463 Scripture & Science 5: Reading Genesis One, Part 3 (Will Barlow)

Today we are going to cover gap theories and John Walton’s temple idea. Will Barlow explains how gap theories work, including the classic idea that there’s a gap of billions of years between Genesis 1.1 and 1.2 as well as the modified version. After explaining the pros and cons for these views, he briefly explains John Walton’s theory that Genesis 1 solely focuses on function not physical creation.

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

See below for notes.

—— Links ——

• We are doing follow-up discussions to these episodes on YouTube. Check them out!
• See other episodes in this Scripture and Science Class
• Check out Barlow’s previous podcast episodes
• Learn more about and support the church Barlow and his team are starting in Louisville, KY, called Compass Christian Church
• Find more articles and audios by Barlow on his website: Study Driven Faith
• Check out the early Christian quotes about the Hebrew version of the Gospel of Matthew here
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• Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here

—— Notes ——

Gap Theory

There are various versions of Gap Theory:

• Standard – multiple options here • Modified (“Preparing the Garden”)

Pros of Standard Gap Theory

Here are some pros with the standard formulation of Gap Theory:

• It takes the word “day” literally as a 24-hour period • It fits directly with scientific evidence for an old Earth • It looks to the text (both in Genesis 1 and remote texts) to reach conclusions

Internal Evidence

Genesis 1:2   The earth was [or became] without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

“Was” or “became”?

• Generally, in Hebrew, the verb “was” is unnecessary when talking about simple existence

Genesis 23:17   So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over

“Was” or “became”?

• Some scholars suggest that the verb is needed for