Blog 026 - The GAP Theory - Fact or Fiction
Posted on January 24, 2022
Image credit - Brett Jordan - Unsplash.com
Gap creationism, also known as ruin-restoration creationism, restoration creationism, or "The Gap Theory", is a form of old Earth creationism that suggests that the six-day creation period, as outlined in the Book of Genesis, involved six literal 24-hour days, but that there was a gap of time between two distinct creations in the first and the second verses of Genesis. In other words, there is a very significant time gap between Genesis 1 v 1&2.
The theory is used to explain many scientific observations, including the ‘assumed' age of the earth and is favoured by those who want to make scripture ‘fit’ the prevailing scientific view that the earth and the universe are millions or billions of years old.
Gap creationism differs from day-age creationism, which claims that the 'days' of creation were much longer periods of perhaps thousands or millions of years, and from young Earth creationism, which although it agrees concerning the six literal 24-hour days of creation, does not suggest any gap of time between Genesis 1 v 1&2.
In support of ‘young earth creationism’ and in an effort to disprove Gap creationism, 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 the Lord Jesus, man was made at the beginning of creation, not tens of thousands or millions of years after the beginning of creation.
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.
Think about it; 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 is apparent that the Lord Jesus makes no distinction between the initial act of creation in Genesis 1 v 1 and the progressive acts of creation in subsequent days of the creation week.
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!
Professor John C Lennox is a well-known Christian author and has written the books listed below. I have learned a great deal from these and I am grateful for this. However, when it comes to the Gap Theory and the additional suggestion that the six days of the creation week may well have been separated by prolonged periods of time; frankly and respectfully, I disagree.
There are two pages on creationtorevelation.org which I invite you to explore;
1. Previous Blog 018 Creation - Six Literal Days?
Dated 1 Jan 2020 – Bibletimeline.org.uk Blog
Alternative view of creation by Professor John C Lennox