The Creation Account

[Seth]

If Genesis is not a scientific statement, but a veil as well as a revelation, then it is the message that we need as a revelation, not the veil (sense reading or literal).  The early Fathers understood it as an allegory (at least Augustine I think).

I hope I make sense...

William

Great post, especially above.  :iagree:

[shawn]

I don't use the Bible to study science, nor do I use a book of science to reference faith.

[WhiteWings]

And yet I found them compatible.

[Lazarus Short]

Progressive Revelation: This is a new term for me, but I like it. I have read much on how Father has revealed more of Himself through the Scriptures, kind of like peeling an onion. One layer at a time.

Yes, God to me, is multi-layered and multi-dimensional [higher dimensions].  That puts Him far beyond the ordinary reach of our carnal, three-dimensional minds.  You can't wrap your mind around God, and that is where faith comes in.

[Lazarus Short]

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.[/color]

Seth, have you ever considered that a person who can search out a Biblical matter is, in this verse, defined as a king?

With that in mind, let me introduce you all to a group of people who are not well known, who have been greeted by overwhelming silence by the academic establishment, but yet continue to search out the inner workings of the Hebrew language.  They also have posted on their site a very unusual translation of the creation story of Genesis.

http://www.thechronicleproject.org/index.html

[marie glen]

If the the universe is millions (er now billions) of years old and man and woman came about slowly, per man's theory, then death existed before sin (imperfection).

Jesus, the light of course was created/proceeded straight out from God, the only one straight out from God, so close, as to share His essence, character and substance.

But the creation account is of the universe, and we know the angels were created before the cosmos, for they clapped at its creation.

Why do we compare God's Word to man's understanding? If one is inaccurate, which would it be?

Even for physical, yes literal, or we have no basis for faith if nothing be literal (thus of a lower understanding??!! Say what?!)

Matter of course is energy/light. Day 1 - light

But before that, the earth, yes God says earth created first (accepting man's assertion and theory is causing a great falling away/ has caused)

Light, evening, morning, time, first "yom"- literal day

Firmament and waters above and below (elements?) - space - 2nd yom

Earth/land and waters on earth, plants, grass, trees - 3rd yom

Sun, moon, stars - 4th yom

Creatures which fly and creatures which swim - 5th yom

Beasts, creeping creatures, cattle, man&woman - 6th day - work done as the light, Jesus, the rescue was built into all from the 'beginning'.

[eaglesway]

Actually I think it possible sin existed before man. Depending on what the pre-creation of Adam world actually was. The fact that God spoke to Adam about the consequences of "eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" before he fell and the fact that the adversary, who depending on how you believe- either fell from amongst the stones of fire when iniquity was conceived in him or perhaps was created as the deceiver, nevertheless in either case there was rebellion/sin/chaos in the cosmos before Adam fell into it.

It is quite possible that the garden served as an insulated bio-spiritual germinator for mankind until the point where God's plan to inject futility into the "perfect" system so that imperfection could allow "light to shine out of darkness", the revelation of Christ the redeemer to all the ages of creation- allowing for a greater perfection - "where much is forgiven there is much love"; and love being the greater perfection into which all that went before would be swallowed up, gathered together into one until God becomes all in all.

It is SO mind bogeling and I am glad we can only glimpse it now, lest we somehow reduced God into the box of our perceptions about things we are are way too small to conceive.

32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
Or who has first given to Him [m]that it might be paid back to him again?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory throughout the ages and beyond. Amen.

[eaglesway]

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.[/color]

Seth, have you ever considered that a person who can search out a Biblical matter is, in this verse, defined as a king?

With that in mind, let me introduce you all to a group of people who are not well known, who have been greeted by overwhelming silence by the academic establishment, but yet continue to search out the inner workings of the Hebrew language.  They also have posted on their site a very unusual translation of the creation story of Genesis.

http://www.thechronicleproject.org/index.html

Awesomeness!