Creation: Fact or Fiction

At least fifteen billion years. That's the latest estimate some scientists are offering for the age of the universe. It wasn't that long ago the estimate was a couple billion years. A few decades ago it was only in the millions. Apparently, the more we learn about the universe the more complex we realize it is. Scientists feel a need to add more time to explain how everything developed so intricately.

That's quite a change from Genesis 1 and God's account of how old the universe is. God's been sticking to his story of six normal days. But, based on what astronomers, paleontologists, archeologists, botanists, and many others say they "know" about the universe, can we trust God's word on creation?

This Bible study tackles that question. Are Christians foolish for believing the Bible rather than scientific discoveries and explanations? What about the Bible's creation account? Is it myth or is it historical fact?

1. Is the creation account a parable or literal, historical fact?
   
   The point that some modern misbelievers try to make is this: Not everything in the Bible is to be understood literally. So why must we understand Genesis 1 literally and accept it as historical fact? Why can't we interpret those verses as a "story;" a religious myth; a quaint, superstitious understanding of the world.
   1. Scripture does contain passages which are not to be understood literally. From them we learn that when God's Word presents something that is to be understood in any way other than the literal sense, Scripture itself indicates that. For example,
      1. The parables of Jesus. Here Jesus is clear that he is using word pictures to make his point. Notice how he tells us, "The kingdom of heaven is like ..." Matthew 13:24-47
      2. Jesus' descriptions of himself. Throughout John's Gospel we hear Jesus use pictures to help us understand who is he. He said, for instance, "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5) and "I am the door" (John 10:9).
      3. Paul uses picture language to teach spiritual truths in his epistles. In Galatians 4:24 he says the difference between the old covenant of Moses' law and the new covenant of grace "may be taken figuratively."
   2. The Scripture passages which speak of creation, however, must be understood in the literal sense. Scripture never indicates that they are to be interpreted figuratively. In fact, Scripture understands the events of creation as historical fact.
      1. Exodus 20:11 explains why the Sabbath Day is to be honored, "In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day."
         1. If God didn't create everything in six regular days, God's Old Testament command to rest on the Sabbath Day wouldn't have made any sense.
      2. Nehemiah 9:6, "[God,] you alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."
         1. According to this passage, are there any parts of the universe that God didn't create?
         2. Are there any life-forms God isn't responsible for?
      3. Matthew 19:4-5, "Haven't you read," [Jesus] replied, "that at the beginning the Creator `made them male and female,' and said, `For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?"
         1. Notice how Jesus refers to God as "Creator."
         2. What should we learn about how much we can trust the Bible when Jesus quotes it as an accurate description of creation?
         3. If life evolved, Adam and Eve would not have existed. But Jesus obviously talks about Adam and Eve as having lived. So either Jesus is right about them or he is mistaken or he is lying. Which answer lines up best with trusting Jesus as our Savior, with trusting everything else he tells us?
   3. The Bible will not allow us to interpret the account of God creating the universe as anything less than "the way it happened."
      1. So what would you think about a Lutheran confirmation manual for junior high students that says, "Genesis is a theological story, not scientific.... Perhaps no one can say how these first chapters of Genesis are to be understood"? Think about that for yourself. Then check this answer.
      2. Why do some teachers wish to emphasize that the Genesis account is non-scientific? If we agree with what that catechism author says about Genesis 1, what are we conceding about all of Scripture? Think about that for yourself. Then check this answer.

Next week: Does Genesis 1 teach creation or theistic evolution (that God used the process of evolution to create the universe)?

This article is based on material from a Bible study booklet by Joel C. Gerlach called The Word is Now. It was published by Northwestern Publishing House. This study is reproduced by permission. Copyright restrictions do not allow this article to be copied.