Is the Creation account in Genesis Literal?

[Imagican]

Ok Bubba,

You say that God did NOT give us a 'choice' in understanding. That what is written is LITERAL.

Well now, I would be willing to make a wager here. I'll BET that if we continue in discussions concerning theology and the Word, you will be forced at one point to OPENLY ADMIT that there is MUCH of the written Word that IS 'symbolic' and NOT meant to be taken 'LITERAL'.

I have YET to have ANYONE say that they believed Revelation to BE 'literal' in it's entirety. Much is sybolic and representative rather than literal.

The parables of Christ: there is little reason to believe that each and every one was MEANT to be taken 'literal'. They were figurative and meant to convey a 'message' that went WELL BEYOND the 'literal words'.

So, with these things in mind, WHY is it that you believe that God COULDN'T have offered His story of 'creation' as representative of the ORDER in which it was accomplished rather than meant to BE a 'literal' timeline of events?

And I'll offer this 'one more time', yet THIS time in a question rather than statements:

Do you honestly believe that IF it took BILLIONS of years for the earth to reach it's present point of maturity, that God could have offered this explanation to Moses in a 'way' that would have been UNDERSTOOD by him and those to which he spoke?

If God had explained genetics to Moses, do you BELIEVE that Moses would have understood more than FIVE WORDS offered?

Blessings,

MEC

 

[Bubba]

MEC

I was referring to the Genesis account of creation being written in a genre of literalism that can not be denied. Certainly, the Scriptures have many passages that are not to be taken literally, especially the Revelation.
I do not believe it took billion of years to have earth in the state it is now in, but if it did, God would not have any problem expressing this to Moses or Adam (some believe Adam passed down the account of creation). I learned about the DNA molecule discovered by Watson and Crick, and since I believe that Moses and Adam were probably more intelligent then I, they would have understood. The difference between us and them is thousands of years of discovery. Modern man is a product of all those who have gone on before us, and the reason why I in my relatively short life can understand basic concepts of science. Is Moses any different then anyone else in his ability to learn and understand?
Grace, Bubba

 

[Joe67]

MEC

I was referring to the Genesis account of creation being written in a genre of literalism that can not be denied. Certainly, the Scriptures have many passages that are not to be taken literally, especially the Revelation.
I do not believe it took billion of years to have earth in the state it is now in, but if it did, God would not have any problem expressing this to Moses or Adam (some believe Adam passed down the account of creation). I learned the DNA molecule discovered by Watson and Crick, and since I believe that Moses and Adam were probably more intelligent then I, they would understand. The difference between us and them is thousands of years of discovery. Modern man is a product of all those who have gone on before us, and the reason why I in my relatively short life can understand basic concepts of science. Is Moses any different then anyone else in his ability to learn and understand?
Grace, Bubba

Our Gentile understanding of science has the same ignorance of the righteousness of our Creator as the Jews understanding of the law that God gave at Mt. Sinai. The true wisdom of science is the principle that led our Lord to be sacrificed. The holy Spirit testifies to this in the first chapter of Romans.

Hearing, we hear not; seeing, we see not. We are like the men before Lot's door. Just like those who opposed our Lord, we boast about our great knowledge and wisdom and achievements. Our science, just like their religion, only led to more fighting and striving for the first place for us; a recipe for destruction. We glory in our shame.

How can science function at all with such blindness to the hidden principle that brings life? How could that religion given at Mt. Sinai function at all with such blindness to the character and purpose of the Creator? See its consequence. What happened to that nation was directly the responsibility of the priesthood and later the monarchy. Look at the principle of their hearts that controlled their thoughts and produced the actions that finally oppressed the weak and fatherless and widows and the non-members and those that were out of the way.

Every nation has been destroyed for the same reason; oppression of their own while professing otherwise. But they were not destroyed for their blasphemy, but for their violence against their own people, and especially the helpless.

Science is a weak as the law of Mt. Sinai was weak to bring in the righteous requirements of God's law of love. Personal sacrifice alone is the process whereby we love our neighbor as ourselves. Science has a wicked companion; just as religion. We know nothing as we ought.

Joe

 

[Imagican]

Amazing how that works. You will not argue a bit when you flip open your cell phone. Or go to the doctor and get an Xray. You will step out the door of your electronically filled house and get into your car and simply turn a key to be one your way. Drive along complex roadways with computer controlled traffic lights and think NOTHING OF these things.

But when it comes to the 'science' that refutes your BELIEF, then you will rave that it is TOTALLY WRONG and is the ROOT of ALL EVIL and MISUNDERSTANDING. Hmmmm..........

Bubba, is science PERFECT? No Way. But you DO recognize and BELIEVE we have sent men to the moon, right? What is the difference in THAT science and the science that offers the means to measure TIME?

The churches tried your approach and are still trying to get over it to this day. Trying to insist that THEY knew better than ANY 'science' could discover simply because they claimed a 'belief' in God. The funny thing: God GAVE us the inherent ability to DISCOVER and the intellect to UNDERSTAND. Whether it be the world around us or the Words that have been offered by Him.

You will openly accept that 'science' that does NOT contradict what you BELIEVE yet deny any that disproves your beliefs.

Question: Of what consequence, either negative or positive, could there be in an Earth that is OVER 10,000 years old? I mean 'what if'? What IF the Earth IS billions of years old? HOW is that able to alter ANYTHING concerning God or His creation? The only alteration in your 'belief' is the acceptance that God used 'days' as a means of conveying 'time periods'. Why is is SO important to BELIEVE that God created the universe in a 'literal six days'? You have openly admitted that MUCH of what is offered in The Word IS symbolic. What would 'change' if it were PROVEN that the Earth took billions of years to reach it's present maturity?

Blessings,

MEC

 

[XTruth]

I want to throw this out there, don't think it's been said??? I believe that human existance has been about 6,000 yrs in it's entirety. Genesis is literal. But I think the earth itself could have been created much longer ago...billions of years...perhaps. We know all we need to know for human history, but little is said about the angelic history. Isa.14:12-15 and Eze.28:11-18 clue us in that Satan ruled this earth and it's inhabitants (called pre-Adamites, maybe angels, who knows). As for dinosaurs, don't know what kind of animals existed on earth during Lucifer's rule. Don't know if any of those fossils remained. But dinosaur and human footprints have been found side by side in the same rocks. There's too much unknown to make a great case for this with my knowledge, but it's believe to be between Gen.1:1 and 1:3. Thus Gods command to re-populate the earth. Sorry if that's been covered, I got too lazy to read it all.

 

[Bubba]

Mec,

Read some good books and articles of those who believe in a young earth and start with the radiometric dating article I submitted earlier and weigh the evidence. Also, death and dying prior to Adam is problematic to those Scripture stated at the beginning of this thread (theological nightmare).
I would add that the science that led up to a cell phone or x-rays could be repeated in a lab and observed. The end product of such technologies is that there is no longer a hypothesis; the same cannot be said for evolution and the geological strata.
Grace, Bubba

 

[Imagican]

Bubba,

I HAVE been reading information from BOTH sides of the issue. That I have NOT posted links or articles in NO way negates the offerings that I have made.

There is SO much to be understood of our past, (to those that find it interesting), that the tradtionalists approach totally refutes even in light of overwhelming evidence.

So, you don't believe that ANY form of scientific dating is accurate in ANY way. That the scientist that landed men on the moon and created nuclear fission and fusion got THOSE things RIGHT and ANYTHING to do with their ability to measure the ages of physical material on the planet WRONG in EVERY instance? Hmmmm..........

I do NOT believe that carbon dating or ANY method that exists is 100 percent accurate. This has been PROVEN. But I have found NO evidence, (except in the WORDS of die hards), that points to 100 percent FAILURE in ability to aproximate age.

The mastadon and the saber tooth tiger are NOT dinosaurs. These are pre-historic MAMALS that we have known for YEARS lived beside men. The cause of the extinction of the mastadon is believed to be in PART due to the man hunting them relentlessly.

Almost EVERY miracle performed by God used NATURAL means. Yet the literal creation of the universe in SIX days would be unlike anything else offered throughout scripture. Combine this with the words offered concerning 'time/God', we DO find evidence that a 'day' to God can be as 1000 years and vice versa. Semantics doen't alter this REALITY. For God is OUTSIDE of time.

When I mentioned 'evolution' and Darwin, please understand that I was not speaking of his 'theory of evolution' as pertains to 'mankind'. I was simply pointing out that there WAS offered PROOF that evolution DOES take place. That animals and plants DO change over time and according to their environment. We do NOT yet KNOW to what extent.

DNA determines the 'make up' of different species. We KNOW this NOW. There is NO evidence that ANY animal has changed OUTSIDE of it's DNA makeup. Alterations of the DNA, but not totally different DNA from one species INTO another. This is pretty simple. But that animals evolved and that some simply died out and others took their place is an unavoidable reality. And when we see how MANY have become extinct, that is a PURE indication of TIME, (and LOTS of it).

There is NOTHING written within the Word that speaks of the continents dividing. Nothing indicative of SEAS that once covered the planet. In the story of Noah, it is said that the water RESIDED back to where they came from. No way that SO MUCH was left behind in a flood that lasted for such a short period of time as mentioned in Genesis. For not only are their LAYERS of sediments containing a fossil record. But LAYERS containing DIFFERENT species and different PERIODS of their EVOLUTION. The flood don't cut it EXPECIALLY when we take the TIMELINE offered as LITERAL.

I appreciate the efforts that you have expended to defend your belief. It is obvious that you have done much research. But Bubba, For YEARS many scientist and others tried their BEST to Prove that there was once 'life on Mars' to NO avail. We now KNOW that there ARE NO MARTIANS. And there are still people out 'looking for Bigfoot' even though the man that created this 'hoax' openly admitted that it WAS indeed a "HOAX". But that certainly hasn't detered those that insist from attempting to prove otherwise.

Blessings,

MEC

 

[Joe67]

It is important to distinguish between God's planning and God's doing.

Joe

 

[follower of Christ]

Old earth "theory" contradicts the Scriptures
by WmTipton

Assertions/Conclusions of this Article
This article is just to briefly cover a point or two from Gods word to show that old earth theory is contradictory to the bibles account 'as written'.
This article is making no claims about interpretation of 'scientific' evidence, but solely about the wording of Genesis in Gods account

Supporting Evidence
The bible does not show that the earth is millions of years old
The Hebrew word for 'day' can mean long ages unless it is further defined by the surrounding context....'an evening and a morning' is that context.
Especially when a 'day' is very clearly defined in Genesis itself.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
And the evening and the morning were the first day.
(Gen 1:3-5 KJV)

We have a planet called earth and we have a source of light.
We have a dark side of this planet earth and a light side, separated by God into 'day' and Night'
All that is needed now for an evening and a morning is rotation.
An evening and a morning show fairly conclusively that we are talking about a single earth rotation day.

There was a man named Adam made on the 6th day of creation.
This mans genealogy can be show all the way up to Christ in the scriptures, even with many of the lifespans given in exact years.

Scripture does not support that the earth has been here for even millions of years, let alone billions.

2.0
The 'light'.

Scripture shows that the sun was created on day 4 of the creation week.

And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night, and the stars also. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night; and to divide between the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
(Gen 1:16-19 MKJV)

Plantlife, however, was created on day 3.

And God said, Let the earth bring forth tender sprouts (the herb seeding seed and the fruit tree producing fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself) upon the earth; and it was so. And the earth brought forth tender sprouts, the herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree producing fruit after its kind, whose seed was in itself. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.
(Gen 1:11-13 MKJV)

Since we know factually that plant life, all life on this planet for the most part, REQUIRES the energy and light given from our sun to exist, the logical assumption is that this light set into place with the words 'let their be light' MUST have been equivalent TO the sun to keep this plant life alive until the sun was put into place on day 4.

3.0
Things we infer from the text;

-the 'light' mimicked the sun...which the evidence supports conclusively since there was plant life being supported before the suns creation on day 4.

-the earth rotated ....which the evidence supports conclusively since this 'evening and morning' are spoken of in the same exact manner both BEFORE the sun was created on day 4 and AFTER the sun was created on day 4.

We see that the situation was the same both BEFORE the sun was created and AFTER it was created. There was 'day and night' and 'evening and morning' and plant life existed, leaving no other logical conclusion that can be inferred from the texts OTHER than this light created before the sun MUST have been similar to our sun.

4.0
The man Adam

Man was created on the 6th day of creation.
God rested on the 7th day.

Here in Genesis 1 we see the creation of this man and woman.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: ............. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
(Gen 1:27-31 KJV)

And here in Genesis 2 we see more detail added to about this man and woman who were created from the dust of the earth and then put into the garden.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
(Gen 2:7-8 KJV)

We know that Adam was the first 'man' because that is exactly what scripture confirms.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
(1Co 15:45 KJV)

The man Adam and his wife Eve were created on the 6th day of creation.
This man Adam lived to be 930 years old.

Gen 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years. And he died.

If the creation days were not single earth rotation days, then Adam would have had to have been older than scripture accounts for.
If the creation days were even a decade long, then Adam would be ten years older than he was, thus scriptures account of his lifespan is false.

 

[nadab]

The six creative "days" spoken of at Genesis 1 have been taught by creationist to be 24 hours long. However, the Bible does not present this length of time. How is this known ? At Genesis 1, each of the six creative "day(s)" is brought to closure with the expression "and there came to be evening and there came to be morning." But of the seventh creative "day", no closure was ever mentioned.(Gen 2:2)

Some 4000 years later, around 61 C.E., the apostle Paul spoke of the seventh creative "day", God's "rest" day, as still continuing. He says of the nation of Israel, because of their disobedience during the 40 year trek in the wilderness, that these "shall not enter into my rest....because of lack of faith."(Heb 3:11,19)

Paul, on the other hand, says that "we who have exercised faith do enter into the rest, just as he has said: “So I swore in my anger, ‘They shall not enter into my rest,’†although his works were finished from the founding of the world. For in one place he has said of the seventh day as follows: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,†and again in this place: “They shall not enter into my rest.â€Â(Heb 4:3-5)

Paul now says that "a promise is left of entering into his rest"(Heb 4:1) and that "therefore, it remains for some to enter into it,....For the man that has entered into [God’s] rest has also himself rested from his own works, just as God did from his own."(Heb 4:6,10) Thus, God's "rest" or seventh "creative" day was still ongoing during the time of the apostle Paul and has yet to see closure.

To understand the division of time called the day as used in the Bible, the context of the material must be determined. This is due to the fact that there are different meanings that apply to the word day (yom in Hebrew, heme´ra in Greek), as it is used in the Holy Scriptures. One usage of the word is at Genesis 1:5, where it states: “And God began calling the light Day.†The day here referred to is the daylight period itself of about twelve hours.

John 20:19 refers to a second use of the word day, this time meaning a twenty-four-hour period: “Therefore, when it was late on that day, the first of the week.†A third use of the word day has to do with a period of time contemporaneous with some outstanding person. We have an example at Isaiah 1:1, which reads: “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz that he visioned concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.â€Â

Thus the word day can refer to a shorter or longer period of time than 24 hours. At 2 Peter 3:8 we are told: “One day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.â€Â

However, there is an even longer period of time that can be attached to the meaning of the Bible word day, one that even includes all of the "creative" days. Genesis 2:4 states: “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.†So the word as used in this sense apparently covers a time period far longer than each "creative" day.

The “seventh day†was different from any of the preceding six days in that it was a day that God blessed and made sacred, that is, a day set aside for, or dedicated to, a special purpose. What was that purpose? Earlier, God had revealed his purpose regarding mankind and the earth. To the first man and his wife, God said: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.†(Genesis 1:28)

Although God had given mankind and the earth a perfect start, it would take time for the whole earth to be subdued and transformed into a paradise filled with a perfect human family, as God had purposed. Thus, on “the seventh day,†God rested, or desisted, from further earthly creative works in order to allow what he had already created to develop in accord with his will. By the end of that ' rest day ', all that God had purposed will have become a reality. This "seventh day" will not end until God’s purpose regarding loyal mankind and the earth being transformed into a paradise (Luke 23:43), is ompletely fulfilled at the end of the Thousand Year or Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, who is the “Lord of the sabbath.â€Â(Matthew 12:8; Revelation 20:1-6; 21:1-4)

 

[Imagican]

A simple question:

Do you believe that we have been able to measure the 'speed of light' accurately? And if so, do you believe that there are stars out there who's light has taken MILLIONS of years to reach this planet?
Or, has science somehow manipulated this 'truth' as well?

MEC

 

[Sinthesis]

Let us assume "day" means literally 24 hours in Genesis.

Genesis 2:16-2:17
The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day [Strong's # 03117] that you eat from it you will surely die."

Did Adam die within a literal 24hrs of eating from the tree, or did he live to be 930yrs old?
Does "day" [Strong's # 03117] have different definitions in Genesis 1 and 2?

 

[wavy]

Let us assume "day" means literally 24 hours in Genesis.

Genesis 2:16-2:17
The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day [Strong's # 03117] that you eat from it you will surely die."

Did Adam die within a literal 24hrs of eating from the tree, or did he live to be 930yrs old?
Does "day" [Strong's # 03117] have different definitions in Genesis 1 and 2?

The phrase 'in the day' in Hebrew is a specific idiom, meaning 'when' or 'at the time'. But this is all immaterial anyway, since these two chapters are the work of two different authors.

The days in the opening chapter of Genesis are literal and there are no indications to the contrary.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[cyberjosh]

Let us assume "day" means literally 24 hours in Genesis.

Genesis 2:16-2:17
The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day [Strong's # 03117] that you eat from it you will surely die."

Did Adam die within a literal 24hrs of eating from the tree, or did he live to be 930yrs old?
Does "day" [Strong's # 03117] have different definitions in Genesis 1 and 2?

The phrase 'in the day' in Hebrew is a specific idiom, meaning 'when' or 'at the time'. But this is all immaterial anyway, since these two chapters are the work of two different authors.

The days in the opening chapter of Genesis are literal and there are no indications to the contrary.

Thanks,
Eric

I actually agree with both of those points. Plus there is evidence in Exodus where God reiterates His creative work plain and simple (Exodus 20:11), in the middle of the Ten Commandments no less, and it is by no means in as an ambiguous context as, perhaps, Genesis might be.

~Josh

 

[Ret]

Genesis 2:4 states: “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.†So the word as used in this sense apparently covers a time period far longer than each "creative" day.

Gen 2:16-17
17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." NASU

Gen 3:4-5
5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." NASU

Gen 5:1-2
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created. NASU

John 11:9-11
9 Jesus answered, " Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." NASU

Note: in the KJV = 167 phrases, and NASU = 92 phrases...all using in the day.
Ret

 

[cyberjosh]

Genesis 2:4 states: “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.†So the word as used in this sense apparently covers a time period far longer than each "creative" day.

Gen 2:16-17
17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." NASU

Gen 3:4-5
5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." NASU

Gen 5:1-2
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created. NASU

John 11:9-11
9 Jesus answered, " Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." NASU

Note: in the KJV = 167 phrases, and NASU = 92 phrases...all using in the day.
Ret

Context determines meaning, else idioms couldn't exist at all. If you do a similar study of the word "seal" in the Old and New Testament, sometimes it will refer to a literal, physical seal; sometimes to the act of sealing a literal seal; and sometimes figuratively "sealing" something, as if to identify, mark, or close up something. Circumcision is called a "seal" for example (Romans 4:11). I would therefore emphasize context when studying Genesis.

God Bless,

~Josh

 

[Imagican]

How long did Adam exist BEFORE Eve was created?

Adam was created, commissioned to 'tend' the garden, brought ALL the animals to name, and then Eve was created. Sounds like a real BUSY DAY if you ask me. I mean if it's a LITERAL DAY, do you BELIEVE that all this could be accomplished in ONE OF YOUR DAYS?

The indication of the REASON that God created Eve is that Adam needed a mate. The indication also is that the animals were brought to him in the beginning to find a companion but none were found to be compatable. Hmmmm........... Let's see, ALL the animals were named and none found to be compatible. Doesn't this offer an overwhelming indication of Adam becoming LONELY and NEEDING a suitable companion? Now, how LONG do you reacon it took Adam to BECOME lonely? A DAY? Not likely. The indication is that he was ALONE long enough to BECOME lonely. I have rarely found that a DAY is enough TIME for me to become lonely ENOUGH to NEED companionship.

So, Adam was created, "born", informed of his purpose, (to KEEP God's garden), met and named all the animals, it was recognized that there was NO suitable compaion for him, he was PUT to SLEEP and a rib was taken from him, then Eve was formed from this rib, then they were informed of the rules of the garden and disobeyed these rules, and all this was performed in ONE LITERAL DAY?

Now THAT'S a pretty 'full plate'.

Blessings,

MEC

 

[wavy]

Imagican,

All you've demonstrated is an inconsistency.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Ret]

Genesis 2:4 states: “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.†So the word as used in this sense apparently covers a time period far longer than each "creative" day.

Gen 2:16-17
17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." NASU

Gen 3:4-5
5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." NASU

Gen 5:1-2
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created. NASU

John 11:9-11
9 Jesus answered, " Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." NASU

Note: in the KJV = 167 phrases, and NASU = 92 phrases...all using in the day.
Ret

Context determines meaning, else idioms couldn't exist at all. If you do a similar study of the word "seal" in the Old and New Testament, sometimes it will refer to a literal, physical seal; sometimes to the act of sealing a literal seal; and sometimes figuratively "sealing" something, as if to identify, mark, or close up something. Circumcision is called a "seal" for example (Romans 4:11). I would therefore emphasize context when studying Genesis.

God Bless,

~Josh

Gen 2:4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were
created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. NASU

Josh, Gen 1 and Gen 2 appear to have different understandings in what the word 'day' means, both chapters discussing creation. In the above verses 'in the day', I was extending the thoughts on creation as expressed in Genesis 2:4, by 'nadab' on page 2 of this thread. In Gen 2:4, 'day' as compared to the rest of scripture, is considered an 'event' not particularly a 24hr period of time.

In my younger years, the second chapter of Genesis as understood within creation, was given little thought, in the religious schools I attended. I would hope this would be given more consideration if others would like to discuss this particular aspect here on the forum. Or, would this be better as another thread?

Be Blessed
Ret

 

[Sinthesis]

Accepting the phrase 'in the day' as meaning 'when' or 'at the time' doesn't solve for the problem of the perceived immediacy of 'in the day' versus a lifespan of 930 years.

However, thanks to Wavy for pointing me in the direction of word groups, I see that a double h4191 for 'die' meaning 'dying thou shalt surely die' explains his 930yrs in the context of Matthew 8:22 and Luke 9:60.

Exodus 20:11 doesn't hold water as an explanation. Moses was shown to have modified the law of divorce to accomodate the hard hearts of the Israelites [Matthew 19:8 & Mark 10:5]. It's not unthinkable that Moses would simplify the explanation and justification of the 4th Commandment to appease the geologic ignorance of the Israelites as well.

Further, Exodus 23:10-11 applies the sabbath principle to a time span of years.