- Be open and discerning about what modern science says, but keep exegesis of the Bible as the priority.

- Be careful when letting outside factors influence our reading and understanding of the Bible

Aim:

To learn the strengths and weaknesses of four ways of interpreting Genesis, as well as their affect on Adam

Part 1:Four ways of interpreting

Genesis 1 and 2

Part 2:The Problem of Adam

Four ways of interpreting Genesis 1 and 2:

1.The “day-age” view – (old earth)2.The “framework” view – (old earth)3.The “analogical day” view – (old or young earth)4.The “24 hour day” view – (young earth)

The “Day-Age” View

For a thousand years in your sight    are but as yesterday when it is past,    or as a watch in the night.

Psalm 90:4

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2 Peter 3:8

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Genesis 2:4

For a thousand years in your sightare but as yesterday when it is past,or as a watch in the night.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Psalm 90:4

2 Peter 3:8

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Genesis 2:4

Lord, you have been our dwelling place    in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth,    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3 You return man to dust    and say, “Return, O children of man!”4 For a thousand years in your sight    are but as yesterday when it is past,    or as a watch in the night.5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,    like grass that is renewed in the morning:6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;    in the evening it fades and withers.Psalm 90:1-6

Lord, you have been our dwelling place    in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth,    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3 You return man to dust    and say, “Return, O children of man!”4 For a thousand years in your sight    are but as yesterday when it is past,    or as a watch in the night.5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,    like grass that is renewed in the morning:6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;    in the evening it fades and withers.Psalm 90:1-6

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2 Peter 3:8

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:8-10

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:8-10

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:8-10

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Genesis 2:4

The “Framework” View

TRIO 1 Day 1 Light Day 4Sun, Moon,

Stars

TRIO 2 Day 2Expanse: sky and waters Day 5

Inhabitants: sea and winged

creatures

TRIO 3 Day 3Seas and dry

land, vegetation

Day 6Land

animals, Man

  Day 7 Sabbath Day  

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Genesis 1:6-8

5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground…

Genesis 2:5-6

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights…

Genesis 7:11-12

TRIO 1 Day 1 Light Day 4Sun, Moon,

Stars

TRIO 2 Day 2Expanse: sky and waters Day 5

Inhabitants: sea and winged

creatures

TRIO 3 Day 3Seas and dry

land, vegetation

Day 6Land

animals, Man

  Day 7 Sabbath Day  

The “Framework” View

• Much of Genesis 1 and 2 is poetry

• The “days” are non-literal

• The “days” are non-sequential

15 As for man, his days are like grass;    he flourishes like a flower of the field;16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,    and its place knows it no more.17 [contrast] But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,    and his righteousness to children's children,

Psalm 103:15-17

Parallel between v15 and v16

28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, [contrast] but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.29 The LORD is far from the wicked,[contrast] but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 15:28-29

TRIO 1 Day 1 Light Day 4Sun, Moon,

Stars

TRIO 2 Day 2Expanse: sky and waters Day 5

Inhabitants: sea and winged

creatures

TRIO 3 Day 3Seas and dry

land, vegetation

Day 6Land

animals, Man

  Day 7 Sabbath Day  

The “Analogical Day” View

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.

And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the

expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Genesis 1:3-8

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Genesis 2:1-3

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labour, and do all your work,10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:8-11

Six days work + one day rest

…is an analogy for

God’s

Man’sSix days work + one day rest

The “24-hour” View

Six days work + one day rest

…are identical (or equal) to

God’s

Man’sSix days work + one day rest

Days Activity

1 Heavens and the earth; light and darkness

2 The expanse;waters above and below

3 Dry land and seas; vegetation

4 Sun, Moon and Stars

5 Sea creatures, flying creatures

6 Land animals and Human beings

7 Sabbath rest

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.

And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the

expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Genesis 1:3-8

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.

And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters

that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the

expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Genesis 1:3-8

Part 2:

The Problem of Adam

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

Romans 5:12-14

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

Romans 5:15

6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.”

Mark 10:6

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:49

Things to remember about creation:

1. The Creator of the Universe is the God of the Bible

2. The Creator has authority over all He has made

3. Genesis is clear – issues in interpretation lie with us

4. We are to worship our Creator, not our Creation

5. Adam is the first human and has no ancestors