In the Beginning... Biblical Creation Models
There are several creation models that have been proposed to explain how life came into existence. I believe in what has been called the "day-age" interpretation of Genesis one - that is, that each "day" is actually a long period of time during which God created life. Probably the most widely promoted model is the young earth model, which is dealt with in detail on this site. The "gap" model accepts the ancient age of the universe, but states that the earth was remade following corruption by Satan and his angels. An analysis of these creation models can be found at the links below:
| Model | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Day-Age Each "day" represents a long period of time |
A literal reading of Genesis that incorporates all other creation passages in the Bible, in addition to the scientific data | ? |
| Framework Interprets Genesis as merely representing spiritual truths with no scientific substance presented in the text. |
As a non-literal interpretation, there is no need to reconcile the text of Genesis with the reality of the physical world | Ignores the vast body of data from the Bible that describes how God created the universe and life on earth |
| Gap Claims that the original earth had become corrupt and was destroyed by God to be replaced by the earth we see now |
Accepts the scientific date for the creation of the universe in addition to 24 hour creation days. | Little or no biblical or scientific support for the idea that the original creation was messed up by Satan and his demons. The geologic and paleontological record of the earth does not support the existence of a "gap" |
| Young earth Each "day" is 24 hours long, requiring that the earth and universe was created 6,000-10,000 years ago |
Most concrete and direct interpretation of Genesis | Ignores biblical creation passages outside of
Genesis Ignores huge volumes of scientific literature |
Additional Resources
A
Matter of Days by
Hugh Ross
Dr. Ross looks the creation date controversy from a biblical, historical, and scientific perspective. Most of the book deals with what the Bible has to say about the days of creation. Ross concludes that biblical models of creation should be tested through the whole of scripture and the revelations of nature.
Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth
by Mark S. Whorton, Ph.D.
This book, written for Christians, examines creation paradigms on the basis of what scripture says. Many Christians assume that the young earth "perfect paradise" paradigm is based upon what the Bible says. In reality, the "perfect paradise" paradigm fails in its lack of biblical support and also in its underlying assumptions that it forces upon a "Christian" worldview. Under the "perfect paradise" paradigm, God is relegated to the position of a poor designer, whose plans for the perfect creation are ruined by the disobedience of Adam and Eve. God is forced to come up with "plan B," in which He vindictively creates weeds, disease, carnivorous animals, and death to get back at humanity for their sin. Young earth creationists inadvertently buy into the atheistic worldview that suffering could not have been the original intent of God, stating that the earth was created "for our pleasure." However, the Bible says that God created carnivores, and that the death of animals and plants was part of God's original design for the earth.
The
Genesis Debate
: Three teams of evangelical scholars tackle the
question of how God created the universe by presenting and defending their
respective views in a lively, yet friendly, forum. J. Ligon Duncan III and David
W. Hall defend the view that the Genesis creation days are six, sequential days,
each 24 hours long (the 24-hour view). Hugh Ross and Gleason L. Archer defend
the view that the Genesis creation days are six sequential ages of time of
unspecified but finite duration (the day-age view). And Lee Irons with Meredith
G. Kline defend the view that the Genesis creation days are presented as normal
days, but that the picture of God's creating in six days and resting on the
seventh is figurative (the Framework view).
A
New Look at an Old Earth
by Don
Stoner
Don Stoner looks at the age of the earth from a scientific and biblical perspective. He presents much more evidence that is not presented in Creation and Time.
The older version of A New Look at an Old Earth is available online
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/creationmodels.html
Last Modified September 20, 2007
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