Genesis 1:1 – 2:25 (ESV)
Creation Account
Three creation accounts?
- 1:1
- 1:2 – 2:3
- 2:4 – 2:25
Use to support the documentary hypothesis
JEPD – 1:1 – 2:3 and 2:4 – 2:25
- Claim to show different styles of writing
- Claim to show conflicts in concepts of deity and order of creation
- Casts doubt on rest of Scripture
- Based on poor interpretation
Used to “reconcile” Bible and science
Gap theory – 1:1 and 1:2 – 2:3
- Explains the age of the earth
- Explains existence of fossils
- Throws other elements of Scripture into confusion
- Based on poor interpretation and not supported by Scripture
Interpreting Scripture
- Always an intended purpose
- Be aware of the various context
- Immediate context
- Context of chapter
- Context of section
- Context of book
- Context of testament
- Context of Bible
- Literary context
Understanding the form of Genesis
- Genesis is divided into sections
- Each section begins with a toledot
- Toledot is a historical account often translated as “generations“
- The toledot transitions from one account to another
- Some say Genesis is a genealogical narrative
Explaining the “separate accounts”
- 1:1 is an independent clause – God’s initial creation of the universe
- 1:2 – 2:3 explains how God forms and fills the earth
- 2:4 is a toledot transitioning from the creation account of the universe to a more specific creation account of man
- 2:5 – 2:25 is the creation account of mankind
Creation account and science
- Creation account is eye witness
- Scientific account is a guess
- Creation account never changes
- Scientific account constantly changing
- Bible does not have to reconcile
- Science must reconcile
Conclusion
The creation account can be trusted in every detail.
No matter how much evidence an logic involved there will always be an element of faith.
The trust in the creation account encourages trust in all of scripture.