Faith and Science
PETER HODGSON
HE FIRST CHAPTER of IT
the book of Genesis is perhaps the most
HE FIRST CHAPTER of IT
the book of Genesis is perhaps the most
familiar text book of the Bible. and also the most fundamental. It describes the creation of the world and all that is in it, including man. It is also the text that has given rise to the most controversy, and it is a perennial source of difficulty, if not scandal. It frequently happens that young people are brought up believing literally in the Biblical story of creation and then, when they read the scientific account, reject the Bible as naive and false.
There are obvious internal inconsistencies if the creation story is read as literal history. Thus the sun was created on the fourth day, whereas light appeared on the first day, and plants, which need the sun's light, on the third day. Indeed, the whole idea of creation taking place in a few days is simply ridiculous compared with the millions of years that we know from extensive scientific studies are necessary for the evolution of the universe from the primeval explosion to the present day.
And yet, despite all this, the Biblical account of creation has retained its power down the ages. Have we perhaps failed to recognise just what it is trying to say and how it is saying it? How authentic is it? To whom is it addressed? What does it say and what does it not say? Is it really an historical and scientific account of what actually took place? These and related questions have to be answered before we can read Genesis.
The Bible was given to us by the Church, and its infallibility is guaranteed by the infallibility of the Church. It is indeed actually true, but this means that it is true, not in a superficial verbal sense. but in the sense that it is intended by God to be true.
Genesis contains three inter-related themes, concerning God the Creator of all, God the worker and God the Creator of mankind, the summit and purpose of creation. These convey timeless spiritual truth that establish the foundations of our life on earth.
God is the Creator. At a particular instant, the beginning, he created the world, effortlessly, immediately and out of nothing. He is solely responsible for his creation. It is entirely distinct from him, and is entirely dependent on him, so that without his concerning power it would immediately lapse into nothingness. Because it is created by God, it is essentially good. God is a worker, so in describing creation, Genesis provides a model for man, that he should work for six days and rest on the seventh. God did not tire or need to create in stages, or to rest, but we have to labour and then must rest.
God is the Creator of mankind. He did not need to create, but did so out of love. He created man in his image and likeness, with the power to love God or to reject him. He gave man power over all creation, and commanded him to exercise this power responsibly, as a careful steward.
These basic truths are conveyed rhetorically, not historically. To emphasise God's creative power, it is first of all stated that he created heaven and earth, that is everything, and then the main parts of creation are listed. to emphasise that God created everything. He began, like any worker. by creating the light, so that he can see what he is doing. Then he creates the roof of the world, nearer to the heavens, and afterwards the earth with the land and the sea. On the next two days he created the ornaments of the heavens, the sun and the stars, and then the ornaments of the earth, the birds and the fishes. On the sixth day he created man, and the animals that are subject to him, and on the seventh day he rested.
This account emphasises the creative power of God and provides a model for man to follow.