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Feedback archive → Feedback 2004
Literal vs plain interpretation
Published: 21 May 2004(GMT+10)
Young Earth Creationism depends upon a particular understanding of Genesis, without
which YEC cannot be sustained.
Exactly—we take it as it is written. When one takes the Bible plainly/straightforwardly,
they read metaphors as metaphors, poetry as poetry, literal history as literal history,
etc. Genesis is written as literal history as it would be a sin to take it
otherwise. Please see
Yet YEC cannot be reconciled with the Bible.
How so?
YEC imposes a modern scientific cosmology on the Bible,
What cosmology are you talking about—the Hartnett model, Humphreys model,
etc.? Please see
Also, how are these being imposed on the Bible? Each of these models was born
out of the Bible since they used the Bible as their starting point, thus not beingl
imposed.
denying that the earth has a giant dome over it to keep out enormous volumns [sic]
of water as a consistent literalistic understanding of Gen 1
First, cosmology deals with the vast reaches of space and is not limited to our
earth’s atmosphere as you suggest. We long ago answered that nonsensical
charge at Is the raqiya‘ (‘firmament’)
a solid dome? Equivocal language in the cosmology of Genesis 1 and the Old Testament.
If you had followed the feedback rules, you would have found this article before
pushing these long-discredited arguments at us.
Second, there was the alleged canopy model which is stricken with problems and we
advise against using. Please see
Third, if you are referring to the expanse in Genesis 1:6 (‘And
God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from
water.”’) where the waters were separated, then surely you
read that the stars are in this expanse in
Genesis 1:14–18.
So for your logic to hold water, do you honestly think that the stars are located
in the earth’s atmosphere?
must assert (the same water that helped flood the earth when holes in the dome were
opened in Gen 7).
No, the ‘windows of heaven’ opened every time it rained extraordinarily.
Nowadays, it rains cats and dogs instead.
Please see
It creates contradictions between Gen 1 and Gen 2, which do not exist when the Bible
is understood without the imposition of literalism upon it.
How so? Please see
It denies that the earth is supported by pillars as a literal 1 Sam must assert,
also the corners and edges of the earth as found in Job, Eze, Isa, and Rev.
Once again, you fail to realize that we don’t take the Bible literally.
We take it plainly. Also please see
It denies that the sun moves around the earth as in Ecc.
By your logic, you must think the bulk of people in the world think the sun revolves
around the earth. The world, even today, still uses the terms sunrise and sunset.
Again this is solved when you realize that we are not hyper-literalists and abide
by standard hermeneutics. Please see
It ignores the indications in the early chapters of Gen that the text is not meant
to be understood in a literalistic/scientific way.
Prove it. How can you say the God who created science is not smart enough
to say something that is scientific? Do you realize what you are saying?
You are saying that fallible imperfect men know more about science than an all-knowing
God who created it. You are also saying that all the New Testament writers
misunderstood it as well, because they treated Genesis 1–11 as straightforward
history.
Honestly, if you believe that God created the universe (Genesis
1:1), then why can’t you believe everything else He said in Genesis?
That is the issue. You would rather trust fallible men over a perfect God
(also God eye-witnessed His creation taking place and man didn’t). I
sincerely don’t have that kind of faith in men. Besides, God says it
is better to trust in Him than in men (Psalm
118:8). Also God says
‘See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow
and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles
of this world rather than on Christ.’ Colossians 2:8
It claims that its understanding of Gen 1–3 is obvious to anyone not taken
in by evolutionary theory, but ignores ancient Christian commentary (Origen) and
Rabbinical traditions (who was Lillith?)
So you think commentaries are inspired? Where is Lillith
in the Bible? Again, you are trusting fallible men’s sources over a
perfect God’s Word. And although Origen allegorized lots of the Bible,
he explicitly taught that the earth was less than 10,000 years old.1
that show that this view was not universally accepted even in ancient times.
God’s Word has rarely in history been universally accepted. And I would
expect this because we are living in a sin-cursed world and people are fallible.
But God isn’t.
I know there has been a lot of stone-throwing on both sides, but given that there
are good reasons to doubt a literal understanding of Genesis,
Such as?
I with [sic] that YECs would stop claiming that interpreting Gen differently
to them is the same thing as doubting its truth.
Joel Rothman
AUS
I don’t know why you have an issue with us. The Bible tells us how to
interpret it. If you don’t adhere to it, then you have an issue with
the Bible itself. That is between you and God.
You can either trust a perfect God or continue to trust fallible men. I want
to encourage you to stop taking man’s views to the Bible and start learning
from the Bible. God is all-knowing and always tells the truth. This includes
Genesis 1. I pray this helps.
Reference
- Sarfati, J.,
Refuting Compromise, Master Books, Green Forest, pp. 117–118,
2004. Return to text.
‘Coming to grips’
The idea of a young earth and literal interpretation of Genesis was THE KEY that
opened my mind and my heart (in 1981) to accept everything else the Holy Spirit
has now been able to teach me through the Bible and wonderful servants of The Lord,
such as the people at Answers in Genesis. Coming to grips with a believable Genesis
lifted a veil from my eyes so I could see the true condition of this world and my
self. Baptised, raised, and confirmed in a compromising church, God seemed uninvolved,
unimportant, even capricious. But now, words fail me to describe how seriously I
take God’s word and I couldn’t in this lifetime recount the miracles
that I now can see and thank God for. Thank you for continuing in this work.
Don Nygren
US
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