Board index ‹ Creation and Evolution

[Scape211]

I believe you covered this in other areas, but I cant easily find it (search function doesn't like me using certain phrases for finding items if its too general). In Genesis when we talk about creation, some would say the earth was created in 6 literal days. However I know you have argued that this could be considered temple text. Can you point to the thread you expound on this? I cant seem to find it anywhere and its been hard to search for. Sorry to re-harsh things but I wanted it for a good reference when discussing the topic with someone.

[jimwalton]

If Genesis 1-2 are about how God ordered the cosmos and the world to function, and not about the material manufacture of it all, then what's with the 6 days? It turns out that in the ancient Near East, all temple dedication ceremonies were seven-day ceremonies. In other words, after the temple was finished being constructed, the people would have a 7-day dedication ceremony where on each day they would rehearse the attributes of their great god, and on the 7th day, the deity would come to "rest" in the temple, meaning that he would come to live there, engage with his people, and be part of their lives.

We see this exact ceremony happening in 1 Kings 8.65-66. After the temple is finished being constructed, Solomon inaugurates a 7-day ceremony of dedication (except that God is SO over-worthy of that, Solomon repeats it for an additional 7 days).

If this is the case, then the six 24-hour days of Genesis 1 are literal 24-hour days, but they have nothing to do with the chronology of manufacture. Instead, on each of the 6 days (yes, 6 literal 24-hour days) in Genesis 1, we see the author declaring the greatness of YHWH and what He has done (ordering the whole cosmos by the power of His word to function as His temple, a temple not made by human hands because God is too great for that), and on the 7th day, YHWH comes to "rest" in His temple, meaning that He comes to live in it and engage with His people and be their God.

[Scape211]

Thanks. I hope that was an easy copy/paste for you