2.

GENESIS SERIES:
The Creation Account

With so many theories going around today concerning the beginning of the world it is
worthwhile to consider this question before we launch ourselves into a study of the
Book of Genesis proper. This study assumes the Biblical account as being the accurate
and correct account. The study will be approached not to exhaustively consider every
theory, nor will it consider the theories raised in detail, but it will draw attention to a
few theories that are out there.

This study will also present some Biblical evidence for the traditional view of the Genesis
creation account. It may prove inconsequential and unsatisfactory for proponents of
some of the other views, but Lord willing will prove helpful to those who hold to the
traditional view of the creation account.

As Christians who believe the Bible, we are required to accept what the Bible says
regarding creation. All other viewpoints that come from other sources, whether they are
geology, history or mythology, must all submit to the final authority of the Word of God.
If they are contrary to this standard, then these theories are to be cast aside, no matter
how attractive they may at first appear.

QUESTION: By what are we to determine the origins of the universe and the world? Give
reasons for your answer.

SCRIPTURE VERSUS MAN-MADE THEORIES

It has been widely thought that the Bibles creation account was derived from any
number of ancient creation myths and stories, such as the Babylonian epic, which is
divided into seven tables. In the Babylonian epic there are two beings called Apsu and
Tiamat who bring forth a generation of various deities. These deities become extremely
powerful and so the two original deities attempt to slay them with the result that
Tiamat is slain. Tiamat is split in two to become the heavens and the earth, with men
and women being made from the blood of Tiamats chief minister. From this extremely
brief description it can be seen that though there may be similarities at some points,
there is plenty that is different.

Genesis Bible Study Series: 2. The Creation Account 1

However, the theory that the Bibles creation account came from such mythological
accounts can be countered by the thought that these myths and stories are more than
likely perversions of the original creation account as outlined in the Scriptures, having
been modified through a history of oral transmission from generation to generation. It
should be noted that the Biblical account was held in trust by Israel and not Babylon or
other ancient civilisations.

Then there is of course the current day debate over creation and evolution. Any attempt
to blend or marry the two views of creation and evolution is thwart with danger for the
person who professes to be a Christian. The Bible gives clear indications that the theory
of evolution will not stand the scrutiny of Scripture. Yet the counter argument is that
scientific proof shows evolution to be correct and so Christians feel pressure to adjust
what they interpret the Scriptures to teach in order to fit in with the so-called
irrefutable evidence of modern science. Such scientific proof is said to exist in the fossil
record, geology, etc. The theory of evolution more-or-less calls for the eternity of matter
and spontaneous generation, for what is made must come from something that has
always existed. It is generally regarded as a fact, rather than a theory. However, the
non-existent simply cannot develop into existence.

Theistic Evolution seeks to combine science with the Bible, achieving neither science
nor Biblicism. God is seen as the one who begins the evolutionary process, stepping in at
periodic intervals to help nature cross the impossible gaps. In this theory, the missing
links of evolution are the periodic interventions of God. But is this an honest
understanding of what the Bible teaches on creation?

The Genesis account (and indeed that of all Scripture - Acts 17:26; Rom 5:12-19) points
to the beginning of the human race in two created beings, Adam and Eve (Gen 3:20).
Without this understanding much of Biblical theology falls apart. There is no account in
Scripture of man evolving from the creation, but the act of Divine creation by the Word
of God.

THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT OF CREATION

The first thing to note regarding the Biblical account of creation is that it was written in
an everyday manner. The account was not written for scientists, nor was it written in a
secret code that requires special skills of interpretation to understand. The account was
written to everyday people in everyday language in order to get a very simple message
across to its readers. This may seem a very straightforward and unnecessary comment
to make here, but it holds important ramifications for the way that the account is
interpreted. What I am saying is that this idea needs to be in the forefront of our minds
as we seek to understand the text. If we understand this simple principle, we will not
see any need to go hunting for hidden meanings and complicated interpretations of the
passage.

Genesis Bible Study Series: 2. The Creation Account 2

One area where this principle comes into play is the chronology of creation. Are the
lengths of days mentioned in Genesis one 24-hour days or great geological ages? People
trying to bring the creation account and modern-day science together would like to find
many millions (if not billions) of years in each of these days. Yet it must be remembered
that the account was written to people in everyday language clearly suggesting a normal
24-hour period for each of the days.

Add to this the normal Scriptural usage of the Hebrew word yom and the traditional
understanding of the Biblical account becomes obvious to the person who is not swayed
by the pressure of modern-day science.

The prevailing view over the centuries has been that the days of the Genesis account
were calendar days. The Hebrew word yom, has a primary meaning of a literal day and
proper exegesis requires it to be regarded as such, unless the context shows otherwise.
The addition of, and there was evening and there was morning confirms a literal day as
the correct interpretation of the text. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, the same
conclusion is reached (Ex 20:9-11; 31:15-17). Certainly from day four (creation of the
sun), these were literal solar days.

Prior to day four the days could not have been solar days for the sun was not yet
created. This being so, the calendar day theory has been a subject of almost constant
controversy. Various views have been put forward to answer this problem, including
those supporting the calendar days theory. Calvin believed that the light was
interchanged with darkness, but was not sure whether this was the same as what we
know in our experience as night and day. Perhaps the answer lies within Gods revealed
Word (Rev 21:22).

The Biblical evidence certainly indicates that these first three days were of equal
duration as the following three, and therefore it can be concluded that these were
normal calendar days. A normal reading of the Genesis account clearly gives this
impression.

There are of course those who merely see the creation account as symbolic truth, along
with the entire portion of Genesis 1-11. However, the text of the Genesis account is
clearly to be understood as historical narrative, for both geographical (Gen 2:8-17) and
genealogical (Gen 5; 10; 11) material is included in the text. It is written as a simple
eyewitness account and not as a scientific manual or textbook. Elsewhere in Scripture,
the Genesis account is also regarded as historical fact (1 Chron 1; Job 38:4ff; Ps 33:6,9;
90:2; 102:25; Is 40:26,28; 42:5; 45:18; Jer 10:12-16; Lk 3:23-38; Jn 1:1ff; Acts 17:24; Rom
1:20,25; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2; 11:3).

What a number of the theories relating to the beginning of the world fail to recognize in
contradiction to the Biblical creation account (especially when held to by Christians who
claim to be Bible believing) is the ex nihilo aspect of it. In other words the Bible clearly

Genesis Bible Study Series: 2. The Creation Account 3

teaches a creation which originally began out of nothing. Creation was not formed from
any pre-existent matter, but the materials of which it was formed were brought into
existence at the exact time when the things themselves were created (Gen 1:1; Heb
11:3).

Creation came about simply (to God anyhow) by the Word of Gods power, called The
Divine Fiat (Ps 33:6,9; 148:5; Heb 11:3). God spoke and it came into existence out of His
command. Previous to Gods command nothing existed. Therefore all theories of origins
regarding the eternity of matter are false. However, a point is to be made for secondary
creation, where something is made out of pre-created matter. For example, man was
made out of the dust (Gen 2:7) and the animals and birds from the ground (Gen 2:19).

The theory of evolution clearly implies that there was matter to begin with, out of which
evolved what we see today. To believe evolution then is to disbelieve the Scriptural
account of creation out of nothing. Clearly the two cannot be logically upheld, it is an
impossibility to do so.

QUESTION: Why should modern-day science be keen to push evolution at the expense of
creation? What part does Romans 1-3 play in this process?

Creation is the free act of God whereby He, according to His own sovereign will and for
His own glory, in the beginning brought forth the whole visible and invisible universe,
without the use of pre-existent material and thus gave it an existence, distinct from His
own and yet always dependent upon Him.

RESTITUTION THEORY

Another view that has held ground from time to time among Christians is the Restitution
theory. According to Restitution Theory, a long period of time elapsed between the
primary creation (Gen 1:1) and the secondary creation (Gen 1:3-31). The earth was
originally a place for the angels and the fall of the angels resulted in the destruction and
chaos of Genesis 1:2. Therefore the creation account in Genesis 1 is essentially a
re-making of the universe.

The Gap Theory (Restitution Theory) believes Genesis 1:2 should read, and the earth
became without form and void. The theory says that the world was created perfect long
ago, before the judgment brought down upon the fallen angels, and the resulting chaos
of destruction and rebirth. The whole period previous to the period of judgment
accounts for the geology of our earth. The process following the judgment, or the
account in Genesis 1, is how the earth was restituted for man. The days of this theory
are calendar days.

Genesis Bible Study Series: 2. The Creation Account 4

INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY

For this study there are no questions. However, if you have not already read through the
Book of Genesis, it is recommended that you actually read through the entire book of
Genesis prior to undertaking the next study.

All Bible Studies by the author may be freely copied, printed and distributed. We ask only that they
remain unedited (unless approved by Kevin Matthews) and contain the Aussie Outpost name and website
URL: http://particularbaptist.com This Bible Study is by Kevin Matthews. It is asked that this notice be
included as is. Thankyou.

Genesis Bible Study Series: 2. The Creation Account 5