Covenantide

Category: Reading Scripture Covenantally

  • The Days of Creation

    The Days of Creation

    The Westminster Confession of Faith IV.1, the Larger Catechism 15 and the Shorter Catechism 9 all state that God created “the world and all things therein… in the space of six days,” but the question arises as to how one should understand “in the space of six days,” whether literally or otherwise.  As noted elsewhere, the common way to teach Genesis 1:1-2:3 is to jump right into discussing this question.  I think there are more fundamental truths in the creation account that are key in laying the groundwork for a biblically Christian worldview and which should take priority over this question. Nevertheless, the question remains the question of how to rightly understand the Days of Creation, and that is important because it affects how we view the reliability of Scripture.

    Although the question of the length of the Days of Creation is now a major issue in Christian circles, historically it did not come on the scene until the mid-seventeenth century, which is relatively recent.  This came about with the development of the scientific method and the subsequent European Enlightenment, when critics of Christianity began dismissing the faith because it was purportedly incompatible with a “scientific” understanding of creation and the world.  By the late nineteenth century, and especially after Charles Darwin posited naturalistic evolution, questions about the Genesis creation account have become intertwined with those regarding the inerrancy of Scripture.  For this reason, conservative Christians have consistently affirmed that the Genesis account is both truthful (because it is Scriptural, assuming the infallibility of Scripture) and historical.  These two criteria are essential to any orthodox biblical understanding of the creation account.  So, beyond this, how are we to understand the Days of Creation and is there any way to narrow the range of views to just one or two? In light of these criteria, conservative Christians have put forward six interpretive positions to explain what is meant by the “Days of Creation” in Genesis. [1] Let’s take a look at these, at a brief synopsis of the history of interpretation of this passage, and at how understanding epistemology can help us interpret this passage.

    Lesson 3 Excursus – The Days of CreationDownload

    [1] The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) both have produced study committee reports on the Days of Creation that go into detail on the description of and arguments for the respective positions.  The PCA report can be found at https://www.pcahistory.org/pca/digest/studies/creation/report.html and the OPC report is at https://opc.org/GA/creation.html.  Both reports were undertaken because the denominations needed to determine what positions could be considered acceptable for ordination candidates to hold in subscribing to the Westminster Standards.  Neither denomination rules out any of these positions or advocates one as preferred.

  • In the Beginning God…

    In the Beginning God…

    Reading Scripture Covenantally (Lesson 3)

    Theologians put tremendous weight on the creation account in Genesis 1:1-2:3 and not without reason, as the origins of creation sets the foundation upon which to build a Christian worldview.  To Moses’s original listeners, the creation account would have been understood as true history, not as allegory or metaphor.  If we are to interpret this passage rightly, we too need to understand it as historical truth.  Moses’s listeners, moreover, would have recognized that the Genesis account stands in contrast to other ancient cosmologies, which saw creation as the result of many gods, indeed, even as the result of the gods’ sexual activity.  Such a creation would have been seen as inherently imperfect.  The biblical account, however, revealed only one God creating the world, which came about through the power of His word and was inherently good.  The Psalmist says

    By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.  (Psalm 33:6-9)

    Contemporary discussion of the creation account tends to focus on how the Days of Creation relate to modern scientific theories, and while that question has some merit, if we are to read Scripture covenantally then we need to recognize that it is not the right focus.  Since Deuteronomy is the apex of the Pentateuch and the narratives of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers are the historical backdrop to it, Genesis needs to be read in light of Moses’s purposes for Deuteronomy.  There, Moses sought to highlight to God’s people that the LORD who saved them from slavery is the God with whom they are in covenant.  So, in reading the creation account covenantally, it behooves us to focus more on God than on the creation.  The LORD who saved His people in the Exodus also created heaven and earth, and for this reason, He alone ought to be worshiped and glorified above all things.  This is who Israel’s savior is, and their relationship with Him, in turn, defines who they are as a people.

    God created the world not because He needed it, but, as the Confession of Faith says, “for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness” (WCF IV.1).  The creation account lays out three things about God: first, it establishes that the LORD is our covenantal suzerain; second, it describes the realm—that is, all of creation—over which He rules; and lastly, it shows the nature of His rule.  Recognizing these three aspects puts into perspective man’s proper place as a creature, albeit an exalted one, serving as a viceregent to God, in communion with Him and wholly dependent upon Him.  What this means concretely requires closer examination.

    Lesson 3 – In the Beginning GodDownload