Falsification?
The notion that it is impossible for gen 1’s creation account to be reconciled with modern cosmology.
- Age of the universe; order of “days” and life
- Evolution (in general)
Apologetic Approaches (General)
| YEC | OEC |
|---|---|
| Redefine or deny modern cosmology | Make Genesis speak science |
| Starlight and time argument | Alternative exegetical strategies |
| Make Literalism a theological issue |
Alternative Textual Strategies
Legitimate for Apologetics and Exegesis because:
-
The text can sustain alternatives
- Certain YEC points do not work
- Overstating / inaccuracy for meaning of bara’ (arguing that Gen 1:1 requires ex nihilo)
-
yôm with numeral requires 24 hrs.
E.g., Gen 8:4; 33:13; Deut 1:2; Judg 20:25; etc.
-
Heiser assumptions
- Modern science is correct (or at least on to something)
- The biblical writers had an ancient, uniform worldview with respect to natural world
- God was the point of origin for both natural reality (science) and biblical truth
- Consequently
- He needs to affirm both as true
- To do so, I need to discern what they communicate and what they cannot claim (or what they over-claim)
- I also need to be mindful of the providential view of inspiration (vs. traditional dictation or “mental telepathy”): distinguish truth propositions from means of expressing those propositions
Responding to Falsification
While the biblical text affirms a Creator-creation distinction, which requires God to be the Creator of all things visible and invisible (Col 1:16; 1Cor 8:6; Rom 11:36; Heb 1:2; 11:3 — cp. Ps 33:6, 9 [LXX 32:6, 9])
…the text does not require that 1:1-3 be confined to 24-hr cycles. The time can be undefined.
Issues in Gen 1:1-3 — beresit
-
Tanakh - When God began to create heaven and earth — the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over…
-
Examples has a temporal beresit
- Possibility of indefinite beginning
- vav + noun + verb: “Now the earth was formless…” (NIV)
Options and Implications
Gen 1:1 as independent clause
- Functions as a title because it is disconnected in sequence from 1:2 because of waw.
- Gen 1:1 essentially a heading
- Gen 1:2 sets the opening circumstance; 1:3 begins the description of God’s work (first creative act)
God created, now He’s reordering the stuff…
- Don’t necessarily requires a definite beginning
- Don’t necessarily requires a 24-hour
- Inhabitable for human
Mike Chu’s Notes
Gen 1 cannot be reconciled with modern cosmology
Griffith Article
- YEC - 6000
- Dismisses concepts dark matter / energy
Kinder Article
- OEC - “Day” yom does not restrict to 24-hr
- tohe - Formless
- Against literalist interpretation
Sarna Article
- bara & yom not central point
- Clause structure 1:1-3 real issue
- If “when” they are dependent clauses
- Existed prior
- Modern science “blessed” and “cursed”
- bara cannot be limited to create out of nothing
- asah (Ex 20:11) used as synonym
- Traditional interpretation harder to depend. Would need Isaiah help
- “When” is easier to defend (in Hebrews are self explanatory)
Heiser
- Both accounts need to be affirmed
- theological & scientific
- Discernment is important
- Mindful of providential view of inspiration (not dictation)
- Distinguish truth proposition from the means of those propositions
- Alternative interpretation Gen 1:1-3
- v.1 as a title (to follow the other works)
- Disconnects it from v2-3 as ambiguous time
- God created but it was not ordered