THE GAP THEORYTHE GAP THEORY

Dr. Jobe MartinDr. Jobe MartinBiblical Discipleship MinistriesBiblical Discipleship Ministries

www.biblicaldiscipleship.orgwww.evolutionofacreationist.com

NO SUN BETWEEN GENESIS 1:1 NO SUN BETWEEN GENESIS 1:1 AND GENESIS 1:2AND GENESIS 1:2

Gap Theory demands a sun during the Gap Theory demands a sun during the period of the Gap and that the sun only period of the Gap and that the sun only appeared out from behind the clouds on appeared out from behind the clouds on the 4th day. If the sun appeared rather the 4th day. If the sun appeared rather than was made (Gen 1:16) the author than was made (Gen 1:16) the author could have used the word “appear” since could have used the word “appear” since he had already used it in Gen. 1:9 (“…let he had already used it in Gen. 1:9 (“…let the dry land appear.”)the dry land appear.”)

DARKNESS OVER THE DARKNESS OVER THE SURFACE OF THE DEEPSURFACE OF THE DEEP

How could darkness be “…over the How could darkness be “…over the surface” if the sun was in existence in surface” if the sun was in existence in Genesis 1:2?Genesis 1:2?

Obviously there was no sun or light in Obviously there was no sun or light in Gen. 1:1 and 1:2 since darkness Gen. 1:1 and 1:2 since darkness prevailed and only in Gen. 1:3 does prevailed and only in Gen. 1:3 does God create light.God create light.

GENESIS 1:3 LIGHT = IS IT GENESIS 1:3 LIGHT = IS IT GOD’S RADIANCE?GOD’S RADIANCE?

The light of Gen. 1:3 was not the light of The light of Gen. 1:3 was not the light of God’s radiance since God’s radiance since He had to create it. He had to create it.

God spoke this light into existence: “Then God spoke this light into existence: “Then God God saidsaid, Let there be light.”, Let there be light.”

So the light of the first three days was not So the light of the first three days was not the light of the sun nor God’s radiance.the light of the sun nor God’s radiance.

God can make a God can make a light beam with no sun!! light beam with no sun!!

MADE OR “RE-FASHIONED”MADE OR “RE-FASHIONED”

In Exodus 20:11 God says: “For in six days In Exodus 20:11 God says: “For in six days the Lord the Lord mademade heaven and earth, the sea, and heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is….”all that in them is….”

The verb “made” in Exodus 20:11 is not the The verb “made” in Exodus 20:11 is not the common word for common word for “remake or “refashion”“remake or “refashion” as as the Gap theory demands.the Gap theory demands.

God made the earth, heaven, seas God made the earth, heaven, seas andand all in all in them them within the six dayswithin the six days, not before 1, not before 1stst day of day of the six day week.the six day week.

A PRE-ADAMIC FLOOD?A PRE-ADAMIC FLOOD?

Was there a pre-Adamic flood as the Gap Was there a pre-Adamic flood as the Gap theory demands?theory demands?

The Gap idea posits that wicked life-forms The Gap idea posits that wicked life-forms inhabited the earth and were judged by God inhabited the earth and were judged by God with a global flood before the days of Adam.with a global flood before the days of Adam.

There is no Biblical reference to a pre- There is no Biblical reference to a pre- Adamic flood. 2 Pet 3:6 is the global flood of Adamic flood. 2 Pet 3:6 is the global flood of the days of Noah.the days of Noah.

NEVER A GLOBAL FLOOD?NEVER A GLOBAL FLOOD?

Since fossil layers are accepted as evidence for Since fossil layers are accepted as evidence for millions of years millions of years there could never have been there could never have been a global flood that produced the fossil layers in a global flood that produced the fossil layers in one yearone year..

No global flood No global flood everever is the position of: is the position of:– Evolution (Theistic and Atheistic)Evolution (Theistic and Atheistic)– Progressive CreationismProgressive Creationism– Gap TheoryGap Theory– Framework hypothesisFramework hypothesis– Day AgeDay Age

““FORMLESS AND VOID”FORMLESS AND VOID”

These words do not mean that a previously These words do not mean that a previously formed and filled earth was judged, but formed and filled earth was judged, but rather, that God began His creation week rather, that God began His creation week with an unformed and unfilled earth.with an unformed and unfilled earth.

Isaiah 45:18 “He is the God who formed the Isaiah 45:18 “He is the God who formed the earth and made it. He established it and did earth and made it. He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited.be inhabited.

““BEHOLD, IT WAS VERY GOOD.”BEHOLD, IT WAS VERY GOOD.”

Could God call everything in His creation Could God call everything in His creation (macro to micro) “very good” in Genesis (macro to micro) “very good” in Genesis 1:31, if terribly sinful pre-Adamic forms of 1:31, if terribly sinful pre-Adamic forms of life were buried as fossils? life were buried as fossils?

Could billions of life forms have lived and Could billions of life forms have lived and died before the fall of Lucifer or Adam? “…died before the fall of Lucifer or Adam? “…sin entered into the world and death by sin entered into the world and death by sin….” Romans 5:12sin….” Romans 5:12

““for since by man came death”for since by man came death”

How could sin and death prevail in a How could sin and death prevail in a sinless, deathless world before the sinless, deathless world before the entrance of sin and death at the fall of entrance of sin and death at the fall of Adam?Adam?

If the majority of fossils were formed If the majority of fossils were formed during the “Gap” and they testify to a past during the “Gap” and they testify to a past judgment of God on a form of life that did judgment of God on a form of life that did not work then why are fossils identical to not work then why are fossils identical to present life kinds in most cases?present life kinds in most cases?

““THE EARTH WAS FORMLESS AND THE EARTH WAS FORMLESS AND VOID”VOID”

Is the verb in Genesis 1:2 to be translated Is the verb in Genesis 1:2 to be translated “and the earth “and the earth waswas formless and void” or formless and void” or “and the earth “and the earth becamebecame formless and formless and void”?void”?

The Gap Theory demands that Gen. 1:2 The Gap Theory demands that Gen. 1:2 reads “And the earth reads “And the earth becamebecame formless and formless and void”. A look at the O.T. concordance is void”. A look at the O.T. concordance is revealing. This same verb is used inrevealing. This same verb is used in

““THE EARTH THE EARTH WASWAS FORMLESS AND FORMLESS AND VOID”VOID”

Gen 2:25. Did Adam and Eve “Gen 2:25. Did Adam and Eve “becomebecome” ” naked or naked or werewere they naked to begin with? they naked to begin with?

Did the serpent “Did the serpent “becomebecome” more crafty or ” more crafty or ““waswas” he more crafty than any other beast ” he more crafty than any other beast of the field from his beginning (Gen. 3:1)?of the field from his beginning (Gen. 3:1)?

The “was” of Gen 1:2 does not have to The “was” of Gen 1:2 does not have to be translated “became” as in the Gap be translated “became” as in the Gap idea. idea.

SAINTS DON’T ALWAYS AGREE!SAINTS DON’T ALWAYS AGREE!

The “Gap” theory was popularized in the old The “Gap” theory was popularized in the old Scofield Bible footnotes and is still believed Scofield Bible footnotes and is still believed by true Christians to be true.by true Christians to be true.

My view is that the Gap idea brings up My view is that the Gap idea brings up problems with the Bibical text that are not problems with the Bibical text that are not necessary. Exodus 20:11 clearly states that necessary. Exodus 20:11 clearly states that nothing was here before the first day of the nothing was here before the first day of the six days of the Genesis 1 creation week. six days of the Genesis 1 creation week.