Today: the spectrum of interpretation

zoom in on the gap theory

Still to come:Chance

Intelligent DesignThe Big Bang & Evolution

Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

• Literal “young earth” creationism

• Literal “old earth” creationism – gap theory

• Day – Age theory

• Poetic picture

• Theological sermon to surrounding cultures

• Theistic Evolution

Jeremiah 33:24-26 (New International Version) 24 "Have you not noticed that these people are

saying, 'The LORD has rejected the two kingdoms he chose'? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation.

25 This is what the LORD says: 'If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed laws of heaven and earth,

26 then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.' "

What was the first thing God made?

Genesis 1:1-3 (New International Version)

The Beginning  1 In the beginning God created

the heavens and the earth.  2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty,

darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Footnotes: [a] Or became

Isaiah 45:18 (New International Version) For this is what the LORD says—

       he who created the heavens,        he is God;        he who fashioned and made the earth,        he founded it;        he did not create it to be empty,        but formed it to be inhabited—        he says:        "I am the LORD,        and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:18 (Young's Literal Translation)For thus said Jehovah, Creator of heaven, He is God,

Former of earth, and its Maker, He established it -- not empty He prepared it, For inhabiting He formed it: `I [am] Jehovah, and there is none else.

Theory Description Justification Logical Faults Strengths

Day-Age

This model is structured on the premise that each of the "days" in the Genesis narrative represent a period of 1000 years.

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."2 Peter 3:8 KJV

If each day was 1000 years long, then the plant life made on the 3rd Day would have been in the dark for 1000 years until there was sunshine made on 4th day. 7000 years inadequate time for geologic processes.

None.

Young-Earth

The young earth model proposes that the universe did not come into existence until about 6000 years ago, and that the "days" are literal 24 hour days. Also, that the earth's sediments and oil deposits were produced by Noah's flood.

"For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."Exodus 20:11

The Young Earth model can not explain the antiquity of the Earth's Geology as determined by Radio Dating and fossil record.

Adheres to the literal years count of Patriarchs from Adam onward. Allows for literal 7 days Creation.

Old-Earth/Theistic Evolution

A blend of secular opinion and the Bible promoting Natural Selection and evolution, but that God was the initiator and guide in the process. Also called "Process Creation", "Progressive Creation", "Intelligent Design". Promotes idea that the Bible's 7 days closely correspond with natural history.

Scientifically proven antiquity of the Earth's natural history based on observations.

Can not account for a literal Adam and Eve. Idea that Bible days correspond with natural history falsified by fact that evolution holds that sea life came before plant life on land, while Bible's 7 days actually state just the opposite.

Meets the demands of Radio Dating and current scientific theory.

Organic Evolution Theory

The basic theory as advocated by Darwin in his book, "Origin of the Species", and championed by Thomas Huxley, that all present life forms are the end result of a natural process, emanating originally from a microorganism. 

Accepted scientific theory based on observations without appeals to Divine creation.

Completely rejects the notion of Biblical Creation.

Meets demands of Secular Science and all non believers.

Old-Earth Creation Ruin-Reconstruction (Gap Theory)

 

This model is a refinement of the so called "Gap Theory",  and proposes that God created the universe in the ancient past, that it was tainted with Death by the rebellion of Lucifer early in it's history, and was eventually ruined. God then regenerated the heavens and earth in six literal 24 hour days, about 6000 years ago.

The Earth was already present before the start of the 7 days (see Genesis 1:2) Bible declares previous world was here before the present one (see 2 Peter 3:5-7)

None. As documented on this website.

(www.kjvbible.org)

Meets the requirements for both an old Earth (according to Geology) and a literal 7 day creative event including literal Adam.

"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (2 Pet 3:5-7 KJV)

Dirk brings his family tree to class