The Necessity Of A Literal Interpretation

What Is at Stake?

If the literal creation account is denied, the necessary result is that the other works of God must also be denied.

(1) God’s Predestining and Calling Works

Ephesians 1:4

tells us of His choosing before the foundation of the world, yet if Scripture speaks without authority and in ignorance of the foundation of the world, how is it to be trusted in this regard?

(2) The Ministry of Christ

—God asserts that Christ is the Creator

John 1:1–3

Colossians 1:13–16

Hebrews 1:1–3

If He is not, then on what basis can any other ministry of Christ be trusted? If Jesus has no rights as Creator, on what authority could He raise Himself from the dead (Jn. 2:19)?

(3) The Keeping of His Word

- How valuable is His word if He claims to be the Creator Who created in a precise manner if He is not and did not?

(4) Salvation

—If He has no rights over creation as the Creator, what right would He have as Savior? Without His creative work He would possess no authority to redeem.

(5) The Church

—Dependent on Christ for its existence as the body of Christ, yet Christ’s identity and ministry would already have been by virtue of denial of the creation account rendered ineligible.

(6) Fruitfulness of Believers

John 15:1–11

Demonstrates the fruitfulness of the believer as deriving from abiding in Christ, and through the predetermined choosing work of God.

Ephesians 2:8–10

These bases, since assumed false would be fruitless.

(7) The Kingdom

—The rulership and authority of the Kingdom is by virtue of the rights of Creator.

Colossian 1:13–16

God would otherwise have no right to rule.

(8) Sickness, Death, and Resurrection

John 9:1–3; 11:4

If there is no authority as Creator, there is no authority over creation.

(9) Judgment

Romans 1:19–20

Man is held accountable for his failure to acknowledge God’s natural revelation. Where is God’s authority and justice if He did not reveal Himself in this way?

(10) Deliverance of Israel

Romans 9:6

God’s future plan of deliverance for Israel is dependent on His word, which would have been rendered false by the “errant creation account.”

(11) The Fulfilling of Covenants and Summing up of All Things

If He didn’t start it He can’t finish it (e.g., Rev. 22:10). The beginning and the end go hand in hand.

To sum up:

(1) God’s revealed purpose in all things is to glorify Himself.

(2) God’s works serve this purpose.

(3) Creation is identified as a primary and foundational work upon which the other works to some degree depend.

A fully literal interpretation of the creation account (Gen. 1–2) necessarily results in a six-day creation duration (Biblical Creationism).

(4) If the literal six-day creation account is denied, the necessary result is that the other works of God must likewise be denied.

(5) If His works are denied, His worthiness and glory are denied, ultimately exalting the creation (i.e. man) and thus accomplishing Satan’s deceptive plan (Gen. 3:1–6).

However if we acknowledge His works, we will recognize His worthiness to be praised (Rev. 4:8–11)

[1]

[1]Cone, C. (2012). Prolegomena on Biblical Hermeneutics and Method (2nd Edition, pp. 164–167). Hurst, TX: Tyndale Seminary Press.