Genesis 1

Four views of Genesis 1

Intelligent, honest, Bible-believing, scholarly Christians believe each of these. Don’t fall into the trap of dividing Christians along these lines . . . you may find people you respect on the other sides of these lines.

Literal 6-day view

Pros

Is a plain reading

Is not undone by the rest of scripture

High value of humanity and image of God

Cons

Not historical view of the Church (rising in the 1840s and again in the 1970s)

Materialistic view of creation (Focus on God making matter)

Nobody takes it ALL literally.

Figurative approach (Literary Framework)

Pros

“The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of Man.” Westminister Shorter Catechism 3

The Bible doesn’t teach astronomy.

Good evidence in the text of literary styles (3X3 days containing 8 creative acts)

Cons

(Usually) Low view of intended audience.

Risk of undermining image of God and consequences for sin.

Not a plain reading.

Analogous Workweek (modified Day-Age Theory)

Pros

God models an Israelite workweek. See 10 Commandments.

Cohesive with chapter 2 (God made man before the rainy season).

Length of days not important. No need to try to reconcile with science.

Keeps a plain reading. Fits the overall theme of Genesis.

Cons

Materialist view of creation.

Overlooks some details.

Evolutionary Creationism

Pros

Focuses on the genre of Genesis (theological history in a figurative manner).

Preserves inerrancy of Scripture in light of scientific advances.

Compatible with what we see around us.

Cons

Not the historical view of the church.

Influenced by culture.

Less of a framework and more of a way to harmonize Genesis and science.

Materialist view of creation.

Functional view (identify accounts view)

Pros

Focus on the image of God.

Faithful to the Biblical account.

Cosmic temple theme consistent with the rest of Scripture

Cons

Not the historic teaching of the church.

Requires assumptions of ancient thought.

How would you describe your house?

What do you see?

Do you always tell a story from the beginning?

Too often, we modern folk ask Genesis to answer modern questions, like how old is this water-covered ball that spins at 1000 mph in space while orbiting a nuclear-powered fireball?

But Genesis wasn’t written to us. It was written for us, but not to us. It was written to people asking ancient questions. What are those ancient questions?

You probably didn’t realize that the birds and the bees were created on day 1 … but to tell this story, we need to talk about sex.

As we look, let’s ask ourselves . . . is this how we would tell this story?

Genesis 1:1–5 CSB

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

What is the sky?

Genesis 1:6–13 CSB

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse “sky.” Evening came and then morning: the second day. Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the water he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” And it was so. The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Evening came and then morning: the third day.

Genesis 1:14–23 CSB

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Evening came and then morning: the fourth day. Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.

Genesis 1:24–31 CSB

Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

Applications

Genesis 2:1–3 CSB

So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation.