Episode 166.
Let's continue our examination of the parallel panels in Genesis One.
You'll note that God solves the problem of
the formless and empty earth mentioned in Genesis 1:2.
In the first three days,
he forms the world and in the second three days,
he fills the world.
The first panel features creation by separation of opposites,
which is typical in ancient Near-Eastern creation accounts.
On day one, God separates light from darkness.
On day two, he creates the firmament and separates
the waters above in heaven from the water below on earth.
And on day three,
God separates dry land from water.
In the second panel, God fills the world.
In particular, the forming and filling days are parallel to each other.
On day four, God creates the sun,
moon and stars in alignment with the creation of light on day one.
Birds are made on day five,
to fill an air space made on day two.
Similarly, sea creatures are created for the seas below.
Finally, the land animals and humans are made in day six,
matching up with their habitation of dry land,
which was created on day three.
In light of these parallel panels in Genesis One,
we can offer a solution to the classic so-called contradiction in the Bible.
Many have noted that on the first day we have the creation of light;
but on the fourth day, there is the creation of the Sun.
Of course, if Genesis One is a scientific account,
then there is a problem.
But if this is poetic license or freedom on the part of the author,
then there is no problem at all.
And I think this is the case,
because the P author certainly knew that light comes from the sun.
Another poetic feature in Genesis One,
is the appearance of a Creation day formula which is highly structured and repetitious,
and again, typical of the P author's style.
It begins with an introduction, "God said";
then a command, "Let it be";
a statement of completion, "It was so";
a judgment, God saw it was good and ends with
a time reference -- there was evening and there was morning the nth day.
I need to make a comment regarding this debate we often hear in
churches over the word "day" in Genesis One.
The original Hebrew word is "yom",
it can refer to a 24-hour day or a period of time.
This is also the case with the Greek word for day,
which is the noun "hemera".
In the Old Testament,
when the word day is with a number,
it is a 24-hour day.
As we've seen, Genesis One uses numbers -- first day, second day, etc.;
and each day ends with "There was evening and there was morning the nth day."
Therefore, the days of Genesis One are 24-hour days.
To give you an example of the use of the word "day" in the original languages,
please turn to page 67 in the handouts.
This is the Hebrew version of the second day of creation.
And here is where the Hebrew word "yom" appears.
Please turn now to page 68.
This is the Greek version of the second day of creation.
And here is where the word "hemera" appears.
There is a very significant origins debate implication regarding progressive creation,
which is also known as The Day Age Theory.
The days of Genesis One are not hundreds of millions
of years long, they're 24-hour periods.
Once again, scientific concordism fails.
The first chapter of the Bible has a number of important messages of faith.
Most importantly, there is only one God who is the creator of the universe and life.
As well, there is a polemic,
that is a criticism against astral religion.
Genesis One makes it very clear that the sun,
moon, and stars are not gods.
Instead, they are the creation of the God of the Hebrews.
And though this message is often missed,
Genesis One affirms the Sabbath commandment,
which is the fourth commandment and the order to take a day of rest.
Another very important spiritual message in Genesis One,
is that God created humanity in the image of God.
The term "image of God",
was used for Ancient Near Eastern kings,
and these kings were believed to be the representatives of the gods on earth.
But in Genesis One,
the term is completely transformed or if you wish morphed,
and offers another example of how the Hebrews under the inspiration of God,
recycled and reinterpreted concepts.
This chapter underlines that all humans are god's kings and representatives on earth.
End of episode.
