Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Genesis

[Cheech & Chong]

To those who believe in Old Earth Creationism via one biblical "day" not being 24 hours, how do you deal with the fact that at the end of every day, it says "evening and morning passed" before another day begins?

[jimwalton]

I believe Genesis 1-2 is a temple text, not telling us how the material universe came into existence, but showing us how the cosmos functions as God's temple, with each element playing its God-given role. The light and darkness function to give us time. The firmament functions to give us weather and climate. The earth functions to bring forth plants for food and beauty. The sun, moon, and stars function to gives us times and seasons. Humans function to rule the earth and subdue it, all of which bring glory to God and bring us relationship with him. On the 7th day God came to rest in his temple (to dwell in it) and to be the God of his people and to engage them in their daily lives.

A temple made by human hands was insufficient for the Lord of Glory, and so he created the cosmos as a temple suitable for him.

All temple dedication ceremonies of the ancient Near East are 7-day ceremonies. For six days they rehearse the great works of their god, with god coming to dwell with them (rest in his temple) on the 7th day. Genesis is no different. It's a 7-day dedication ceremony rehearsing the greatness of the one true God, and on the 7th day He comes to engage his people personally and in history.

Therefore the 7 days are literal 24-hour days. All ancient temple dedication ceremonies were literal 24-hour days, and Genesis is no different. Read 1 Kings 8 for the 7-day (times 2) dedication ceremony of Solomon of the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.