Creation myths. Ancient explanations of the universe ranged from the Mesopotamian claim that matter represents the corpse of a slain deity, Tiamat, to the Greek conviction that the physical universe preexisted the gods. Only Genesis exalts God above His Creation. And only Genesis gives human beings a central place in Creation, as persons made in God’s image who are deeply loved by Him. Thus the biblical view of Creation has always been radical—and remains in direct conflict with the modern notion that everything is the product of chance evolution.
The creative “days.” Sincere Christians hold differing views. Some hold each “day” represents a geologic era—a vast period of time. Some hold the days are symbolic, or are seven literal days Moses spent on Mt. Sinai (cf. Ex. 32:16), during which God showed Moses how He created all things. Still others assume seven literal days, separated by long ages, while yet another group argues for seven consecutive days.
There is no certain resolution of the conflict. But it may well miss the point. We must focus on the fact that God created, not on disputes over how long it took Him. Our world is no product of blind chance. A living Person lovingly, carefully designed all that is. We live in a personal rather than impersonal universe, and because of this, we have hope. God is! As we commit ourselves to Him, our emptiness will be filled, and we will find life’s meaning.
“Be fruitful and increase.” Christians have sometimes argued that Adam and Eve’s fall was sexual: that they abandoned celibacy, and this was the “original sin.” But Gen. 1:28 makes it clear that God intended a sinless Adam and Eve to have children and “increase in number.” Human sexuality was invented by God Himself, and is intended as a gift. Within the framework of marriage (Gen. 2) sexual expression is a joyful affirmation of a couple’s intimacy, and every pleasure is blessed by God Himself. Sex »1 Timothy 4.
“Very good.” God evaluated each of the first five days’ creative work and called it “good” (attractive, useful, desirable, morally right). The work of creating man is called “very good.”
Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.
The creative “days.” Sincere Christians hold differing views. Some hold each “day” represents a geologic era—a vast period of time. Some hold the days are symbolic, or are seven literal days Moses spent on Mt. Sinai (cf. Ex. 32:16), during which God showed Moses how He created all things. Still others assume seven literal days, separated by long ages, while yet another group argues for seven consecutive days.
There is no certain resolution of the conflict. But it may well miss the point. We must focus on the fact that God created, not on disputes over how long it took Him. Our world is no product of blind chance. A living Person lovingly, carefully designed all that is. We live in a personal rather than impersonal universe, and because of this, we have hope. God is! As we commit ourselves to Him, our emptiness will be filled, and we will find life’s meaning.
“Be fruitful and increase.” Christians have sometimes argued that Adam and Eve’s fall was sexual: that they abandoned celibacy, and this was the “original sin.” But Gen. 1:28 makes it clear that God intended a sinless Adam and Eve to have children and “increase in number.” Human sexuality was invented by God Himself, and is intended as a gift. Within the framework of marriage (Gen. 2) sexual expression is a joyful affirmation of a couple’s intimacy, and every pleasure is blessed by God Himself. Sex »1 Timothy 4.
“Very good.” God evaluated each of the first five days’ creative work and called it “good” (attractive, useful, desirable, morally right). The work of creating man is called “very good.”
Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.
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