Recruiting The Ancients For The Creation Debate

A careful and unbiased analysis of how thinkers from church history interpreted the creation narrative in Genesis How literally are we meant to take the creation week of Genesis 1? In this polarizing debate, contemporary interpreters invoke great theologians from history to support their own side, whether that be a young Earth or theistic evolution. The problem lies in trying to force ancient authors into contemporary boxes, as Andrew J. Brown shows in this thought-provoking volume. Covering Philo, Basil, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and more, Brown carefully interprets great thinkers’ readings of Genesis 1 in their intellectual contexts. He then assesses how these authors have been subject to cherry-picking and misappropriation in the trenches of the modern creation debate. By studying the intellectual history of the church in this way—to revisit rather than recruit the ancients—we can enrich our own biblical interpretation. Irenic and magisterial, Brown’s guide will interest both scholars of historical theology and anyone invested in the creation debate.

IN THE ULTIMATE PROOF OF CREATION, DR. JASON LISLE USES LOGIC, REASON, AND EVIDENCE TO LAY THE DEBATE TO REST. BY EXAMINING THE PRESUPPOSITIONS OF THESE POSITIONS, DR. LISLE PRESENTS A FRESH AND POWERFUL NEW APPROACH FOR UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES!

Reprint. Originally published: Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1990.

In this astute mix of cultural critique and biblical studies, John H. Walton presents and defends twenty propositions supporting a literary and theological understanding of Genesis 1 within the context of the ancient Near Eastern world and unpacks its implications for our modern scientific understanding of origins. Ideal for students, professors, pastors and lay readers with an interest in the intelligent design controversy and creation-evolution debates, Walton's thoughtful analysis unpacks seldom appreciated aspects of the biblical text and sets Bible-believing scientists free to investigate the question of origins. The books in the Lost World Series follow the pattern set by Bible scholar John H. Walton, bringing a fresh, close reading of the Hebrew text and knowledge of ancient Near Eastern literature to an accessible discussion of the biblical topic at hand using a series of logic-based propositions.

Many books have been written on the Bible and evolution by scientists, but this volume is written by a biblical specialist. In Faith and Fossils Lester Grabbe, a prominent Hebrew Bible scholar, examines the Bible in its ancient context and explores its meaning in light of emerging scientific evidence. Both the Bible and the fossil record raise significant questions about what it means to be human, and Grabbe expertly draws on both sources to grapple with who we are and where we came from. Written in uncomplicated language and featuring eleven spectacular color plates, Grabbe’s Faith and Fossilscreatively shows how science and faith intersect in questions about human origins.

How might premodern exegesis of Genesis inform Christian debates about creation today? Imagine a table with three people in dialogue: a young-earth creationist, an old-earth creationist, and an evolutionary creationist. Into the room walks Augustine of Hippo, one of the most significant theologians in the history of the church. In what ways will his reading of Scripture and his doctrine of creation inform, deepen, and shape the conversation? Pastor and theologian Gavin Ortlund explores just such a scenario by retrieving Augustine's reading of Genesis 1-3 and considering how his premodern understanding of creation can help Christians today. Ortlund contends that while Augustine's hermeneutical approach and theological questions might differ from those of today, this church father's humility before Scripture and his theological conclusions can shed light on matters such as evolution, animal death, and the historical Adam and Eve. Have a seat. Join the conversation.

The Days of Creation examines the history of Christian interpretation of the seven-day framework of Genesis 1:1–2:3 in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament from the post-apostolic era to the debates surrounding Essays and Reviews (1860). Included in the survey are patristic, medieval, Renaissance/Reformation, eighteenth-century Enlightenment and finally early to mid-nineteenth-century interpretations of the days of creation. This study enables an insight into the mighty career of a biblical text of seminal importance, and fills a significant niche in reception-historical research.

"The heavens declare the glory of God"... and spark no small controversy among men. Christians have long debated certain aspects of the Genesis creation account, but in the modern era this discussion has turned especially strident, with some arguing that scientific understandings of the age of the earth and the manner of creation are fundamentally incompatible with the testimony of scripture. This is nothing less than a matter of man's word versus God's Word, we're told. Anything apart from a young-earth interpretation of Genesis is seen as a denial of the authority of scripture and an attack on the very foundation of the gospel itself. Creation in the Crossfire: A Study of the Genesis Debate in the Church examines the science/faith controversy in light of the most common arguments used to advance what might be thought of as "Young-Earth Onlyism" in the evangelical church. Topics examined here include: The creation debate and the matter of biblical authority. The creation views of ancient Jewish and Christian writers. How God communicates with man. The reliability of man's intellect and the value of his opinions. The impact of the creation debate on believers and evangelistic efforts. Textual clues suggesting that the Genesis creation account is deeper than it may at first appear to be. The nature of the "days" of Genesis 1. Misconceptions of the pre-Fall world. Animal death before the Fall of Man. The nature and extent of the Genesis 3 curse on the earth. Surprising theological implications of young-earth interpretations. The overall plan and often counterintuitive dealings of God in creation. The coming restoration of creation. The Fall of Satan and the possible role of angels in creation. Mysteries of the Genesis genealogies. Controversies surrounding the creation of man. Recent "mytho-history" and otherwise figurative interpretations of Genesis. The global v regional flood controversy. What Jesus believed about the age of the earth. Scientific evidences for an old cosmos. Written by a former young-earth creationist, Creation in the Crossfire takes aim at the Genesis debate in the spirit of "Come, let us reason together," and with an emphasis on presenting plausible alternative interpretations of the biblical text for those who may only be familiar with young-earth materials. It is the author's hope that believers will find the discussions presented here both informative and edifying, and that leaders in the church will take steps to dial back the unnecessarily inflammatory and divisive rhetoric that so often surrounds the first book of the Bible.