in the beginning: science and genesis 1-11

In the Beginning: Science In the Beginning: Science and Genesis 1-11and Genesis 1-11

““If the foundations are destroyed, If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?“ Psalm what can the righteous do?“ Psalm

11:311:3

Bible vs. Evolution Bible vs. Evolution

The Bible versus Evolution

6 Days vs. Millions of Years

Genesis 1:31Genesis 1:31

“ “And God saw all that He had made, and And God saw all that He had made, and

behold, it was very good.” behold, it was very good.”

Jacques Monad:Jacques Monad:

““Selection is the blindest and most cruel Selection is the blindest and most cruel

way of evolving a new species...because it is way of evolving a new species...because it is

a process of elimination, of destruction. The a process of elimination, of destruction. The

struggle for life and the elimination of the struggle for life and the elimination of the

weakest is a horrible process...”weakest is a horrible process...”

Jacques Monad:Jacques Monad:

““I am surprised that a Christian would I am surprised that a Christian would

defend dthe idea that this is the process defend dthe idea that this is the process

which God more or less set up in order to which God more or less set up in order to

have evolution.”have evolution.”

Genesis OneGenesis One

Genesis One Genesis One EmphasizedEmphasized

““What do these time segments add to the What do these time segments add to the

creation narrative in Genesis Chapter 1?” creation narrative in Genesis Chapter 1?”

YomYom

Long Period WordsLong Period Words

How Long Did the Work of Creation Take?How Long Did the Work of Creation Take?

“ “When Moses writes that God created heaven and When Moses writes that God created heaven and

earth and whatever is in them in six days, then let earth and whatever is in them in six days, then let

this period continue to have been six days, and do this period continue to have been six days, and do

not venture to devise any comment according to not venture to devise any comment according to

which six days were one day.” which six days were one day.”

What Martin Luther Says - A Practical In-Home Anthology for the Active, p. 1523

““But, if you cannot understand how this could But, if you cannot understand how this could

have been done in six days, then grant the Holy have been done in six days, then grant the Holy

Spirit the honor of being more learned than you Spirit the honor of being more learned than you

are.”are.”

““For you are to deal with Scripture in such a For you are to deal with Scripture in such a

way that you bear in mind that God Himself says way that you bear in mind that God Himself says

what is written.”what is written.”

““But since God is speaking, it is not fitting for you But since God is speaking, it is not fitting for you

wantonly to turn His Word in the direction you wantonly to turn His Word in the direction you

wish to go.”wish to go.”

Does it really matter in our Christian walk Does it really matter in our Christian walk

whether Genesis 1 happened in six days, six whether Genesis 1 happened in six days, six

thousand years or six million years?thousand years or six million years?

Dr. Henry MorrisDr. Henry Morris

“ “Returning to Houston later to teach at Rice gave Returning to Houston later to teach at Rice gave

the opportunity of trying to witness to college the opportunity of trying to witness to college

students concerning their need for Christ. These students concerning their need for Christ. These

were intelligent students, most of them majors in were intelligent students, most of them majors in

science and engineering, and I quickly discovered science and engineering, and I quickly discovered

that the same old questions that had troubled me that the same old questions that had troubled me

were also hindering many others from believing.” were also hindering many others from believing.”

Dr. Henry Morris:Dr. Henry Morris:

“ “Central to all these problems was the question of Central to all these problems was the question of

the reliability of Scripture, especially the book of the reliability of Scripture, especially the book of

Genesis. If Genesis were not historically Genesis. If Genesis were not historically

trustworthy, then simple logic showed that trustworthy, then simple logic showed that

neither was the rest of the Bible, including its neither was the rest of the Bible, including its

testimony about Christ.”testimony about Christ.”

Why should we take seriously what the Bible Why should we take seriously what the Bible says over any other “religious” book?says over any other “religious” book?

Aren’t science and religion separate disciplines Aren’t science and religion separate disciplines that do not involve each other? that do not involve each other?

Is there compelling evidence for evolution? Is there compelling evidence for evolution?

Isn’t Genesis just an allegory and not intended Isn’t Genesis just an allegory and not intended to be read as a narrative of how the earth and all to be read as a narrative of how the earth and all that is in it was created? that is in it was created?

Don’t the days indicated in Genesis Chapter 1 Don’t the days indicated in Genesis Chapter 1 really mean long periods of time and not literal, really mean long periods of time and not literal, 24-hour days? 24-hour days?

It’s the true Word It’s the true Word of God!of God!

No!No!No! No!

No!No!

No!No!

(As the evolutionists (As the evolutionists define it.)define it.)

Acts14:15Acts14:15

“…“…we… preach the gospel to you in order that we… preach the gospel to you in order that

you should turn from these vain things to a living you should turn from these vain things to a living

God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE

EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN

THEM.”THEM.”

22ndnd Peter 1:21 Peter 1:21

““for no prophecy was ever made by an act of for no prophecy was ever made by an act of

human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit

spoke from God.”spoke from God.”

Luke 24:27Luke 24:27

““And beginning with Moses and And beginning with Moses and

with all the prophets, He with all the prophets, He

explained to them the things explained to them the things

concerning Himself in all the concerning Himself in all the

Scriptures.”Scriptures.”

Dr. Nelson Glueck:Dr. Nelson Glueck:

“…“…it may be stated categorically that no it may be stated categorically that no

archaeological discovery has ever controverted a archaeological discovery has ever controverted a

Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological

findings have been made which confirm in clear findings have been made which confirm in clear

outline or in exact detail historical statements in outline or in exact detail historical statements in

the Bible.”the Bible.”

Genesis 22:17Genesis 22:17

““indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly

multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the

sand which is on the seashore…” sand which is on the seashore…”

Excerpt from God of Wonders, used by permission, Eternal Productions www.eternal-productions.org

The Genesis Record:The Genesis Record:

““No one knows the exact number of the stars but it can No one knows the exact number of the stars but it can

be roughly estimated… as approximately 10 to the 25th be roughly estimated… as approximately 10 to the 25th

power. … (and) the number of sand-sized particles power. … (and) the number of sand-sized particles

would also be calculated as 10 to the 25th power. would also be calculated as 10 to the 25th power.

Although such a calculation may well be considerably in Although such a calculation may well be considerably in

error, it at least shows that the stars and the sand are of error, it at least shows that the stars and the sand are of

about the same order of magnitude in number.” about the same order of magnitude in number.”

“ “This fact could not have been discovered by men This fact could not have been discovered by men

without the telescope; so it constitutes one of the without the telescope; so it constitutes one of the

many remarkable examples of modern scientific many remarkable examples of modern scientific

truth found in the pages of the Bible long before truth found in the pages of the Bible long before

scientists could have learned them by the scientists could have learned them by the

scientific method.”scientific method.”

The Genesis Record:The Genesis Record:

Excerpt from God of Wonders, used by permission, Eternal Productions www.eternal-productions.org

Excerpt from God of Wonders, used by permission, Eternal Productions www.eternal-productions.org

Excerpt from God of Wonders, used by permission, Eternal Productions www.eternal-productions.org

Excerpt from God of Wonders, used by permission, Eternal Productions www.eternal-productions.org

Excerpt from God of Wonders, used by permission, Eternal Productions www.eternal-productions.org

Excerpt from God of Wonders, used by permission, Eternal Productions www.eternal-productions.org

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1

““In the beginning God created the heavens In the beginning God created the heavens

and the earth.”and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1

““In the beginningIn the beginning God created the heavens God created the heavens

and the earth.”and the earth.”

In the beginning = In the beginning = bereshithbereshith

The creation of all space, all time and all The creation of all space, all time and all

matter. The heavens and the earth had a matter. The heavens and the earth had a

definite beginning; they have not existed definite beginning; they have not existed

eternally and they therefore have a specific eternally and they therefore have a specific

age.age.

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1

““In the beginning In the beginning GodGod created the heavens created the heavens

and the earth.”and the earth.”

ElohimElohim, the uni-plurality of God we term , the uni-plurality of God we term the trinitythe trinity..

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1

““In the beginning God In the beginning God createdcreated the heavens the heavens

and the earth.”and the earth.”

BaraBara - Only God can create! - Only God can create!

Hebrews 11:3Hebrews 11:3

““By faith we understand that the worlds By faith we understand that the worlds

were prepared by the word of God, so that were prepared by the word of God, so that

what is seen was not made out of things what is seen was not made out of things

which are visible.” which are visible.”

The Law of Cause and The Law of Cause and EffectEffect

Every material effect must have an adequate Every material effect must have an adequate

cause that existed before the effect.cause that existed before the effect.

Exodus 3:14Exodus 3:14

And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM;’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM;’

and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of

Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Colossians 1:15-17Colossians 1:15-17

““And He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the And He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the

invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For

by Him all things were created, both in the by Him all things were created, both in the

heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, heavens and on earth, visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or whether thrones or dominions or rulers or

authorities – all things have been created by Him authorities – all things have been created by Him

and for Him. And He is before all things, and in and for Him. And He is before all things, and in

Him all things hold together.” Him all things hold together.”

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1

““In the beginning God created In the beginning God created the heavens the heavens

and the earth.”and the earth.”

Heavens = ShamayimHeavens = Shamayim

The essential meaning of the word The essential meaning of the word

corresponds to our modern term “space,” corresponds to our modern term “space,”

such as when we speak of the universe as a such as when we speak of the universe as a

universe of space and time. universe of space and time.

Earth = EretsEarth = Erets

The earth at this point had no form to it, so The earth at this point had no form to it, so

this must refer to the creation of the basic this must refer to the creation of the basic

elements of matter which were subsequently elements of matter which were subsequently

organized into the structured earth and organized into the structured earth and

later into other material bodies, i.e. stars later into other material bodies, i.e. stars

and planets.and planets.

Scofield Reference Bible Scofield Reference Bible (1909)(1909)

“ “Relegate fossils to the primitive creation, Relegate fossils to the primitive creation,

and no conflict of science with the Genesis and no conflict of science with the Genesis

cosmology remains.”cosmology remains.”

Genesis 1:2Genesis 1:2

““And the earth was formless and void, and And the earth was formless and void, and

darkness was over the surface of the deep; darkness was over the surface of the deep;

and the Spirit of God was moving over the and the Spirit of God was moving over the

surface of the waters.”surface of the waters.”

Gap Theory (Genesis 1:2)Gap Theory (Genesis 1:2)

““The earth The earth becamebecame without form and void” without form and void”

oror

“ “The earth became waste and desolate” The earth became waste and desolate”

Romans 5:12Romans 5:12

““Therefore, just as through one man sin entered Therefore, just as through one man sin entered

into the world, and death through sin, and so into the world, and death through sin, and so

death spread to all men, because all sinned.”death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

Romans 6:23Romans 6:23

““for all have sinned and fall short of the for all have sinned and fall short of the

glory of God.”glory of God.”

Isaiah 45:18Isaiah 45:18

“…“…He is the God who formed the earth and He is the God who formed the earth and

made it, He established it and did not create made it, He established it and did not create

it a waste place, But formed it to be it a waste place, But formed it to be

inhabited...”inhabited...”

Mark 10:6Mark 10:6

““But from the beginning of the creation, But from the beginning of the creation,

God made them male and female.”God made them male and female.”