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It has long been debated whether there exist a vast period between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2. Opposing authors have eloquently presented their own views and also their skepticism of the opposition. Yet, neither side has presented their view with an eye on the eternal plan of God. Unless the opposing sides mutually agree on the purpose and plan of God, neither can reconcile nor modify their position. We at Charis Seminary have chosen the Gap theory because it is the only one that seems to address the plan of God as it is completely revealed in the Bible. Instead of maligning the Gap theory, the reason for a Gap must be settled, once and for all.
Opponents of the Gap say that it was first developed by Dr. George Chalmers of Edinburgh University in 1814 in an attempt to incorporate George Culvers concepts of geologic castasrophism into a biblical framework. It was finally popularized in the footnotes of the “Scofield Reference Bible”, in 1917. However it was Arthur Custance, Without Form and Void, who revealed that the Gap theory had been periodically referred to for centuries. It is this fact that demands that we take a serious look at the Gap. Christian teachers and authors have long alluded to an apparent Gap between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2. Long before either George Culvers or Charles Darwin had presented their theories on the age of the earth and the evolution of the species, Christians were investigating a Gap in the creation account. So, the original investigation of the Gap had nothing to do with either the age of the earth or evolution. Unfortunately, no reason for the Gap could be found and therefore no real investigation was begun and completed.
The reason that no one could find a purpose for the Gap lay in the fact that until recently, the Plan of God and the true purpose for the Church were not understood. In our short exercise entitled “The Plan Of God” it was shown that Gods plan revolves around His desire to share His love with creation. This was not possible to an omniscient God who could see that eventually all creatures possessing freewill would make decisions outside of His will. Therefore a way had to be found to allow creation to make mistakes without suffering the terrible consequence of judgment from God’s immutable righteousness. Since it has always been Gods purpose to share His love with His creatures by entering into creation by means of mankind, one can only conclude that the omniscience of God found the entrance of sin a necessary component of His Plan. God’s essence dictated how the plan was to be accomplished, and He has recorded enough of His purpose in the Bible for the children of God through the illumination of the Spirit to understand His plan and purpose.
We therefore, have one more link in the chain of evidence supporting the contention that the view did not originate with Chalmers at all, but predated Chalmers as well as modern geologist by some 2500 years. It was not until 1814 or some 50 years later that Dr. Chalmers attempted to reconcile the Divine and geologic records in an Examination of Cuvier’s Theory of the Earth. Chalmers paper stated that the first act of creation was that of creating something from nothing, and that the first day’s work recorded in Genesis may have taken place after long periods of time. He further stated the earth may have had “a fair residence of life” but it had become desolate: and that although the sun, moon, and stars continued their existence in relationship to the earth, they had somehow become obscured. In itself, this was no new thought to the very learned theologian of the day, but it did begin a trend in certain Christian quarters which laid emphasis on what is now called the “Gap Theory”.
How Chalmers’ work became the premier document for proponents of the Gap, and how he became known as the one who popularized this theory is confusing; since at that time, the belief in an interval between Gen.1.1 and 1.2 was already well document. Even more confusing is why so many “Young Earth Theorist” refuse to acknowledge the real history of the Gap and persist to declare that it is of early origin. However, whether through ignorance and lack of scholarly research or purposely omitted in order to lend credence to an even more implausible theory of creation, Young Earth Theorist have perpetrated a great injustice to the truth and an even greater injustice to their readers. As we shall later see, only an interval can explain the complete purpose of God in creating man in order to bring into existence His true purpose … the creation of His Church. For now it can confidently be stated that the belief in an interval between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2 is the foundational belief of the early Church and of Judaism. Science finally caught up with the truth that has always been in scripture, and even as archeology now proves the accuracy of Biblical history, geologic science proves the accuracy of the origins of this earth as presented in the Bible. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. The Church was the main opponent to the acceptance of the earth being round and revolving around the sun. I hope history will not record that we were also the main opponents to the scientific evidence as to the age of the earth.
What the true Bible scholar should be doing is determining why man was recently introduced into such an old universe. Since there shall never be a missing link found by science to continue any form of belief in evolution, the next step is for man to begin thinking he was placed here by some alien race. The universe is indeed old, yet man is a very recent addition to it, the question is why. The teleological proof of the existence of God demands that we recognize that the order in the universe also includes time. Since history is a component of time, even the history of the freewill of the creatures that live within time, as measured by the fixed units of measure that transpire within time (ie …. The rotation of the earth and the moon around the sun, etc.) is an effect who’s existence finds its source from a cause. God did not cause Angelic creation to fall. Yet, the fall of the perfect Angelic crea tion was a necessary part of His plan. Therefore, Angelic freewill became the cause of the fall as a part of God’s plan. Because of that fall, God caused man to be placed in time at what seems to be billions of years since time began. Man is therefore an effect with purpose and plan caused by God. Only the science of theology can explain mans recent entrance into Gods created universe. As we shall see, God has not left us blind. Yet, only with the recognition of a interval or Gap between Gen. 1.1 and 1.2, can a complete Biblical understanding be sought and eventually found as we look at what God has openly declared to us is the end of the entrance of man.
For much more go here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Origin...a/message/2461
Quasar92
Opponents of the Gap say that it was first developed by Dr. George Chalmers of Edinburgh University in 1814 in an attempt to incorporate George Culvers concepts of geologic castasrophism into a biblical framework. It was finally popularized in the footnotes of the “Scofield Reference Bible”, in 1917. However it was Arthur Custance, Without Form and Void, who revealed that the Gap theory had been periodically referred to for centuries. It is this fact that demands that we take a serious look at the Gap. Christian teachers and authors have long alluded to an apparent Gap between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2. Long before either George Culvers or Charles Darwin had presented their theories on the age of the earth and the evolution of the species, Christians were investigating a Gap in the creation account. So, the original investigation of the Gap had nothing to do with either the age of the earth or evolution. Unfortunately, no reason for the Gap could be found and therefore no real investigation was begun and completed.
The reason that no one could find a purpose for the Gap lay in the fact that until recently, the Plan of God and the true purpose for the Church were not understood. In our short exercise entitled “The Plan Of God” it was shown that Gods plan revolves around His desire to share His love with creation. This was not possible to an omniscient God who could see that eventually all creatures possessing freewill would make decisions outside of His will. Therefore a way had to be found to allow creation to make mistakes without suffering the terrible consequence of judgment from God’s immutable righteousness. Since it has always been Gods purpose to share His love with His creatures by entering into creation by means of mankind, one can only conclude that the omniscience of God found the entrance of sin a necessary component of His Plan. God’s essence dictated how the plan was to be accomplished, and He has recorded enough of His purpose in the Bible for the children of God through the illumination of the Spirit to understand His plan and purpose.
We therefore, have one more link in the chain of evidence supporting the contention that the view did not originate with Chalmers at all, but predated Chalmers as well as modern geologist by some 2500 years. It was not until 1814 or some 50 years later that Dr. Chalmers attempted to reconcile the Divine and geologic records in an Examination of Cuvier’s Theory of the Earth. Chalmers paper stated that the first act of creation was that of creating something from nothing, and that the first day’s work recorded in Genesis may have taken place after long periods of time. He further stated the earth may have had “a fair residence of life” but it had become desolate: and that although the sun, moon, and stars continued their existence in relationship to the earth, they had somehow become obscured. In itself, this was no new thought to the very learned theologian of the day, but it did begin a trend in certain Christian quarters which laid emphasis on what is now called the “Gap Theory”.
How Chalmers’ work became the premier document for proponents of the Gap, and how he became known as the one who popularized this theory is confusing; since at that time, the belief in an interval between Gen.1.1 and 1.2 was already well document. Even more confusing is why so many “Young Earth Theorist” refuse to acknowledge the real history of the Gap and persist to declare that it is of early origin. However, whether through ignorance and lack of scholarly research or purposely omitted in order to lend credence to an even more implausible theory of creation, Young Earth Theorist have perpetrated a great injustice to the truth and an even greater injustice to their readers. As we shall later see, only an interval can explain the complete purpose of God in creating man in order to bring into existence His true purpose … the creation of His Church. For now it can confidently be stated that the belief in an interval between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2 is the foundational belief of the early Church and of Judaism. Science finally caught up with the truth that has always been in scripture, and even as archeology now proves the accuracy of Biblical history, geologic science proves the accuracy of the origins of this earth as presented in the Bible. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. The Church was the main opponent to the acceptance of the earth being round and revolving around the sun. I hope history will not record that we were also the main opponents to the scientific evidence as to the age of the earth.
What the true Bible scholar should be doing is determining why man was recently introduced into such an old universe. Since there shall never be a missing link found by science to continue any form of belief in evolution, the next step is for man to begin thinking he was placed here by some alien race. The universe is indeed old, yet man is a very recent addition to it, the question is why. The teleological proof of the existence of God demands that we recognize that the order in the universe also includes time. Since history is a component of time, even the history of the freewill of the creatures that live within time, as measured by the fixed units of measure that transpire within time (ie …. The rotation of the earth and the moon around the sun, etc.) is an effect who’s existence finds its source from a cause. God did not cause Angelic creation to fall. Yet, the fall of the perfect Angelic crea tion was a necessary part of His plan. Therefore, Angelic freewill became the cause of the fall as a part of God’s plan. Because of that fall, God caused man to be placed in time at what seems to be billions of years since time began. Man is therefore an effect with purpose and plan caused by God. Only the science of theology can explain mans recent entrance into Gods created universe. As we shall see, God has not left us blind. Yet, only with the recognition of a interval or Gap between Gen. 1.1 and 1.2, can a complete Biblical understanding be sought and eventually found as we look at what God has openly declared to us is the end of the entrance of man.
For much more go here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Origin...a/message/2461
Quasar92
