Thursday, September 18, 2008
Summary Point # 13
All the "days" of Genesis were literal, solar time periods. God cited the six days [Gen. 1:1-31], followed by a Sabbath [Gen. 2:1-3], as an example for man to work and rest. The Hebrew asah when translated, "worked on," "brought forth," "established" or "did" in the origins passages [1:7,16...], better reflects the meaning of the Hebrew word in that context.
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7 comments:
You have made a good job of answering the question, "Does the text of Genesis demand a 6000 year old universe?"
The next question is – "Does the text of Genesis demand a 24-hour interpretation of the word day?"
Gen. 1:5 gives us God's definition of day. Day is LIGHT, separated from darkness. Darkness is excluded.
The Lord Jesus in John 11:9 says, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?" So a literal day has 12 hours of sunlight, during which work is done.
But then in John 9:4 he says, “I must work the works of him that sent me while it is still day … as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
So a day can also refer to SPIRITUAL light, characterized by a DIVINE work.
The work in Genesis 1 is definitely divine. And whenever the word "day" is used in connection with divine activity, it USUALLY refers to an indefinite period of time.
So the answer to both questions is "No." The text does not demand a 6000 year old universe, and it does not demand 24 hour days.
Hi Margaret,
I appreciate reading your comments. I agree that "day" [Heb. "yom"] can be interpreted non-literally. It is used in other ways in Scripture. However, I'm inclined to agree with Gorman on its solar day usage in Genesis one.
I follow the reasoning about "day" as divine activity; surely it was. But it seems that the text equates "day" with "evening and morning" (darkness and light cycle). So, if yom meant a season of divine activity only, wouldn't the text say after the creative event(s), "this was day two", etc., and not mention "evening and morning"?
Thank you for this, John. You express yourself well.
The sentence, “and [there] was evening, and [there] was morning,” may fit the idea of a solar day, but it certainly fits the idea of “day” as a period of time.
Think for a minute. If night is excluded, as God’s definition of day demands, then the evening of one day is actually the morning of the next day. Then it makes sense to say, “There was evening, and there was morning, Day one.” The first day was over, a new day had already begun.
I have looked at all the other passages which contain the words “evening” and “morning”. I cannot find a single passage where those words refer to a 24-hour period. Can you refer me to one?
Let me make clear that my motive is not to prove Gorman wrong. It is to prove that the text of Genesis one does not demand a 24-hour interpretation of the word "day". If we could agree on that, it would eliminate the need for insisting that those who do not agree with us are guilty of rejecting the accuracy of the Bible.
I think it is possible that the days were longer than 24 hours (due to the occasional non-literal use of yom elsewhere), but I believe the context and evening/morning seems to be 95% likely that solar days are in view.
The word for "evening" is always of the literal dark side of day in the books of Moses.
For example,
Ex 16:12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
Ex 29:39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:
Le 6:20 This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
Nu 9:21 And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
De 28:67 In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
The 19 uses of "evening" in NT refer to literal evening time of the solar day.
Mr 13:35* “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning
Referring to your comment: "... If night is excluded, as God’s definition of day demands, then the evening of one day is actually the morning of the next day." Here you are using another common definition of "day" namely, daytime (light). However, this Genesis 1 text and the Jewish way of reckoning a solar day (24 hours) is sunset to sunset. Thus, "day" as a solar day is the cycle of night time (evening) and daytime (morning).
Anyway, I agree with your ultimate concern. I wouldn't say those who hold to the infallible authority of Genesis as part of God's Word have no other option. Gorman's book is a convincing presentation of a model--one we think is best. But we can relate to others (such as young planet creationists, some forms of progressive creationism, or the gap theory) as possibilities.
An author presenting his pioneering case may feel like David vs Goliath and present the case forcefully. Yet we can safeguard the unity of true believers and agree on the non-negotiables...
Your examples are great, John. They show that morning is the beginning of the day and evening is the end of the day. Things that happened in the morning and in the evening did not go on all day or all night.
Morning TO evening is a whole day, and evening TO morning is a whole night. To get a day AND a night requires the time from one evening to the next evening - not to the next morning.
You missed one example. In Daniel 8:26, "evening and morning" refers to a vision which, according to the context, covers a long period of history.
Thank you very much for your concluding paragraphs. As a result, I hope that Gorman will modify his language when describing those who disagree with him.
With that wish, I will drop this particular subject. It's been great talking with you.
Thanks for your input. I would note though, the plural "evenings and mornings" in Daniel 8:26 which I think allows for the extended time frame...
I have had to change my mind numerous times in my lifetime and I am willing to do it again but only (as before) after there is compelling reason from plain and simple reading of Scripture or proper (uncomplicated) reasoning from that word of God. I do not see any reason to "modify my language when describing those who disagree with me." I suppose the comment above refers to my statement that theistic evolution is "gross idolatry" when it teaches evolution by tooth and claw, death and struggle, the survival of the brutist. That in my opinion is gross idolatry which term I define as "thinking about God in a way that He is not." When I get time I will elaborate.
MC wrote "Let me make clear that my motive is not to prove Gorman wrong. It is to prove that the text of Genesis one does not demand a 24-hour interpretation of the word "day". If we could agree on that, it would eliminate the need for insisting that those who do not agree with us are guilty of rejecting the accuracy of the Bible."
And let me be clear that I do not doubt that all those who may disagree with me are guillty of rejecting the accuracy of the Bible. She certainly has full confidence in the accuracy of the Bible but wants others to see it like she does (notably evening and morning). However, no, we cannot agree that the word "day" in the Genesis one context, in fact refers to long periods of time but it certainly does not make me think that those who disagree with me are guilty of rejecting the accuracy of the Bible. Rather, it is simply that your long chain of reasoning about evening and morning has not been sufficiently convincing to alter my opinion.
Still friends and I must say, I much appreciate your contributions. Keep them coming even if I do not have time right now to respond adequately.
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