib.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

47. either option possible
No Gap
Passive Gap
Genesis 1:1-2 are on day one
Raw materials are included in the first day of the seven- day creation week
Genesis 1:1-2 go together but are separated from verse 3 by a gap
Raw materials of the earth in their unformed-unfilled state were created before— perhaps long before—the seven days of creation week
While the author prefers the passive gap theory, he acknowledges a possible openness of Genesis 1:1-2 that allows for either option.
WHEN—Multiple or Single Beginning?

48. When who how what
One final “when” question

49. Recent or Remote Beginning? (thousands or millions of years)
When who how what
Recent or Remote Beginning?
(thousands or millions of years)
asks whether the beginning was recent or remote—in other words, thousands or millions of years ago.

50. Evidence for recent beginning
Genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11 have no parallel among the other genealogies of the Bible or ANE literature.
Repeating pattern:
A patriarch lived x years, then begat a son;
After he begat this son, he lived y more years, and begat more sons and daughters;
And all the years of this patriarch were z years.
We have no information in Scripture as to how long ago God created the universe as a whole. But there is evidence strongly suggesting that the creation week described in Genesis 1:3-2:4 was recent, sometime in the last several thousand years. / The evidence for this is found primarily in the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11 which have no parallel among the other genealogies of the Bible or other ancient near eastern literature. / Each patriarch’s life span is described the same way:
A patriarch lived x years, then begat a son (don’t click)
After he begat this son, he lived y more years, and begat more sons and daughters (don’t click)
And all the year of this patriarch were z years (don’t click)
Because of these interlocking features, the lists in Genesis 5 and 11 are often called “chronogenealogies.”
WHEN—Recent or Remote?

51. Evidence for recent beginning
Unlike the other genealogies which often do contain gaps, the interlocking features of these “chronogenealogies” indicate that they are to be taken as complete genealogies with no gaps between the individual patriarchs mentioned
“Begat” is the special causative form that always in the OT refers to actual direct physical offspring. (in contrast to a different use in other biblical genealogies)
Scholarly consensus is that the Hebrew MT has preserved the original figures in their purest form
Unlike the other genealogies which often do contain gaps, the “chronogenealogies” indicate that they are to be taken as complete genealogies without gaps. / The Hebrew word translated here as “begat” always refers to actual direct physical offspring. / Scholarly consensus is that the Hebrew Masoretic text has preserved the original figures in their purest form.
WHEN—Recent or Remote?

52. Evidence for recent beginning
From Abraham to the present, there is disagreement among scholars about the Israelite sojourn in Egypt (215 years or 430 years)
From Abraham to the present is clear from Scripture, and the total is only some 4000 (+/- 200 years)
Creation week unambiguously occurred recently
A slight disagreement exists among scholars about the length of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt, but other than that discrepancy, Scripture is clear that from Abraham to the present is about 4,000 years. / While the date cannot be calculated exactly, according to Scripture, the six-day creation week unambiguously occurred recently, a few thousand years ago—not hundreds of thousands or millions or billions of years ago.
WHEN—Recent or Remote?

53. Evidence for recent beginning
Character of God
It is totally out of character with the God of the Bible to allow a history of cruelty and pain to go on for long periods of time—millions of years—when it would serve no purpose in the cosmic controversy against Satan
Thus the genealogies, pointing to a recent creation, are a window into the heart of a loving, compassionate God
It is totally out of character with the God of the Bible to allow a history of cruelty and pain to go on for long periods of time—millions of years—when it would serve no purpose in the cosmic controversy against Satan. Thus the genealogies, pointing to a recent creation, are a window into the heart of a loving, compassionate God.
WHEN—Recent or Remote?

54. When who how what
After dealing with several “when” questions, we move on to the “who” of creation

55. two names for god Two names for God appear in the Creation accounts:
Elohim
Generic, all-powerful One
Emphasizes transcendence
Yahweh
Covenant name
Emphasizes immanence
Two different names for God appear in the creation accounts. / In Genesis 1 the name Elohim is used. Elohim is the generic name for an all-powerful God—emphasizing His transcendence. / In Genesis 2, God’s covenant name, Yahweh, is used to emphasize that He is a personal God who enters into intimate relationship with His creatures. Only the Judeo-Christian God is both infinite and personal. Interpretations of these chapters which present God as an accomplice, active or passive, in an evolutionary process of survival of the fittest, millions of years of predation, prior to the fall of humans, must seriously reckon with how these views impinge upon the character of God.
WHO

56. notice
No proof of God is provided, but the assertion of His existence is bold.
God is the ultimate foundation of reality.
The portrayal of God in the creation account provides a polemic against the ANE gods:
Polytheism
Moral decadence
Rivalry
Mortality
Pantheism
Notice that no proof of God is provided. / God is the ultimate foundation of reality. /
The creation account provides a polemic against the polytheism, moral decadence, rivalry, mortality, and pantheism of the ancient near eastern gods.
WHO

57. notice “Spirit of God” in Genesis 1:2
4. There are intimations of the plurality of the Godhead:
“Spirit of God” in Genesis 1:2
The creative Word (ten times in Genesis 1)
“Let us” of Genesis 1:26
5. It would be natural for the plurality of persons within the deity, whose character is one of covenant love, to wish to create other beings with whom He could share fellowship.
There are intimations of the plurality of the Godhead in the creation account. / The Spirit of God is mentioned in Genesis 1:2, / the creative Word appears ten times in Genesis 1, / and Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man in our image.” / This plurality within the deity, whose character is one of covenant love might shed some light on the “why” of creation—to create other beings with whom He could share fellowship.
WHO

58. When who how what
Many would claim that the biblical creation accounts are not concerned with the “how” of creation, but only with the theological point that God created. It is true that Genesis 1-2 provide no technical scientific explanation of the divine creative process, but there is a great deal of attention given to the “how” of divine creation.

59. divinely By Divine bara Exclusively God’s action
Creating something totally new and effortlessly produced
The Hebrew word for create in Genesis 1:1 is used exclusively to describe God’s action. It is never used to describe human activity. It always describes something totally new that was effortlessly produced.
HOW

60. divinely By Divine bara Exclusively God’s action
Creating something totally new and effortlessly produced
By Divine Fiat
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth…For He spoke and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast (Psalm 33:6, 9)
Divine fiat emphasizes the centrality of the Word in the creation process. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth…For He spoke and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast.
HOW

61. As a polemic
As a polemic against ideas in Mesopotamian creation texts:
Struggle between dieties
Struggle with forces of chaos
Sexual activity between the gods
Worship of sun and moon
Because of specific terminology used or avoided by Moses, it appears that the Genesis accounts were intended to provide a polemic against the ideas prevalent in Mesopotamian creation texts. Our world did not result from struggle between deities or with the forces of chaos. It did not happen because of sexual activity between the gods. Even the sun and moon were called the “greater light” and “lesser light” to avoid any inclination to worship them as gods.
HOW

62. dramatically and aesthetically
Forming the unformed
Filling the unfilled
Light
Sky and waters separated
Dry land and vegetation
Luminaries
Birds and fish
Animals and man
God created dramatically and aesthetically
HOW

63. dramatically and aesthetically
Forming the unformed
Filling the unfilled
Light
Sky and waters separated
Dry land and vegetation
Luminaries
Birds and fish
Animals and man
forming the unformed on the first three days
HOW

64. dramatically and aesthetically
Forming the unformed
Filling the unfilled
Light
Sky and waters separated
Dry land and vegetation
Luminaries
Birds and fish
Animals and man
and filling the unfilled on the next three days.
HOW

65. dramatically and aesthetically
Forming the unformed
Filling the unfilled
Light
Sky and waters separated
Dry land and vegetation
Luminaries
Birds and fish
Animals and man
The divine artistry of creation within the structure of space and time certainly does not negate the historicity of the creation narrative.
HOW

66. dramatically and aesthetically
Forming the unformed
Filling the unfilled
Light
Sky and waters separated
Dry land and vegetation
Luminaries
Birds and fish
Animals and man
Notice the relationship of day 1 to day 4,
HOW

67. dramatically and aesthetically
Forming the unformed
Filling the unfilled
Light
Sky and waters separated
Dry land and vegetation
Luminaries
Birds and fish
Animals and man
day 2 to day 5
HOW

68. dramatically and aesthetically
Forming the unformed
Filling the unfilled
Light
Sky and waters separated
Dry land and vegetation
Luminaries
Birds and fish
Animals and man
and day 3 to day 6.
HOW

69. When who how what
As previously discussed in detail in the “when” section, a question remains about whether the whole universe or just our earth and solar system were created during the seven-day week of creation.

70. “the heavens and the earth”
The Universe
Earth & Solar System
The Heaven and the Earth
Both have articles (v 1)
But not separately (v 8, 10)
Cannot be absolutely ruled out
In addition to the evidence mentioned above, the author notes the definite articles before both heaven and earth in verse 1, but not when heaven and earth appear separately later in the chapter.
WHAT

71. Dyad or triad? The heavens and the earth
Totality of all creation, entire universe
Like…
Young and old (everyone)
High and low (everywhere)
There is wide recognition among Genesis commentators that when used together as a pair in the Hebrew Bible, the dyad of terms “the heavens and the earth” refers to the totality of all creation, in other words the whole universe. / It would be like trying to express the idea of everyone by saying the opposite words “young and old” or expressing the idea that you had looked everywhere for something by saying you had looked “high and low”
WHAT

72. Dyad or triad? The heavens and the earth Heaven, earth, and seas
Totality of all creation, entire universe
Like…
Young and old (everyone)
High and low (everywhere)
Three basic habitats of earth
Sky
Land
Water
This contrasts with when heaven, earth, and sea are listed together, which is understood to mean the three basic habitats of earth—the sky, land, and water.
WHAT

73. the universe
Genesis 1:1 refers to the creation of the entire universe, prior to the six-day creation week (Implies creatio ex nihilo--creation out of nothing)
If the “passive gap” interpretation is correct, then the creation of “the heavens and the earth” during the span of time termed “in the beginning,” encompassed the whole galactic universe, including the planet earth in its “unformed and unfilled” condition
While the author acknowledges that Genesis 1:1-2 allows for either interpretation, he believes the evidence is convincing for the idea that it refers to the creation of the entire universe, prior to the six-day creation week. It implies that God was not indebted to preexisting matter. If the “passive gap” interpretation is correct, then the creation of “the heavens and the earth” during the span of time termed “in the beginning,” encompassed the whole galactic universe, including the planet earth in its “unformed and unfilled” condition
WHAT

74. heaven, earth, and sea
“The earth” (by itself) in v 2 shifts focus to our planet
Heavens, earth, sea—three basic habitats of our planet
“The earth” in verse 2 shifts the focus from the universe to our planet, and the following verses tell the story of the forming and filling of our earth’s three basic habitats during creation week.
WHAT

75. lights
One option: Sun not present till 4th day--God’s presence was the source of light the first 3 days
1:4 God divided the light from the darkness
1:18 luminaries divide the light from the darkness
Psalm 104—God described as covering Himself with light
Another option: Sun present but unused before 4th day
Became visible, given purpose, or became fully functional on day 4
Stars
Syntax does not require the creation of stars on day 4 (could be parenthetical)
A question arises when we notice that God says, “Let there be light” on day one, but the sun is not mentioned until day four. / One explanation says that God’s presence was the source of light for the first 3 days. Evidence for this is found by comparing verse 4 where it says that God divided the light from the darkness and verse 18 where it says that the luminaries divide the light from the darkness. Additional evidence is found in Psalm 104 where God is described as covering Himself with light as with a garment. / Another explanation suggests that the sun was present before but only became visible, was given purpose, or became fully functional on day 4. /
The Hebrew syntax does not require the creation of the stars on day 4, and “He made the stars also” could be correctly considered parenthetical.
WHAT

76. the universe
The whole process of creating “the heavens and the earth” is finished or completed at the end of the creation week. (indicated by the repeated merism in Gen 2:1 and 2:4a)
The whole process of creating “the heavens and the earth” is finished or completed at the end of the creation week.
WHAT

77. Other issues

78. two different accounts?
Beginning in 2:7, more detailed description of day 6
Focusing attention on humanity’s personal needs
About the two creation accounts of Genesis 1-2, the author concludes that they are neither identical nor contradictory but complementary. Beginning in Genesis 2:7 a more detailed account of day six is given, focusing attention on humanity’s personal needs.

79. Death/predation before sin?
Not only is there no death on this world before creation week, there is no life!
Genesis 1:1-2 make no room for living organisms to be present upon planet earth before creation week, let alone death and predation.
About the issue of death/predation before sin, the author says this: Not only is there no death on this world before creation week, but there is no life! Genesis 1:1-2 thus make no room for living organisms to be present upon planet earth before creation week, let alone death and predation.

80. By Richard M. Davidson Summary and Narration: Carol Raney
The Biblical Account of Origins Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 14/1 (Spring 2003) 4-43
By Richard M. Davidson
Summary and Narration:
Carol Raney
Dr. Davidson’s article, in its entirety, may be found in the Journal of the Adventist Theological Society.