Vibrant Dance Between Faith and Science

Vibrant Dance of Genesis 1 and Science:

Bruce K. WaltkeOutline of LectureMy Epistemology (i.e., knowing reality)

Exegetical Cruxes of Genesis 1

Hermeneutical Reflections on Genesis 1

ConclusionsPart I

My Epistemology for Knowing RealityMy Epistemology for Knowing RealitySources of Knowing Reality: Reason/science: for knowing natural world by experiment [data and reason]; e.g., how to get to the moon? Knowledge of physics and mathematics overcomes ignorance

Revelation/Bible: for knowing metaphysical ontology (mystery) by faith and by Spirit; e.g., why is the moon there? Faith overcomes mystery of beingMy Epistemology For Knowing RealitySources of Knowing Reality: Reason/ Historical science for knowing origins temporally: Historical science versus experimental science Evidences of origins from historical science Intelligent CreatorRelatively uncertain causes

My Epistemology For Knowing RealitySources of Knowing Reality: Reason for knowing origins temporally:

Historical science versus experimental scienceExperimental science (physics, chemistry): Tests theories under controlled laboratory conditions Aims to establish universal laws by inductive reasoning2. Historical science (geology; paleontology; evolutionary biology): Tests theories by their explanatory power. Determine ancient conditions to explain present, manifest effects Uses abductive reasoning : Infers past causes based on sufficient causes known to be present at the time Seeks unique cause (cf. historian or sleuth detective)

My Epistemology For Knowing RealitySources of Knowing Reality: Reason/scienceB. Evidence of origins from historical mainstream science:

Big Bang: red-shift of stars, background radiation; etc. Universe began13.7 billion years old; not an eternal steady stateCosmic-anthropological principle: Physical qualities such as a strong nuclear force constant, gravitational force constant, the expansion rate of the universe, the average distance between stars, and the values of other physical quantities had to be so precise to effect thinking creatures who could reflect upon their origins that the laws of probability rule out chance. There must have been intent and design from the beginning.

My Epistemology For Knowing RealitySources of Knowing Reality: Reason/scienceB. Evidence of origins from historical mainstream scienceBig Bang: red-shift of stars, background radiation; etc. Universe began 13.7 billion years old, not eternal steady stateCosmic-anthropological principle: Origin of life: inexplicable from givens of this earthLife forms evolved over much time, not in seven consecutive 24 hour days: fossil record. Chance or ProvidencePunctuated equilibrium (sudden bursts of new life forms in fossil record). Chance; Providence by natural selection; Divine Intervention

My Epistemology For Knowing RealitySources of Knowing Reality: Reason/scienceExperimental versus historical scienceEvidence from mainstream historical scienceIntelligent Creator:

Big Bang: universe not eternalCosmic-anthropological principle Origin of life Beauty and comprehensible

Should a man live underground, and converse with the works of art and mechanism, and afterwards be brought up into the day to see the several glories of the heaven and earth, he would immediately pronounce them the work of such a Being as we define God to be. (Aristotle)

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Rom 1:20 ) Sources of Knowing Reality: ReasonReason/ Historical science for knowing origins temporally:Historical science versus experimental scienceEvidence from historical, mainstream scienceIntelligent CreatorRelatively uncertain knowledgeDepends on fluctuating experimental science Without comprehensive knowledge cannot arrive at absolute knowledgeAbductive reasoning can not prove a universal negative/unique causeI tentatively believe that which main stream science teachesI do not believe in mainstream science

Outline of My Epistemology For Knowing RealitySources of Knowing Reality: ReasonScripture my source for knowing origins of cosmos theologically

Inerrant as to Source (certain knowledge because Source has comprehensive knowledge and does not deceive)Infallible as to authority for faith and practiceMy interpretation of Scripture is not inerrant, but subject to correction by better exegesisOutline of My Epistemology For Knowing RealitySources of Knowing Reality: Revelation and ReasonScripture my spiritual commitment for knowing origins theologicallyReason/historical science for knowing origins temporallyWhen Revelation and Reason/Historical Science Conflict About Temporal Origins

Do not jettison Bible: leads to nihilismDo not jettison science: leads to insanityReconsider exegesis of Bible: see lecture for resolutionsRecognizing, the finite mind cannot achieve infinite truth, I believe that my resolutions are true; I do not believe in them

Part IIExegetical Cruxes in Genesis 1II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Syntax of (wehaares) in Gen 1:13: Age of earth?

Conjunctive waw (and) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was . Then God said. (traditional).

Apodosis waw (then). When God began to create the heavens and the earth, then the earth was . Then God said. (official modern translations)

Disjunctive waw (now): In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth had been . Then God said. (Kimchi, BKW)

N.B. All three imply an older earth before God spoke creation into existence. Issue is not question of age of earth but of fossil record ..II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Syntax of (wehaarets, and the earth was) in Gen 1:2And God said, saw, refreshed himself: anthropomorphic, not scientific, language

It is certainly true that God did not speak with physical organs of speech nor did he utter words in the Hebrew language.

E. J. Young, Studies in Genesis 1 (Philadelphia: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1973), 55--56

II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Syntax of (wehaarets, and the earth was) in Gen 1:2And God saidMeaning of (yom, day): 24 hr. day

II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

C. Meaning of (yom, day): Day Age Theory? Used in three ways in Genesis 1:12:4 From dawn to dusk: he called the light dayTwenty-four hour period: and it was evening and morning, day XAn indefinite period of time in construct with another word, etc.: In the day (= when) God created the heavens and the earth (2:4)

N.B. Day age theory not supported by Hebrew philology II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Syntax of in Gen 1:13And God saidMeaning of (yom, day)Meanings of (bara, create) and (asah, make). Function theory? II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Meanings of (bara, create) and (asah, make). Function theory? To bring into existence and to function in a determined way

3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light [brought into existence]. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night [to function for time]. And there was evening, and there was morningone day. (Gen 1:3-5)

2. Ancient Near Eastern Cosmogonies involved both notions

N.B. Create refers to origins of cosmic matter and not merely function (contra. John Walton, The Lost World of Genesis 1, .II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Syntax of (wehaarets, and the earth was) in Gen 1:2And God saidMeaning of (yom, day): 24 hr. day Meanings of (bara, create) and of (asah, make)Light before firmament and luminaries

II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Syntax of (wehaarets, and the earth was) in Gen 1:2And God saidMeaning of (yom, day)Meanings of (bara, create) and of (asah, make)Light before firmament and luminariesSignificance of refrain and it became evening and It became morning, day X

II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

F. Significance of refrain and it became evening and It became morning, day X

Refrain refers to sunset and sunriseIntention: Creation did not happen in a daySignificance: represents God as Worker; he does not work at night

II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Syntax of (wehaarets, now the earth had been) in Gen 1:2And God saidMeaning of (yom, day): 24 hr. day Meanings of (bara, create)/ (asah, make)Light before firmament and luminariesSignificance of refrain and it became evening and It became morning, day XLet land and sea produce living creatures

II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

G. Let land and sea produce living creatures

Genesis blanks the means and/or manner of origins of biological species

Cf. Psa 139:13: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth [ )

N.B. Bible concerned with Ultimate Cause, not immediate, natural causes. Does not decide between oozers and zappers

II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

Syntax of (wehaarets, and the earth was) in Gen 1:2And God saidMeaning of (yom, day): 24 hr. day Meanings of (bara, create) and of (asah, make)Light before firmament and luminariesSignificance of refrain and it became evening and It became morning, day XLet land and sea produce living creaturesSequence of days

H. Sequence of days: two triadsDaysDays LightLuminaries4Firmament/SeaFish/Birds5Land/plants &treesLand creatures/Humankind 6II. EXEGETICAL CRUXES OF GENESIS COSMOLOGY

H. Sequence of daysHypothesis

Divides the days into two triads: Symmetry represents the creation solely from an artistic perspective, without attempting to give a temporal sequence of days or of designating a twenty four hour period of time

2. Objections: Runs rough shod over:

Normal significance of narrative verb form (wayyiqtol)Normal meaning of daySequential numbering of days from one to seven.

III. Crux Interpretations of Genesis 1Syntax of in Gen 1:13And God saidMeaning of (yom, day) Meanings of (bara, create) and of (asah, make) Light before firmament and luminariesSignificance of refrain and it became evening Land/sea produceSequence of daysMeaning of (raqia): historical contextualization

III. Crux Interpretations of Genesis 1I. Meaning of (raqia): historical contextualization

Firmament (< Vulg. firmamentum: solid expanse of something as though beaten out); LXX: solid body; Vault (NIV, NJB); dome (NAB, NRSV)"Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water." and let there be lights in the vault of the heavens A ninth cent. B. C. Assyrian relief shows the sun god Shamash seated on his throne. Beneath a canopy over the throne are symbols of the three celestial deities, Moon, Sun, Venus. Under the throne are a number of wavy lines, representing the celestial ocean. The inscription reads that the stellar deities are situated above the ocean. Beneath the heavenly ocean is a slab that divides the waters above from those beneath

30PART IIITHEOLOGICAL/HERMENEUTICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE GENESIS 1 COSMOLOGYOUTLINE OF THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS ON GENESIS 1Nature of narrative literatureHistorical Contextualization of the BibleCosmogony in the Biblical worldAnthropomorphic representation of Creator as Worker

A. Nature of Narrative LiteratureConsists of story (historic actuality) and plot (narrators creative representation of historic actuality). (Cf. half-glass of water)

2. Narrator creatively fits story into plot (metaphysics)

3. Evidence of creativity in Genesis 1a. Anthropomorphisms b. Symmetry of daysc. Incompatibility of two creation accounts

Part VI. C. 3. Evidence of creativity1. Genesis 1: trees (3rd), animals and man/woman (6th)2. Genesis 2: man > trees > animals & birds > woman (all on 6th day ?)Formed man from clayPlanted gardenCaused trees to growPut man in gardenCommands mans dietReflects of mans lonelinessForms animals and birdsMan names animals and birdsPuts man in comaTook a rib of manBuilt a womanMan composes poem34III. Theological Reflections on the Genesis 1 CosmologyB. Historical contextualization of Bible: every human achievement is historically contextualized

Every production of any age bears the stamp of that age. It takes its shape from the influences then at work. It is part of the life of the period, and can only be properly estimated and understood from being viewed in its original connection. William Henry Green, Moses and the Prophets (New York: Robert Carter, 1883), 1718.

Cf. Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckman inThe Social Construction of Reality (1966)

III. Theological Reflections on the Genesis 1 CosmologyA. Historical Contextualization1. Exhibit A: Psychology. Heart in Bible is source of all human activities

Physical activity: Nabals heart died within him ( ), and he became like stone. About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died () (1 Sam 25:28; ESV)

Spiritual activity: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Heart transplant versus brain transplant?III. Theological Reflections on the Genesis 1 CosmologyA. Historical Contextualization2. Exhibit B: cosmology Earth is flat with four corners (Isa 11:12)

Sun races around the earth: The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. (Ecclesiastes 1:5)

Firmament: the gigantic heavenly dome that upheld the celestial oceanIII. Theological Reflections on the Genesis 1 CosmologyB. Cosmogony of Biblical WorldNature of Narrative Literature

Historical contextualization of Bible

Cosmogony of Biblical World

C. Cosmogony of Biblical World: Enuma Elish (Babylonian Genesis)1. Data

Enuma ElishGenesisDivine spirit and cosmic matter co-exist and co-eternalDivine spirit and cosmic matter co-existPrimeval chaos; Tiamat enveloped in darknessEarth a desolate waste, with darkness covering the tehomLight Light createdCreation of the firmamentCreation of the firmamentCreation of dry landCreation of dry landCreation of luminariesCreation of luminariesCreation of humCreation of manThe gods rest and celebrateGod rests and sanctifies the 7th dayIII. Theological Reflections on the Genesis 1 CosmologyB. Cosmogony of Biblical World2. Similarities between Bab. Genesis & Gen. 1

Conception of an immense primeval body of water as already in existence at time of creation

Existence of light before firmament and luminaries

Idea that the creation of the firmament involved the separation of the water above from water below

Partial similarities of a structural outline: creation of astral bodies after separation of land from water

III. Theological Reflections on the Genesis 1 CosmologyB. Cosmogony of Biblical World3. Explanation of similarities

Enuma Elish depends on Genesis 1? No, EE, as do some Egyptian texts, antedates Moses

EE distorted the original creation story that circulated in an oral tradition and that is preserved in Genesis 1. Possible, but speculative/unattested

Ancient cosmogonies influenced highly educated Moses. Finds support in parallels between almost all other genres of Biblical literature in their form and content with their corresponding genres in other literatures of the Biblical world. The Book of the Covenant (Exodus 21-23) shows striking similarities to the Code of Hammurabi (ca. 1700 B.C.)III. Theological Reflections on the Genesis 1 CosmologyB. Cosmogony of Biblical World4. Aim of Genesis cosmogonyNot to teach conventional notions of cosmogonyTo polemicize against theology informing pagan myth. Radically transforms its notions about God, the ontology of matter, and strips it of its immoralityTo infuse ancient Near Eastern cosmogony with the sublimities of Israels God. OUTLINE OF THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS ON GENESIS 1Historical Contextualization of the BibleCosmogony in the Biblical worldNature of narrative literatureAnthropomorphic Representation of Creator as WorkerPART IV CONCLUSIONPart IV: ConclusionGenesis 1 not to be interpreted in wooden literalism

Genesis 1 as to natural world: restrained by sociology of knowledge.

Genesis 1 as to theology: to make us wise to salvation

Narrative: story (history) creatively fitted into plot

Creator is represented figuratively as a worker (cf. potter, gardener, architect)

Heuristic value of science to Scripture: a better understanding of Scripture

Heuristic value of Scripture to science: a better understanding of reality that leads to eternal salvation