DATE OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS A. Genesis covers the period from the creation of the cosmos to Abraham’s family. It is possible to date Abraham’s life from secular literature of the period. The approximate date would be 2000 B.C., the second millennium B.C. The basis for this is 1. father acted as priest to family (like Job) 2. life was nomadic following herds and flocks 3. migration of Semitic peoples during this period B. The early events of Genesis 1-11 are true historical events (possibly historical drama) but undatable by current available knowledge. 1. I personally have come to accept the earth’s age as several billion years (i.e. 14.6 billion for the universe and 4.6 billion for the earth, cf. Hugh Ross’ The Genesis Question and Creation and Time). 2. However, I also believe in the special creation of Adam and Eve at a much later period. It seems to me that Genesis is presented in some type of “historical” framework, but the historical aspect is fuzzy at the beginning (i.e. Gen. 1-3). Adam and Eve’s children begin the civilizations of Mesopotamia (i.e. chapter 4). If this framework is to be maintained then Adam is a modern (Homo sapien) and not a more primitive Homo erectus. If this is true then there must be an evolutionary development in hominids (cf. Tyndale O T Commentaries, “Genesis” by Kidner and Who Was Adam? By Fazale Rana and Hugh 7 Ross) as well as a special creation by God at a much later point in time. I am not completely comfortable with this, but it is the best I can do with my current understanding of the Bible and science. C. It must be remembered when studying Genesis that the historical events are recorded by Moses who led the people of God out of Egypt in either (1) 1445 B.C., based on I Kings 6:1; or (2) 1290 B.C., based on evidence from modern archaeology. Therefore, either by oral tradition, unknown written sources, or direct divine revelation, Moses records “how it all began” focusing on “who” and “why,” not “how” and “when”! D. A new book by John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One, IVP (2009) has helped me see just how influenced I was by my own existential setting. I believe that proper hermeneutics begin with the original author’s intent but it is obvious to me that my hermeneutical theory was better than my practice. This book by Walton is a paradigm shift in thinking about Genesis 1 as relating to the origins of function, not the material origins of the universe. It is truly an eye-opener. It has convinced me of a new way to view this crucial text that bypasses the debate over science vs. faith, old earth vs. young earth, evolution vs. creation of species. I highly recommend the book to you! reasons.org/articles/defending-concordism-response-to-the-lost-world-of-genesis-one
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 22:37:00 +0000