Please read first: Genesis 1:1 – 2:3
This section of the Bible is unique (one of a kind) for several reasons:
1 There were no human witnesses for the events described.2 It is not a toledot; it forms the introduction to the accounts. It is like “pre-history”.
The form is Hebrew narrative, and it has a parallel structure of events. See how the first three days of creation run parallel to the second set of three days. The literary forms and structure indicate that this account should not be seen as a detailed or accurate description of events. Yet, when we compare it to the rest of the Bible, we find that it forms an essential component that is taken very seriously throughout the Bible times. Therefore, we may not discredit it as if it is only a fantasy story with only symbolic truths. It does describe real, historical truth.
Apparently, the creation story had a polemic purpose: It was meant to critique other stories concerning the beginnings of the universe. Therefore we should not read it as objective truth from an unbiased witness. God himself gives the account for a special purpose: He is the creator. “In the beginning, God...”
The creation account emphasizes how God takes an earlier (by him) created empty and formless earth, and He creates order in the chaos. By way of separations, He creates beautiful things, patterns, and shapes. Notice also the pattern in creation (days):
There has been much debate over the Genesis creation account, for many scientists insist that the earth’s landforms, vegetations, and animal kinds slowly evolved over millions of years. For them, Genesis appears to be a primitive story that people used to believe when they did not yet know the “facts of Science”. Now, it is true that there are some complex issues (about the age and origins of the earth) without simple answers. Also scientists who are not Christians, if they are intellectually honest, will admit they have difficulty coming to grips with the “why” and “how” of the beginning. Steven Hawking, for instance, has suggested that in the beginning of time the natural laws (as we see them functioning today) seem to have functioned differently than today: "the actual point of creation lies outside the scope of presently known laws of physics"
Without attempting to give clear-cut answers to the dilemma, I like to offer the following suggestions:
1 As the creation story is pre-history, written to make a point to those who don’t know God, we must be careful not to insist that it is literal in every detail. There is obviously much symbolism in it. The Hebrew concept of ‘Tahoom’ for ocean depth was full of symbolism: it suggested chaos, danger, and/or disaster. It was the place where monsters dwelt!
2 To discredit the creation account by suggesting it does not describe actual history in space and time is to suggest that we cannot trust the Bible as the Word of God. The New Testament writers took the creation account as historically reliable.
3 To pretend that we can actually give an accurate and detailed analysis of what happened “in the beginning” is wrong; it gives too much credibility to human research. Too often, human researches have pretended to understand the full complexity of creation. Thankfully, many contemporary scientists can again stand in awe of the complexity of the created world.
4 Some have suggested that all geologists (and others who are interested in origins) seek to misrepresent the facts in order to fight Christianity. Satan tries to discredit God’s witness, sometimes through bad science and other times through overreacting Christians who try to build a scientific model of creation.
5 Many, perhaps most scientists, believe there is no God who did or does interfere with the world’s affairs. Yet even among them there is recognition that scientific laws as we experience them today did not operate in the same way “in the beginning” (see reference to Hawking). Therefore, all stories regarding the origins have components that could be classified as “miraculous”.
6 If we spend much time and effort in our attempts to analyze “how” this world began, we miss the point of the creation story, which is “Who” made it. May our study of “creation” never remove a childlike amazement for the wonderful works of the great Creator!
Food for Thought
1 God’s creation was good. In fact, it was very good.
Therefore, when evil and corruption enters this world, we cannot blame God for making a defective world. Who is to blame?
2 When is something ‘good’? When it fully serves its intended purpose! What was the purpose for the earth?
3 At the end, there is a rest.
Is it on purpose that there is no concluding statement (“and it was evening, and it was morning...”) for the seventh day? How is the theme “rest” used in the New Testament? See: Hebrews 3
4 “Adam” means “from the dust”.
How are we “sons of Adam” (daughters of Eve)?
What does the NT teach us about our new position? 1 Cor. 15
5 What does it mean that we are created in God’s image?
How does Jesus refer to this when asked about paying taxes to Caesar? Luke 20
6 Below you see the famous painting by Michelangelo, depicting “the creation of man”. Is it accurate to the creation story? Does God have a body like ours?
The Creation of Adam is part of the fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome,
painted around 1511 by Michelangelo.
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