Alternative view of Creation by Professor John C Lennox
Image credit - Rod Hawkins
An alternative view of the creation week is outlined by Northern Ireland’s well known and widely respected - Professor John C. Lennox.
He is an intellectual giant and a humble servant of Christ. I say this with no hint of flattery and no fear of contradiction. I highly recommend reading his books; I have little doubt that you will be impressed by his insight and intellectual ability.
I have been particularly impressed by his ability to stave off malicious attacks from the likes of Richard Dawkins and the 'New Atheists'.
These are some of the books written by Professor John C Lennox:
Seven Days that Divide the World – The Beginning according to Genesis and Science.
God’s Undertaker – Has Science buried God?
Gunning for God – Why the New Atheists are missing the target.
Against the Flow – The inspiration of Daniel in an age of Relativism.
I have read them all and perhaps would do well to read them all again!
However, in light of my own holistic and systematic reading of scripture, I find I have to disagree with some of his suggestions of what might have unfolded during the creation week in Genesis chapter one.
Professor Lennox suggests that there might be extended time gaps between Genesis 1 v 1&2 and also between the successive days of creation.
I quote from his book titled:
‘SEVEN DAYS THAT DIVIDE THE WORLD’.
Quote 1 - Page 53 - para 1
Start quote; 'This implies “the beginning” of Genesis 1:1 did not necessarily take place on day 1 as is frequently assumed. The initial creation took place before day 1, but Genesis does not tell us how long before.'
'This means that the question of the age of the earth (and of the universe) is a separate question from the interpretation of the days, a point that is frequently overlooked. In other words, quite apart from any scientific considerations, the text of Genesis 1:1, in separating the beginning from day 1, leaves the age of the universe indeterminate.' End quote.
In contrast to this view, I cite the following Scriptures:
Matthew 19 v 4
“Haven’t you read, that at the beginning the creator made them male and female.”
Mark 10 v 6
“But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female.”
Luke 11 v 50-51
"Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary."
I suggest that these New Testament quotations from the Lord Jesus rule out any gap between Genesis 1 v 1&2. According to Jesus, man was made at the beginning of creation, not tens of thousands or millions of years after the beginning.
There is a critical issue at stake here; according to scripture there is only one beginning with reference to creation. This particular observation supports the view of six literal 24 hour days in the creation week.
If there was an initial creation of the universe or an initial creation of some form of 'raw materials' from which the universe would eventually form over a subsequent and prolonged period of time; then we must confess that there would need to be two beginnings.
One beginning would be required for the initial creation as outlined in Genesis 1 v 1 and then a second or subsequent beginning would also be required for the events within the creation week as outlined in Genesis 1 v 2 to 2 v 1. I would suggest that on this single issue the gap theory collapses.
It seems apparent that the Lord Jesus makes no distinction between the initial act of creation in Genesis 1 v 1 and the subsequent days of creation as outlined in the creation week in the following text of Genesis chapter 1.
Genesis 1 v 1
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Psalm 102 v 25
"In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth..."
Matthew 19 v 4
"Haven't you read, he replied, that at the beginning the creator made them male and female..."
Mark 10 v 6
"But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female."
Hebrews 1 v 10
"In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth..."
2 Timothy 1 v 9
"This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..."
Titus 1 v 2
"...in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time..."
The above scriptures all refer to 'the' beginning and it seems to me that there is only one beginning - not two!
Quote 2 - Page 54 - para 2
Start quote; 'However, there is another possibility: that the writer did not intend us to think of the first six days as days of a single earth week, but rather as a sequence of six creation days; that is, days of normal length (with evenings and mornings as the text says) in which God acted to create something new, but days that might well have been separated by long periods of time.'
'We have already seen that Genesis separates the initial creation, “the beginning” from the sequence of days. What we are now suggesting in addition is that the individual days might well have been separated from one another by unspecified periods of time.' End quote.
Image credit - Simone Secci - Unsplash.com
On the question of gaps
We have observed that evening and morning were made possible on Day 1 to Day 3 by the earth rotating in relation to the light source created on Day 1; "Let there be light".
If there is an extended time gap between Day 3 (vegetation is created) and Day 4 (the Sun and Moon are created - and are probably representative of the Solar System).
Q 1
How can vegetation (Day 3) grow and thrive without the necessary annual cycles of seasons and years. These annual cycles commenced on Day 4 when the Solar System was created! There can be no extended time gap between Day 3 and Day 4.
Q 2
How would the plants and trees (Day 3) be pollinated with no birds and bees present if there are extended time gaps between Day 3 and Day 5 & 6 when the birds and insects were created? There can be no extended time gaps between Day 3 and Day 6!
Q 3
What would be the point in having all this vegetation and food for just the birds (Day 5) with no animals or people (Day 6) to eat it if there were extended time gaps between the Days of the creation week? There can be no extended time gap between Day 5 and Day 6!
Q 4
Based on Genesis 1 v 28
'Adam was commanded to rule over the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and all the creatures that move along the ground.'
How could Adam rule over the birds of the air and the fish of the sea that were created on Day 5 if there was an extended time gap between Day 5 and Day 6?
Answer - Based on the above observations it is difficult to imagine any gaps between the days of the creation week. The natural flow of the text in Genesis chapter 1 lends itself more readily to a creation week consisting of six literal 24 hour days.
In any case, for those who promote the idea of extended time gaps between the days of creation; how long exactly are they talking about here? Is it thousands of years, tens of thousands of years or millions of years?
It seems that science wants to demand a very long time for the universe to form, but the bible allows no such time frame. The above scriptures clearly state that man was made at the beginning of creation; not millions of years after it all started.
I can see two major issues with the suggestion of unspecified periods of time between the days of creation:
First: The moon and the sun, the governing lights, were created and commissioned on Day 4. Therefore from Day 4 onward, it is not possible to talk about unspecified periods of time.
Time as we know it, is inseparably linked to, and measured by, the movement of the moon and the earth in relation to the sun within our Solar System.
Therefore it is difficult to imagine any undetermined periods of time from Day 4 to Day 6. How then can we be expected to believe that there were unspecified periods of time between Days 1 to 3?
On reflection this notion could be considered to be inconsistent and incoherent.
Second: From Day 1 onward, we have suggested that time was set in motion by the earth rotating on its own axis in relation to a temporary light source when God said, 'Let there be light'.
If this interpretation is correct - then from Day 1 onward, it is not possible to change a 24 hour day, and from Day 4 onward, it is not possible to change a seven day week, or a 365 day year. The motion of these governing lights is perpetual and we cannot change time.
The mechanism for measuring years was set in place on Day 4 – with the moon (lesser light) orbiting the earth and the earth orbiting the Sun (the greater light).
It follows that Professor Lennox's suggestion of 'unspecified' periods of time between the days of creation, in this respect is irrational. Time in this sense is actually a feature of our Solar System and might not even be relevant beyond it.
It seems that science wants to demand a very long period of time for the universe to form, but the bible allows no such time frame.
Quote 3 – Page 55 - para 1
Start quote; 'We are considering the idea that the six days encompass a sequence of creation acts, each of which involved at least one creative fiat introduced by the phrase “And God said.” This helps us understand what the New Testament means by saying that all things were made by the word of God.'
'At each stage of creation God injected a new level of information and energy into the cosmos, in order to advance creation to its next level of form and complexity.'
'On this view, therefore, the six creation days themselves could well have been days of normal length, spaced out at intervals over the entire period of time that God took to complete his work. The outworking of the potential of each creative fiat would occupy a period of time after that particular creation day.' End quote.
In variance to this view, and as we have already stated; on Day 4 we understand how God established time within our Solar System, specifically as governed by the moon and the sun.
The motion of the planets within our Solar System commenced on Day 1 and Day 4. Time, as we know it, was created.
It is difficult to imagine any unspecified periods of time between the days of creation because God had already established time. Time was set in motion and would govern and regulate our solar system as it has done from the creation week until now.
Conclusion
Let's consider again the statements of the Lord Jesus:
Matthew 19 v 4 "at the beginning the creator made them male and female."
Mark 10 v 6 "at the beginning of creation God made them male and female."
Luke 11 v 50-51 "since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel.."
According to these statements made by the Lord Jesus, it is very difficult to contemplate any extended ‘time gaps’ in Genesis 1 v 1-2 or anywhere in the creation week for that matter.
We have already discussed on the Creation Page - Creation Week: Day 1-5 / Is the age of the universe indeterminate.....
Based on the above scriptures, I have asked myself this critical question;
a) What specific stage in the creation process was the Lord Jesus referring to when he made the above statements in Matthew 19 v 4 and Mark 10 v 6?
The answer seems obvious; he was referring to Day 6 in the creation week.
b) How can Jesus say that male and female were created at the beginning of creation if there is an extended time gap of millions or billions of years between Genesis 1 v 1&2?
The answer seems obvious; according to the Lord Jesus, who was present and active in creation, there appears to be no such gap.
c) How can Jesus say that male and female were created at the beginning of creation if there are extended time gaps between the successive days of creation?
Again, the answer seems obvious; according to the Lord Jesus, who was present and active in creation, there is no suggestion whatsoever of any such gaps. I am tempted to say - He knows, he was there.
I would suggest that man was made at the beginning of creation; not millions of years after it all started. It would therefore seem that according to Jesus, there are no extended ‘time gaps’ in Genesis 1 v 1-2 or anywhere in the creation week.
As an aside; the following New Testament verses support the idea that all of creation took place at the same time. There is no suggestion of any extended time gap between Genesis 1 v 1&2 or between the successive days of creation. There is a general theme here which consistently portrays the view that all of creation happened at the same time; there is one beginning not two!
Acts 4 v 24
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 14 v 15
15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
Revelation 10 v 6
And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay!
On the creation page we developed the idea of flow and progression within the creation week. The above verses support this theme.
In every country in the world we live our lives in a perpetual cycle of days and weeks and months and years.
This cycle was designed and established and commissioned by God in the first week of creation and the entire world has been living in this cycle ever since.
The notion of time gaps in Genesis chapter one might sit comfortably with modern science - but I suggest that it does not sit comfortably with the flow and progression of the creation week as outlined above.
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Read more: Six Literal Days - "And God Said"