Biblical Reasons for Affirming a LITERAL Creation Week

 

Biblical reasons

for affirming creation in six literal days

Pastor Terry L. Reese; 4/28/24

 

I. While the Hebrew word yom (“day”) can indeed refer to an extended period of time (cf., Gen. 2:4), it is NEVER used in this manner when qualified by the phrase “evening and morning” (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31) and associated with a specific numeric value (e.g., first, second, third, fourth days, etc.).

 

II. GENRE. Genesis chs. 1-11 (often cast by modern men as fable or poetry) are written in the form of HISTORICAL NARRATIVE. The author Moses is engaged in didactic teaching, recounting God’s creative & redemptive acts in real space-time & history. The literary genre here is history—not poetry or parable!

 

III. The Ordering of Events. Genesis 1 cannot be reconciled with modern “scientific” theories by interpreting the “days” as vast geologic ages. In contrast to modern theories, the Earth (and plant life) precedes the creation of the Sun, even as birds and whales precede the origin of land animals, etc.

 

IV. 7-Day Week. Unlike Days & Years, there is no astronomical basis for having a 7-Day Week! WHERE, then, does it come from? The true basis for our Week is God’s creative activity as recorded in Gen. 1:1-2:3! In the 4th Commandment, which calls for the observance of the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-11), Moses records that Creation Week forms a literal pattern for man to follow (6 Days of work+1 Day of rest).

 

V.  ACCORDING TO JESUS and the Apostles, WHEN did the events of early human history occur? The martyrdom of Abel (Luke 11:50)? The marriage of Adam & Eve (Mark 10:6)? The temptation of Adam (John 8:44) and human sin (Heb. 9:25-26)? Answer: In the beginning, from the foundation of the world!

 

VI. GENEOLOGY. The genealogies of Gen. 5 & 11 create a time-frame that serves as the “spine” or framework for a meaningful historical chronology that cannot be unreasonably “stretched.”

 

VII. THEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS regarding Adam’s role and relationship unto Creation. Should we accept billions of years of earth-history without the presence of Adam—who was created as God’s Vice-Regent over Creation (Gen. 1:26-30, Ps. 8)? Or millions of years of pain, death, and decay in God’s “very good” world (Gen. 1:31) prior to Adam’s Fall? When did the Curse of Death fall upon Creation (Gen.3:17-19, Rom.5:12-21, 1Cor.15:21-22)?