2013 Christian Interpretations of Genesis 1

7/29/2019 2013 Christian Interpretations of Genesis 1

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Christianinterpretations

of Genesis 1


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Christian answers to hard questions

Christian Interpretations o Genesis 1

Christianity and the Role o Philosophy

Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design

The Morality o God in the Old Testament

Should You Believe in God?

Was Jesus Really Born o a Virgin?

Pt A. Lbak a St T. H, S Et


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Christianinterpretations

of Genesis 1

Vern s. poythress

PHLAELPHA, PESyLAA


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2013 b Wtt Thga Sa

All rghts resere. no part o ths book ma be reprouce, store a retreal

t, tatt a b a at, ha-

a, phtp, g, thxpt b qtat th

purpose o reew or commet, wthout the pror permsso o the publsher,

P&R Publshg Compa, P.O. Box 817, Phllpsburg, new Jerse 088650817.

Westmster Semar Press, LLC, a Peslaa Lmte Lablt Compa,

a h ba Wtt Thga Sa.

Ths wk s a c-publcat betwee P&R Publshg a Westmste

Sa P, LLC.

Scptue qutats ae m ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard

Version ). Cpght 2001 b Csswa Bbles, a publshg mst G Pbh. U b p. A ght .

ta th Spt qtat at pha a.

SB: 978-1-59638-686-0 (pbk)

Pt th Ut Stat Aa

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pth, S.

Chta tptat G 1 / S. Pth. -- Ft t

pag . -- (Chta a t ha qt)

bbgapha .

SB 978-1-59638-686-0 (pbk.)

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t G .

BS651.P69 2013

231.7652--23

2013010219


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days of Genesis 1

Hw the eal chaptes Geess elate t the clams

me scece? Masteam scece clams that the eath

abt 4.5 b a a that th a a h

abt 14 b a . G 1 b th at th

x a. th a tat?

Peple teeste the elatshp betwee scece a

G ha b g th qt tha a

cetu.1 The have cme up wth t meel e but a whle

ht pb xpaat. t hp t b aa th th

possbltes so that we o ot too quckl aopt oe explaato

tht g atat.

A Dismissive Approach

T bg th, pp tak a appah t th

questo. The o ot belee that the Bble s reall Gos ow Wor,

bt tat t a a at ha bk g. Ag

t th , t tak hat t a abt th g

the uvese. But we t thk that such a appach es

jt t th Bb a. S xpaat thatattpt t g a pt, pt tptat G 1.

Th t b ag atat xpaat

th gth th a t G 1. th

gth t b a, th a t th a

legth as moer twet-our-hour as? A what are the co-

q tptat?

Young-Earth Creationism, with Adjustments to Science

A g b pp, g tt aat

th th ttt Cat Rah, thk th ath a


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Christian interpretations of Genesis 1

the uvese ae thusas eas l, athe tha blls

a . Th ta G 1 t b pakg abt

twet-our-hour as. The what o the sa about the clams me masteam scece? Sme them uetake t

challege a evse the atg clams mae masteam

scece. Ths appach s te calle the twenty-four-hour-

daythe. But the label s t cmpletel satsact, sce

other theores as well mata that the as were twet-our

h g.

The Mature-Creation Theory

Coser ext the theor calle mature creation. it takes ts

cue rom the creato o Aam a Ee. it uerstas Geess 2

t be sag that Aam a Eve wee ceate mature, athe

tha growg grauall rom babes to aults. i a scetst ha

bee peset a ha exame Aam a Eve mmeatelat th at, h ght ha tat th ag at

tt-t t tt- a, t a. Th ag tat

pt apparent age ath tha th ata ag.

at, the gae Ee, as escbe Geess 2:69,

ha ha at t. Th t ha ha g

ther truks. B coutg rgs, a scetst woul aga arreat a apparent age.

Suppse the scetst exame Aams ees a sk a

teeth. Woul he f coheret or coheret ages? Woul he f

that evethg came ut t abut twet-tw t twet-fve

a ? O h a , ght a

k, a tht a tth? b th

Go o the Bble, who s soereg creato, we hae to sa that

ta abt h t at Aa a p t G. H

ca o as he pleases. neertheless, oe o the optos s certal

to prouce coheret maturt, that s, coheret appearace o age.


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thg, h a Aa a E a t, at

at, a hth th h a at

mature. i t was mature, t mght act be coherently mature. i so,

the age estmates rom moer scece, such as 4.5 bllo ears or

the earth a 14 bllo ears or the uerse, are smpl coheret

ta appat ag. Ag t th tag, th

whle uvese was ceate l a ew thusa eas ag. But

t was ceate wth cheet matut, s that the cheece

t xpaat ag ha a p xpaat.2

The Revelatory-Day Theory

xt, th revelatory-dayth a that th x a a x

a hh G revealed t th ath G

th tth G 1. Th a qt a a

gazg the tmg revelation athe tha the tmg

th acts o creation.

The Gap Theory

Thgap th a that th a gap t bt G-

ess 1:1 a 1:2. Geess 1:1 escrbes the orgal creato b Go.

2 b a bqt atatph. 331 b

a bqt -at. Th appah a ppaz thotes to the Scofel Bble (1909; rese 1917).3 Accorg to ths

, th t t tgat a t b t-

t t th t bt 1 a 3.

The Local-Creation Theory

a a a t th gap th, th local-creationth a that th ga at at tak pa G-

1:1, h 2 b a ata atat th

acet near East. The re-creato escrbe erses 331 takes

pa a local area th a Eat.


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The Intermittent-Day Theory

The intermittent-daytheor sas that the as Geess 1 are

tt- h g, bt that th a gap t btth a. Mh th at att G tak pa th

th gap.

B e f o r e w e m o v e o n

r What t th at-a th apat th

th th a? What tt abtg-ath at?

r How mght the creato o Aam a Ee lea us to belee

that th h a at at? What

at b coherent maturity incoherent maturity?

r H th gap th, a-at th, a t-

mttet-a theor corporate tme gaps to the creatoat?

The Day-Age Theory

now we wll coser approaches that o ot coser the as

Geess 1 t be ecessal twet-u hus lg. The fst

h th day-age th. Th a-ag th a that ah

a G 1 a g p tt a p t

h gg ag, ath tha bg tt- h

g. Th a-ag th ta appa t th at that th

Hb day(yom) a b a ag a:

1. Th p ght: G a th ght Day (G. 1:5).

2. The pero o lght a arkess together (twet-our hours):

t at k th days, ght a (Eth. 4:16).

3. A tme o uspecfe legth that has stcte character: i

thdaythat th Lord G a th ath a th ha


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(G. 2:4a tpt a g t th t t

G at k); Th gat day th Lord a

(Zph. 1:14); at th day at, tgth a (P. 24:10); F th Lord ha a day ga,

a a p th a Z (a. 34:8).

The a-age theor terprets Geess 1 as usg day the thr

, a t p gth.

The Analogical-Day Theory

Th analogical-dayth ata that th a G-

1 a G ka, hh a aag t th ka

ha bg, a at Ex 20:911:

Sx a ha ab, a a k, bt th th

a s a Sabbath . . . . F sx as the Lord mae heavea eath, the sea, a all that s them, a este the

th a. Th th Lord b th Sabbath a a

a t h.

The the clams that ths analogybetwee Gs wk a

ha k t p identity th gth th a.Gs wkas ae aalgus t huma wkas, but the

t b xat th a gth a th ha a, h

a b tha a.

The Framework View

Theframeworkew (also calle theframework hypothesis) sas

that th a G 1 a tt a a literary ramework

to escrbe Gos acts o creato, but that the shoul ot be rea

a atg a a t a p at

a t.


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The Religion-Only Theory

Th religion-onlyth a that G 1 ha th pp

pg g tahg abt G. t t p-pl mat that wul sa athg ptetal clct

th .

nowaas there are seeral arats o ths approach. People

a a, xap, that th Bb ga a G 1

pata a th qt h? a h? h -

ece aswes the quest hw? Sce the Bble a scece

ae asweg eet tpes quests, appaet clct

arses ol rom a msuerstag o the purpose o Geess 1.

Othe peple stess the elat Geess 1 t stes

gs (mths) puce vaus cultues the acet

a Eat. Ba G 1 h pt tat th

sme these stes, sme peple ma allege that t belgs

t th a g. Th a a that t a tt a athg abt pata t pa a t, bt

t g a ga thga g tatt abt

th at G a h at t pp.


r What are three was the wor day(yom Hebrew) s use Spt? H ght t b aaga?

r Peple wh hl t the elg-l the stess that

Geess 1 aswers whch two questos? i ths ew, what

qt t t t a?

prinCiples for eValuation

H h g abt tg thgh th a th-

at t th a G 1? A th a qa g?

at t tha th. A a


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a p t tak th aatg aat-

g th ag paag th Bb. W t t thgh

th g a th ba.A ths stg s a ctual pcess. A the that es

t lk pmsg at e tme ma evelp me pmse as

t g . C, a th that k g at pt

tme ma ru to serous fcultes later o. The gap theor

a a pt. t a ppa at t, a t k g

t a t pp. Bt t t t th th Hb

gaa G 1:12. t ha aat ta.

Authority

O aat p h hat gz a

atht. tt a b qa xpt

fel scece. Lkewse, me stuet the Bble ca

be expet evethg that has eve bee wtte abut theBb. A pp ha xpt kg, th a ha

persoal bases or cultural bases that luece ther jugmet.

We ca alwas ask, Wh sas? a O what autht es

h a t?

Sme peple gat almst ulmte autht t me

. Bt a tt a phph tthat a t t a pp ttat. S

reaches a pot at whch all possble eece has come a all

possble expermets hae bee perorme. Moreoer, scetsts

t a pt at hh th a tth a that th

ha pb explanation th th

aa ha. at, tt a ha, a th a

be tempte to trouce bas ether coscousl or ucoscousl.

At th a t, a thga pt that p

moer scetfc kowlege emostrate the mpresse power

that ca cme wth sgfcat kwlege hw the wl


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k. S th bt p a b t tat t a th

pt bt at th a t t b aa ha abt.

What about the authort o the Bble? Here we hae a majorpt. Th Bb tt that t G W; t G pak-

g t tt . Bt t apt th a.

Our ew o the Bble obousl makes a bg erece how we

g abt aatg th at th Bb t .


r A aat t tptat G 1,

hat t hh th t a-

ab t ?

r What th bt a t tat t a? Wh?

The Authority of the Bible

Th ght hth th Bb G W ha

recee extese scusso.4 We caot re-coer all the grou.

W a az. T a a ak ga

tatt abt th pat th Bb:

A Spt breathed out by God a ptab tahg,

p, t, a tag ght.

(2 T. 3:16)

F pph a p b th a, bt men

spoke from God as the wee cae alg by the Holy Spirit.

(2 Pt 1:21)

at, 2 Pt at that Pa tg, hh bg

to the new Testamet, hae a authort o the same leel as the

Ol Testamet: There are some thgs them [Pauls wrtgs]

that a ha t ta, hh th gat a tab


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tt t th tt, a th the other Scriptures

(2 Pt 3:16).

J tt a b pa t th atht th

O Ttat:

t thk that i have cme t ablsh the Law the

Ppht; ha t t abh th bt t ulfill them.

F t, a t , t ha a ath pa aa, t a

ota, ot a ot, wll pass rom the Law utl all s accomplshe.

(Matt. 5:1718)

Spt at b bk. (Jh 10:35)

i Matthew 19:45, Jesus quotes rom Geess 2:24, a cates

that th G th W th O h at

them rom the begg, that s, Go hmsel. Matthew thereb

pves a mpessve cat that Jesus egae the Ol

Ttat a G W.

A pes wh wats t be a geue Chsta must be a

scple Chst, a beg a scple mples submttg t

th tahg Cht th Mat. S aptg th Bb a th

W G a tga pat Chta ath a g.

The Bible in Relation to Modern Science

S th Bb th W G, a G ttth,

we ca tust what the Bble sas. The Bble s allble, whle

me scetfc clams ae allble. i act, the Bble es a

pstve uat scece. The Bble cates that G

at a g a thg. H a tt g-ace s the bass or og scece. Scece, rghtl uerstoo,

eeavs t uesta the m G a the wsm

G gg at. H, t t b p.

Bt t a ha a, a t ab.


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S G tt th h, hat h a-

g th Bb tt th hat h atg a

gg th . Th t that kg t, a t aa howth t a tt.

Sce the Bble s allble, we shoul ge t the preerece

whe clcts betwee the Bble a scece seem t ase.

But t evee agees wth ths pcple. Sme peple

th a ak g Cht

a g th Bb. W h t b p, ba

Chstas ae calle t lve a le eet m the wl:

t b t th , bt b ta b th

a , that b ttg a hat

th G (R. 12:2). G ha t p that t

aa b a t a pg th th , hh

rejects Gos authort a sets up other authortes as supreme.

Interpreting the Bible

i the le o a Chrsta, the challeges are ot alwas smple.

Wh th Bb pak a, a b t. E thgh

th Bb ab, h, a interpreters th Bb a

ot. i there appears to be a colct betwee the Bble a scece,

ha t pt hth th ha a ba tabt. Bt a ha t pt hth ha a t

ta th Bb ght. Mab th ag a pbt

ab th a t. W at t t ha k.

Ma peple ta thk that onlya tepetat that

h t tt--h a G 1 jt t th

atht th Bb. W h pt th pp

atg t ak that th Bb ta t atht a

th W G. At th a t, t t a

t pp h atat a h a a th

atht th Bb.


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S t th a t th p t

cocerg the as o creato. i ths short booklet, we caot

hpe t e a ull scuss. Reaes wh wat ulle teat-

t ha t t -gth bk.5 H a

oretato, so that we ma become aware o the ma stregths

a ak.


r Wh must geue Chrstas accept the Bble as the Wor

G?

r H th Bb p a at ?

r What are the two reasos wh the Bble a scece mght

t ag? What neverth a h?

weaker theories

W a qk pa th ak pt.

The Revelatory-Day Theory

The evelat-a the s geus, but weak. G

eveal the ctets Geess 1 t the huma auth, but Ge-

1 takg abt at creation ath tha at revelation.n vet evece Geess 1 suggests that the as mak ut

reelatos to Moses rather tha peros o create acto. Exous

20:11 th at creation: F x a th

Lord a ha a ath, th a, a a that th, a

reste o the seeth a. it sas that sx as Go made heae

a ath, t that h revealed th akg ha a ath.

The Gap Theory

next, the gap the s weak. it us aul the Hebew

grammar Geess 1:2. The grammatcal sequece Hebrew


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amel, a cjuct (Hebew waw) plus subject plus peect

vebs mall use t tuce ccumstatal ma-

t ath tha a t g th t a. 2meas that the eath was wthut m a v at the tme

at 1, t that t ba tht a

a atatph bqt t 1.

The Local-Creation Theory

A th gap th, th a-at th

pabt. G 1 th pa at

ceat. Psalm 104 a the sgfcat metats ce-

at th th Bb t bak t. t t pab that

G 1 t ( 1) t th a at

athh a-ptat a thg at.

The gap the a the lcal-ceat the clam that the

h t th hapt a tat a ae-ceat, but Geess 1 gves clea sgal t shw that t

s lge scussg the gal acts ceat. Oa

a th ata (a ght) a th h G-

1 a a pt th at at at.

The Intermittent-Day TheoryTh tttt-a th ath g attpt

t ata tt--h a a t a xt

pes tme. it es s b puttg the extee pes

allege gaps betwee the as. it has ts av the act that

thg G 1 pa a th a gap. Bt -

ther oes Geess 1 sa athg postel about gaps. So we just

ha , a that t a at.

Th a a t. Pttg aj at att

G the gaps athe tha the as themselves ceates

t th th agag that Ex 20:11, h


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t a that in six days th Lord a ha a ath. Th

laguage appears to place Gos work o creato squarel within

the as a ot betwee them. Moreoer, Exous 20:811 makes

G k a t th patt a k a t. G

wk ca ppel uct as a patte t mtate l t,

k a k, on th a qt ath tha in

between th.

B e f or e w e m o v e o n

r H th g G 1 ak th at-

a the, gap the, a temttet-a the

k?

r H paag th Bb h a Pa 104 ak th

a-at th k?

The Religion-Only Theory

Th g- th a ak. t ha a ga tth

t, ba th Bb ta G a h

acts. The Bble caes eepl abut gvg us kwlege

h a h. Bt t t tta gt th qt

h. Th t tp qt at b at paat,

p ba G a G h at t a pa.H k p at at G 1, a h k

hstor. He calls Abraham, he reeems hs people rom Egpt,

h a p a a kg, a h k at pt

thgh th aat, , ath, a t Cht.

Hs work o reempto a re-creato s comprehensive scope.

We t have the ght beeha t cfe hm t smeawl elgus sphee. He ca speak, he wshes, abut

a bjt that h pa.

W t pt th a pp a pt

Spt, a tpt th ta th ght th a


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pupses. But e passage Scptue ma have me tha

e pupse, a the etals alwas eta the w place.

The ae t sslve t th a meel b a appeal t a pp.

W h a b that G 13 tgat t a

ag h, a, th bk G. Th bk G

t t t th Ptath, th F Bk M (G-

esseutem); a the Petateuch b Gs pla ms

the fst pt the ca Scptue that w clues

thg that ha th Bb ta. G a a h

s wtte abut peple such as nah, Abaham, isaac, Jacb,

a Jph, h t pt a a pp, h a

a h t thgh p xp t a pa.

R at pat th O Ttat a th

Testamet cfm that the Bble egas these peple as eal

pp ath tha haat ta ta t-. Aa, ah, Abaha, aa, a Jab a t Lk

3:2338 ag th at Cht.

G, , t hat t . Bt t p-

t th t a t that a happ. Th at that

Geess 13 s tegrate to the larger book o Geess cofrms

that the frst chapters Geess are escrbg eets tme aspace, thgs that happee rather tha thgs that are mae up.

G wte Geess the peple isael fst all, but

th, a h pa k t, h pak a t a t a th

pp th a t th . H t a

pp th t t. S h t p-

calze scetfc temlg elve t etals that have

b b . H pak a

terms, partl so that o oe a culture ma hae a excuse to

tur awa rom the true Go, partl so that people whose hearts

h p a b tt abt th ba tth at.


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G mae heave a eath, the sea, a all that s them

(Ex. 20:11). W a t gz h a th t G. W a

t h, a t hp at. W a t pa h hat j th at . G 1 a a

ata tt abt G a h at t a

the wl. Theee, we shul take the whle Geess 1,

g t ta, . Th g- th a t

b bg t pt a t tt t xpta-

t hat G a a.

O th th ha, t a th ppt xt.

me Weste cultue, we ae s geatl luece b the

tt that t qt pb t a G

a t pg ta t at.

The Day-Age Theory

H aat th a-ag th? Th a-ag th t a appa t th pt ag th

Hebew w day. it s cect that thee s a age use.

But the use the w day a uspecfe pe tme

t th that t b t G 1. (1) G-

1, th a a b a appa t b . Th

bg t btt th daya a ha ka. (2) Ex20:811, xpg th Sabbath at, at

Gos workas to huma workas. (3) The passages Geess

1 escbg the as cclue wth the expess a thee

a g, a th a g (.g., G. 1:5). Th -

t g a g ak thk t at

ha ka.

Together, these obseratos suggest that the a-age theor

ees to be ajuste. i t s ajuste, t gets trasorme to the

aaga-a th, t hh t ak. Th a

bt th t th that th aaga-a th


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t t appa t a tt xa th day.

Th aag G 1 bg t t , a, th

day, bt ath t th h k, g th g

a mgs. The tme betwee eveg a mg s the

g pa k, a at Pa 104:23: Ma g

t t h work a t h ab t th evening (t a th

t th ttg a ak 1920).6 G

pa bt h k a t th xt. B aag,

a pa b pg a tg th ght. Th h k

ug the ext a. i sht, mas wkweek s aalgcallbt th patt tabh b G h ta kk.


r i what was s the elg-l the smplstc a

ttg? H th pat G 1 th

Scrptures lea to fcultes or the relgo-ol theor? r What are some problems wth efg dayas a uspec-

p t? What p ta th

a-ag th t th aaga-a th?

the analoGiCal-day theory

Th aaga-a th ha t a th

pts that ee tg. Fst, the statg pt thk-

g abt aag th Sabbath at

Ex 20:811:

Rb th Sabbath a, t kp t h. Sx a ha

ab, a a k, bt th th a a Sabbath tth Lord G. O t ha t a k, ,

, aght, a at, a

at, tk, th j h th

gat. F x a th Lord a ha a ath, th a,


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a all that s them, a reste o the seeth a. Thereore

th Lord b th Sabbath a a a t h.

The Sabbath cmmamet pts ut a aalg betwee

Gos patter o work a rest a mas patter. The aalogcal-

a th a th aag, bt t that

t mples a ett legths whe tmes ae measue b

tha a.

Seco, the aalogcal-a theor apples to the seeth a,

th a t, a a t th a k. G xpaG a t a :

Th th ha a th ath h, a a th ht

th. A th th a G h h k that h

ha , a h t th th a a h k

that he ha e. S G blesse the seveth a a mae

t h, ba t G t a h k that h ha

at. (G. 2:13)

Th a t at tght th G at tg

a h k that h ha at (G. 2:3). W k

rom other Scrptures that Go cotues to rule the worl b hs

providence (e.g., Ps. 103:19; da. 4:35; Heb. 1:3). Hs rest oes ota tta att, bt at h k o creation.

F xap, h g atg k aa,

h atg ak, ba h ha t a a.

Thus, hs rest rom the works ocreation goes o oreer. Ee the

k atg a ha a a ath (R. 21:1) t

a xpt, ba th at bg t a te tha the fst, gal ceat. The fst ceat es

t t b at aga.

Th, G t th k at atg. B

erece, the dayo Gos rest, closel lke wth hs act o rest,


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atg. t t tt- h g. Ma a t,

a Ex 20:811, a t b tt- h

ba t aaga t G t. Th aag ath thath tt gth th at at. aag bg t

the seveth a, t belgs als t the the sx as. S aga

the salet act s t the legth tme, as measue b a

k k, bt ath th k att that tak

pa g th a.

Thr, ma cultures, clug acet israelte culture, le

bsocial time ath tha k t. S t t ha

mechacal clcks. Rathe, tme s uest b eeece t

a atttakg, atg, azg, kg tgth.

Th att that tak pa, ath tha a k at

legth, efe the sgfcace huma tme. Accg

t ths vew, G uestas ths etat t scal tme

a pak t t. th ab tha a t at t, a th ab th

a b th th a, a tat g a

tme ale makes sese tepetg Geess 1.7 Hece, the

a a b pa att, a, th att

G k a t.


r G 2, hat G tg ? What th

mea abut the day hs est? Hw es the aalg

h th app t th t th at k?

r What social time? H t t t aag?

the framework View

Th ak tha a

g h.8 A ak t . Th ak ha


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a khp th th aaga , that bth gz

aalog. i ato, people aocatg the ramework ew hae

appa t a ta tag G 2:56 t jtgg th hga that

G 1. Bt th a atat tag G

2:56. S t btt t a that th g ta att

a elegace the text Geess 1 cmplemet athe tha

th ata hga pg. Th

k at a b th a: th ght that a a

th th a a pt th xpa that ha b a

th a; th a at a th th a pp-

p th a, hh ha b a th th a; a .


r What lterar touches o we see Geess 1? i what two

a a th b t?

younG-earth Creationism

Coser ow oug-earth creatosm. As we hae obsere,

mature creato, the reelator-a theor, a a umber o other

thees mata that the as Geess 1 ae twet-uhus lg. But ug-eath ceatsm ts mst cmm

orm stgushes tsel b sputg ma o the atg clams

ata . Th pt ttt t a

tt. Bt t a g t t.

Kinds of Dating Techniques

Mata tha thq at-

g. The arous techques hae eret capabltes, but some

th a tabh. H a th

t k.


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1. The speed of light. i astroom, some ates ca be erre

th p ght, hh t h g t tak

lght t ave at the eath m stat pats the uvese.Th Mk Wa gaax abt a h tha ght-a

a. O t at at th g th gaax, bt

pt th th gaax a ta tha

tht thusa lght-eas awa. That meas that lght takes

tht thusa eas t tavel m thee t us. Astmes

that a ta that a aa t aa ha xt at at

tht tha a.

W a a gaax that a ghb t th

Mk Wa. Th Aa gaaxab a gaax g

2.5 ght-a aa, hh ggt that th ght

we w see m t s 2.5 mll eas l. Othe galaxes ae

t tat, p t b ght-a aa. Wth

me stat galaxes, t becmes pgessvel me fcultt tat ta aat, a apt g t

th p. Bt tt a t abt th ta t

earb galaxes such as the Aromea galax. A ee ther

tat h t b b a at 2,

b a at 10, th t t t h t

g-ath at.2. Stellar development. Mels stella evelpmet a

uclecsmchlg ae use t estmate the age stas.

Th t at 4.6 b a .

3. Radiometric dating. gg, tt at

atg (als calle radioactive dating), whch estmates the age

k b ag at a aat tp a

ther eca proucts. There are seeral techques usg eret

stpes: acab, ptassum-ag, ubum-sttum,

samaum-emum, uaum-thum-lea.9 i at,

ee beore the use o raometrc atg, geologsts coul come


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t gh tat ag b ag abt at pt

a at g t k a th p.

4. Tree rings. Ctg t g (hg) atat p t th tta ag a t. F a g-

trees, the ates ca exte ths wa to seeral thousa ears.

B careull correlatg betwee eret trees, clug those

that ha aa , a k bak ath. Th q

Hhehem ak a pe m cetal Eupe extes t

twelve thusa eas.10 A glbal css-atg sstem tee

g xt baka tt-x tha a.11

Th t atg a p h tha

th atg ha b . St tha

metho o raometrc atg ca be apple to the same rock or

k at. at, th ag th a t a b

tat b at atg th t k ath, b

raometrc atg o meteortes, b raometrc atg o mook, b atg th ag th th at h

t (assumg that mst the helum has bee puce b

hg th th ), b atg th ag th

b th th hg.

Mat at pb a t th t

atg, but oug-earth creatosts usuall preer a eretp. S g-ath att a tt jt t a

that thg g th th atg th. Oth ha

ge uthe a attempte t shw laws staa meth-

t. Th at agtat

ab.12


r What th a tatg ag? A a

practcal example, how o mastream scetsts estmate

th ag th a t?


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r Hw ug-eath ceatsts stctvel e

ther respose to atg rom those who hol other Chrs-

ta tptat G 1?

Underlying Assumptions

Th t b g-ath att

at at aab pt: tat ag p ap-

t abt pha p th pat. Mata

uses the assumpt that at a uametal level pcesses

the past ae lke pcesses the peset. The spee lght

a t b th a th pat a t ta. Th a

at aat t a a t b tat

tme. The uametal pcesses stella evelpmet ae

a t b th a t.13 A th apt a

b pt. A th at a apt?

Th Bb h that G th that h ha a.

Th t th gp a pa, haa a,

bt G t pa. Th gat that th

wl ae a elect Gs pesal athuless a the

t h haat.

O th ha, th t G haat a t

regulartes that we ca epe o. O the other ha, the persoalhaat G a that at p xtapat

backwa tme wthut cseg Gs pupses. G

g th th pat th a a a h g t ?

Th t G haat a th t h pp

or creato suggest a oerall ut hs goerace. He guar-

atees csstec the seass a a a ght hsp a t ah:

Wh th ath a, t a hat, a hat,

a t, a a ght, ha t a. (G. 8:22)


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Exceptions?

But the Bble we ca also see some pots tme at whch

there mght be scotutes the etals o Gos proetalgoerace. Mracles, o course, are exceptoal character. But

th a a ath pt th gba haat

th :

1. The tme whe Go tall create the worl Geess

1:1. At ths pot there s a absolute scotut, because

thg at xt bha.

2. Th t at th th x a, h G a h

k at (bt t h pta k).

3. Th t th a. Th a at t hat a tha

rebello b Aam a Ee. But t has cosequeces o the

create eromet (Ge. 3:1719; c. Rom. 8:1922). TheBb t at h xt th q

wee. Wee the csequeces cheet, s that we w

b a coherentlya ?

4. Th t ah . At th , h p

t ah G 8:22, G p a g a

tt. Bt hat abt th t? A hmuch was the wl bee the l lke ulke the

at?

5. Th t h th ha a ath , a

b 2 Pt 3:1113 a Rat 21:1.

All these pvtal pts tme ae wateshes at whch t

ab that G at h a gg th

. Th at-at th a b b b a

a the that pstulates a acal sctut at pt 2, the

th x a at.


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Mata a tt th pat a

th t a . A a ha th p a

t nah, thee s ee a measue ctut. But t s t

abt. S t b pt h tt tak

cfetlsmetmes vecfetl?abut the a past

th a t.


r What assumptos o mastream scetsts make about

th p that th b at? F a Chta

ppt, h ght th apt b jt?

r Where o we see scotut Gos usual goerace

th ?

Caution for Young-Earth Creationism

But caut s als apppate ug-eath ceat-

sm ts teact wth masteam scece. yug-eath

creatosts themseles ee cotut assumptos whe the

attpt t gag t ag. F xap, ag

evece t shw chage the measue the spee lght

(pehaps thugh the geeal the elatvt),14 chage

th at aat a, hag atg t thatg methos, has orce ol the argumet presupposessome

kind tt. H k which kinds tt

t ? t a t pk t t jt th p

tt pha a that appa at th t t p-

pt a g ath.15

i a well-gue, ufe, glbal ug-eath the atg t t xt, t t a that t a t xt

the uture. Scece, as we hae emphasze, s alwas tetate.

Bt th pat t th gga a ata -

t g-ath at ha g. Pp ght


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ask themselves whethe the gwth fcultes shws that

the startg assumptos o the whole project ma be wrog. do

th appah t a G btt jt

t th ?

ConClusion

We e b etug t a pt mae eale: t s wse t

b aa a atat. yg-ath at gt

a t pbt, bth aab a aab. Bt th aother postos, amog whch the aalogcal-a theor eseres

pa t.

it s als wth uelg what we have bseve abut

allblt. All huma thees, whethe masteam sc-

ece explaats the as ceat, ae allble.

The W the L emas eve (1 Pete 1:25; c. isa.40:8; Matt. 24:35).

n c o n c l u s i o n

r Wh t t ta t tptat

o Geess 1? What ptalls mght we ao through a basc

kg th th?

r Wh a th th t t?

r As we stu scece a the Scptues, what ae sme

ptat pt t b?

notes

1. A -ttth-t th pt a b Ba

Ra, The Christian View o Science and Scripture (Ga Rap: E-

mas, 1954), especall 173249. For a up-to-ate scusso, see ver S.

Pthess, Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach (Wheat, iL:

Ca, 2006), pa 33147.


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30


2. Some people hae serous objectos to mature creato. Oe such objec-

t s that t mght vlve appaet ecet Gs pat he mae

thgs that lke l but wee t. F a scuss ths bject

a th, Pth, Redeeming Science, 11730.

3. C. . S, ., The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testament:

Authorized Version, a p . ( yk: Ox Ut

P, 1917), 3.

4. F mptat scuss, see the Westmste Cess Fath,

chapter 1; Bejam B. Warfel, The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible

(Phapha: Pbta a R, 1948); The Inallible Word: A

Symposium by Members of the Faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary,3 . . (Phapha: Pbta a R, 1946); . A. Ca-

s a Jh . Wbge, es., Scripture and Truth (Ga Raps:

Za, 1983); Jh M. Fa, The Doctrine o the Word o God (Ph-

pbg, J: P&R Pbhg, 2010).

5. A tatg pt a th k, Ra, The Chris-

tian View(1954), a, t, Pth, Redeeming Science (2006).

6. C. Jh C, Genesis 14:A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Com-mentary(Phpbg, J: P&R Pbhg, 2006), 77.

7. M a t a pa t that a abt

pecse length of time pesuppses a ecs abut hw tme wll be

measured. t ppp a pt clock time, hh ppp

k, hth haa, tha (at k), ata

(p t th ). W a ta at

t th pppt that a t t b k t that t

t t thk t a t. at, th t th a

G 1 a t th p a ta ba g

tkpg.

8. S Pth, Redeeming Science, 14347, 34145.

9. da A. youg a Ralph F. Stearle, The Bible, Rocks and Time (dowers

G, L: tat, 2008), 388443.

10. M. Frerch, S. Remmele, B. Kromer, J. Homa, M. Spurk, K. F. Kaser,

C. O, a M. Kpp, Th 12,460-ya Hhh Oak a P

T-Rg Chg Cta EpA Uq Aa R

Raab Cabat a Pat Rtt,

Radiocarbon 46 (2004): 111122, cte http://e.wkpea.org/wk

/hg, a J 28, 2011.


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11. Paa J. R, Mk G. L. Ba, Ea Ba, Ax Ba, J. Wa

Beck, Chaa J. H. Bertra, Paul G. Blackwell, Catl E. Buck, George S.

Burr, Krste B. Cutler, Paul E. damo, R. Lawrece Ewars, Rchar G.

Farbaks, Mchael Frerch, Thomas P. Gulerso, Ala G. Hogg, Ko-

ra Hughe, Ber Kromer, Gerr McCormac, Sturt Mag, Chrsto-

ph Bk Ra, R W. R, Sab R, Jh R. Sth,

Mz St, Saha Taa, F. W. Ta, Jha a Pht, a

Ctaz E. Wh, TCAL04 Tta Raab Ag

Calbat, 026 cal k BP, Radiocarbon 46, 3 (2004): 102958, cte

http://e.wkpea.g/wk/echlg, accesse Jue 28,

2011. F a atg th, Mk Wak, QuaternaryDating Methods (Chht, Ega: W, 2005).

12. As a begg pt astm, see the sht tuct

Pth, Redeeming Science, 99105; gg, yg a Sta-

, The Bible, Rocks and Time (-ath pt), a La aa,

A A. Sg, a Eg F. Cha, ., Radioisotopes and the

Age o the Earth: Results o a Young-Earth Creationist Research Initiative (E

Caj, CA: ttt Cat Rah, 2005).13. Th apt a aat th th t uniormitarianism. Bt

the tem has bee use seveal seses (see yug a Steale, The

Bible, Rocks and Time, 44774). t h a b t that tt t

to cross-check ther assumptos rather tha acceptg them bll. For

example, moer expermets hae teste whether, wth Gos curret

pta , at aat a a th tpat

p.

14. Th ga th att ptat a a tat c th

spee lght a vacuum, as measue b a eab bseve. But the

at tat b at b gatat.

15. Spp th ak agt that th x tha

a . Th h ata atg? Th

aj atat th: (1) a, pata at

G at th t th th a, a hag G g-

ace at the e o the sxth a o creato, has throw o mastream

aat ba tt t a; (2) th t-

t a, bt aj aa (h a, xap, a

hpothetcal preloo ce caop) hae bee let out b the mastream;

or (3) the real laws (or the spee o lght or raoacte eca, or example)


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ae subtl acall eet m what the masteam has take

th t b.

i we choose alterate 1, t ma be mpossble to costruct a etale

theor or the past, because there are too ma was whch superatu-a at a pt gat. do gat

evetheless, the actual accumulat scetfc evece ca mve

us t the pst matue ceat, whch smpl sas thatamg

pbt p t Gth gat happ t b th

gat ht att.

Wth atat 2, g-ath at ha aa ah

abt b aa . th thg b,h k hat t ? Ut gt that a pt t k

a, p t k.

Alteatve 3 has fcult because t s speculatve. Thee ae t

ma pssble was whch the exstg mulats laws mght

bt aa ajtt th t. t a b t t at

t , at t th t, ata th k g gt

a a t ta at t ak a -,

ht ajtt.

We ca also coser combinations o these alterates. For example,

pp ha ggt that th th ga E

other structure was createmature, but these people the sallow mature

at th txt. O th a that pata at G

at p , h ajtt th a th-

at th . Sh bat g a

hpthta pbt that a pg ta a ht, gba th k. Lt thg a thta pbt

a t b . th tat, ght btt a that

G t, but we t kw hw. We ae bette amttg u

tat.


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