The days in Genesis 1

[JohnClay]

I used to be a young-earth creationist but then became an agnostic.

What do Christians think about the days in Genesis 1:

Old Earth Creation Science Belief Systems
This talks about:
Theistic Evolution (Allegorical)
Theistic Evolution (Literal)
Progressive Creationism (Literal)
Gap Theory (Literal)
OEM Joint Theory (Literal)

There is also young-earth creationism where there were 6 literal days and there is the Framework interpretation:
Framework interpretation (Genesis) - Wikipedia

I currently prefer the framework interpretation because it makes a lot of sense. The first three days match up perfectly with the second three days.

BTW this "tract" counters YEC arguments about the days being literal:
The Dark Side of Young Earth Creationism

 

[URA]

The Catholic view is that this listing of days is allegorical storytelling, great poetry, but not meant to be a historical document. In terms of the real story of the age of the Earth & all that jazz, the Church teaching is: whatever science says, we agree with.

 

[PloverWing]

The Catholic view is that this listing of days is allegorical storytelling, great poetry, but not meant to be a historical document. In terms of the real story of the age of the Earth & all that jazz, the Church teaching is: whatever science says, we agree with.

This is the view of a large portion of mainline Protestantism as well.

 

[Ophiolite]

I was raised in the Church of Scotland and never encountered any suggestion that the Genesis days were anything other than poetical representations. Had I been aware of YEC views it would likely have hastened my departure from Christian belief.
(I realise you asked for the views of Christians, but I have provided the view I had when I was a believer.)

 

[Melody Suttles]

I used to be a young-earth creationist but then became an agnostic.

What do Christians think about the days in Genesis 1:

Old Earth Creation Science Belief Systems
This talks about:
Theistic Evolution (Allegorical)
Theistic Evolution (Literal)
Progressive Creationism (Literal)
Gap Theory (Literal)
OEM Joint Theory (Literal)

There is also young-earth creationism where there were 6 literal days and there is the Framework interpretation:
Framework interpretation (Genesis) - Wikipedia

I currently prefer the framework interpretation because it makes a lot of sense. The first three days match up perfectly with the second three days.

BTW this "tract" counters YEC arguments about the days being literal:
The Dark Side of Young Earth Creationism

I believe in Old Earth, and my husband believes in New Earth. Neither of us can prove our beliefs either way and so we just politely agree to disagree and leave it there.

In all honesty, I am convinced that at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. Because the single most important Truth found throughout Scripture is Christ and his marvelous salvation.

That said, it is a pretty fascinating debate.

Colossians 2
2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery — Christ, 3 All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.
4I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit . . .

8Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

 

[Lazarus Short]

When I was a new Christian, I read a LOT of YEC literature, but have relaxed my views. History, after all, gets rather spotty as you get much past 1000 BC, maybe sooner for some areas. When I read Ferrar Fenton's translations of Genesis, I saw that he used the word "headships" instead of "days," which disconnects the whole operation from time, at least directly.

 

[Sketcher]

I'm undecided and open to either an old earth or a young earth.

 

[bcbsr]

I used to be a young-earth creationist but then became an agnostic.

What do Christians think about the days in Genesis 1:

Old Earth Creation Science Belief Systems
This talks about:
Theistic Evolution (Allegorical)
Theistic Evolution (Literal)
Progressive Creationism (Literal)
Gap Theory (Literal)
OEM Joint Theory (Literal)

There is also young-earth creationism where there were 6 literal days and there is the Framework interpretation:
Framework interpretation (Genesis) - Wikipedia

I currently prefer the framework interpretation because it makes a lot of sense. The first three days match up perfectly with the second three days.

BTW this "tract" counters YEC arguments about the days being literal:
The Dark Side of Young Earth Creationism

See Genesis Interpretation for my take on it.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

I used to be a young-earth creationist but then became an agnostic.

What do Christians think about the days in Genesis 1:

Old Earth Creation Science Belief Systems
This talks about:
Theistic Evolution (Allegorical)
Theistic Evolution (Literal)
Progressive Creationism (Literal)
Gap Theory (Literal)
OEM Joint Theory (Literal)

There is also young-earth creationism where there were 6 literal days and there is the Framework interpretation:
Framework interpretation (Genesis) - Wikipedia

I currently prefer the framework interpretation because it makes a lot of sense. The first three days match up perfectly with the second three days.

BTW this "tract" counters YEC arguments about the days being literal:
The Dark Side of Young Earth Creationism

Take the time to investigate both sides of the issue.

 

[Tolworth John]

Exodus 20:
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor 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, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For 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. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Makes it clear that the days of creation were literal days, or we are to work for millions of years and then rest for millions of years.

This is an interesting debate, but the iomportant question isn't about creation/evolution but about how we view Jesus and his resurrection.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Exodus 20:
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor 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, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For 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. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Makes it clear that the days of creation were literal days, or we are to work for millions of years and then rest for millions of years.

This is an interesting debate, but the iomportant question isn't about creation/evolution but about how we view Jesus and his resurrection.

Satan has a counterfeit for every truth, so it is important whether you believe the word of GOD or the counterfeit

Slippery slope

 

[Tolworth John]

Satan has a counterfeit for every truth, so it is important whether you believe the word of GOD or the counterfeit

Are you impling that exodous 20 is not the word of God?
If not just what are you saying?

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Are you impling that exodous 20 is not the word of God?
If not just what are you saying?

I should have more clear I was replying to Creation/Evolution and your statement that it was not important (implied)

asking for forgiveness

OHC

 

[Tolworth John]

Creation/Evolution and your statement that it was not important

In terms of what saves you and are you a Christian it is not important at all.

In order to have a reasonable theology it is vital to believe in yec.

 

[food4thought]

I used to be a young-earth creationist but then became an agnostic.

What do Christians think about the days in Genesis 1:

Old Earth Creation Science Belief Systems
This talks about:
Theistic Evolution (Allegorical)
Theistic Evolution (Literal)
Progressive Creationism (Literal)
Gap Theory (Literal)
OEM Joint Theory (Literal)

There is also young-earth creationism where there were 6 literal days and there is the Framework interpretation:
Framework interpretation (Genesis) - Wikipedia

I currently prefer the framework interpretation because it makes a lot of sense. The first three days match up perfectly with the second three days.

BTW this "tract" counters YEC arguments about the days being literal:
The Dark Side of Young Earth Creationism

I am currently still undecided on this issue, if I had to be pinned down at this point I would have to say I am a Gap Theorist. Very few here can read the original languages, which makes our views derivative from those who can for the most part. I intend to go to seminary soon, and hope that knowing the languages will make things clearer for me. For the time being, I just admit that I do not know for sure, and trust in God that when all is known, His word will be vindicated.

 

[Radagast]

I used to be a young-earth creationist but then became an agnostic.

What do Christians think about the days in Genesis 1:

Christians agree that God created the world out of nothing; at some time in the past; through a process that took some time.

Christians disagree on what kind of days the "days" in Genesis 1 are. Some say they are 1440-minute days; some say they are lengthy periods of time; some say they are metaphorical.

 

[AV1611VET]

What do Christians think about the days in Genesis 1:

Hi, John! Nice to meet you!

I believe the days in Genesis 1 are literal 24-hour periods of time.

 

[aiki]

See "Seven Days that Divide the World" By Dr. John Lennox

 

[JohnClay]

See "Seven Days that Divide the World" By Dr. John Lennox

Hi I've had that book for a few years and have started reading it recently. It is mostly against young-earth creationism yet is against "natural selection" sometimes. From pages 58-59:

...If the text means that the sun came into existence on day 4, Origen was asking a very reasonable question: "If the sun is not yet there, how are we to understand the first three days with their 'evenings and mornings'?" The word "day" makes no obvious sense in the absence of the sun and the earth's rotation relative to it. In order to overcome this difficulty, some have postulated the existence of a nonsolar light source that functioned for the first three days. However, apart from the fact that this would still leave the first three "days" undefined, we know nothing about such a light source, either from Scripture or from science.

Creationist article about divine light:
“Let There Be Light”
Also:
Revelation 21:23:
"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp"
I've also read creationists saying that God was the light source to show that the sun isn't worthy of being worshipped.

I am a pretty slow reader so it will take a while to finish the book (and I'm not reading it fully in sequence). He isn't very persuasive to me at times when he is quoting non-notable people including an unnamed reviewer on page 182.

 

[Lost4words]

Old earth can indeed be proven by science. Who gave us science? God did.