Getting Genesis Right (Part 2)

This is the second and concluding blog of dot points made by Dr William Barrick, Professor of Old Testament and Director of Th.D. Studies at Master's Seminary, California, when he recently visited Australia and spoke at a one day conference at St John's Park Baptist Church, Sydney.

"The creation record in Genesis 1:1-2:3 represents some of the highest standards of literature.

The account is a literary masterpiece.

The creation record in Genesis 1:1-2:3 presents a literal historical account.

The creation record in Genesis 1:1-2:3 provides a theological foundation for understanding God, the world, and mankind.

1.0 The beauty and majesty of Genesis 1:1-2:3 does not arise from poetry.

1.1 The creation record lacks the parallelism that characterizes Hebrew poetry.

1.2 The grammar of the creation record is not the grammar of Hebrew poetry.

1.3 No indication of imagery or metaphor occurs in the creation record.

2.0 The historicity of Genesis 1:1-2:3 relies on key elements of Hebrew narrative.

2.1 The verbs and phrases of the creation record indicates actions in chronological sequence.

2.2 The text of the creation record displays formulaic repetitions.

2.3 The creation record comes closer to the pattern of genealogies than to Hebrew poetry.

3.0 Identifying the creation record as narrative Instead of poetry prevents misunderstanding the text of Genesis 1:1-2:3.

3.1 Misidentification leads to bias against the supernatural.

3.2 Misidentification gives the impression that the text does not correspond with reality.

3.3 Misidentification excludes the creation record as a historical witness or testimony.

3.4 Misidentification excludes chronological data.

3.5 Misidentification disrupts the pattern of biblical history.

Conclusion

As historical narrative, Genesis 1:1-2:3 presents six literal days of creation.

As historical narrative. Genesis 1:1-2:3 establishes theological precedents regarding the nature of God and His work.

As historical narrative, Genesis 1:1-2:3 fosters faith in the unity of the testimony Of Scripture."

With the Episcopalian Diocese of Sydney almost bereft of theologians holding firm to the Word of God in Genesis it is a blessing from God that He should send among us, if only for a brief time, one of His own to refresh us.

Sam Drucker

Getting Genesis Right (Part 1)

Recently, Dr William Barrick, Professor of Old Testament and Director of Th.D. Studies at Master's Seminary, visited Australia and spoke at a one day conference at St John's Park Baptist Church, Sydney.

In a two part blog I will provide some points made by Dr Barrick during his address, commencing here:

The Last Things replicate the First Things in inverted order.

Or, eschatology recapitulates protology—in reverse.

Isaiah 65:17-new heavens and

Something to think about: If God can create the new heavens and the new earth instantaneously, why not the first?

Genesis 1:1 Creation
...Genesis 1:3 God's Light
......Genesis 1:26 Man's Rule
.........Genesis 2:8-17 Old Eden
............Genesis 3:17 Curse
............Revelation 21:4; 22:3 No Curse
.........Revelation 22:1-2 New Eden
......Revelation 20:4 Man's Rule
...Revelation 21:23; 22:5 God's Light
Revelation 21:1 New Creation

Genesis 1:1 Creation
...Genesis 3:1 Satan's Freedom
......Genesis 6-8 Worldwide Judgment
.........Genesis l0-11 Babel/Babylon
.........Revelation 17-18 Babylon
......Revelation 19:11-19 Worldwide Judgment
...Revelation 20:2-3 Satan's Confinement
Revelation 21:1 New Creation

The First Things and the Last Things point to Christ as the focal point of divine history.

Testimony to creation as recorded in Genesis 1:1-2:3 permeates all of Scripture.

Denial of biblical creation equals a denial of the Creator.

Denial of the Creator in any form (rejection of divine revelation in
creation or in His written Word, or idolatry) is inexcusable.

Denial of biblical creation is exchanging God's truth for man's lie.

Denial of biblical creation results in greater depravity and immorality due to the rejection of the authority of the Creator and His inerrant revelation.

Denial of the doctrines of the First Things (protology) destroys doctrines of the Last Things (eschatology).

Without historical temporal Creation, there is no hope for a historical, temporal Restoration.

The alternative, secular historical science, changes—Scripture does not change.

Modern science mocks the science by which Augustine felt threatened—what will the science be 200 years from now?

When we affirm biblical creationism,

we propose the plain sense of the rest of Scripture

we provide foundational truths for basic Christian doctrine, and

we preserve the salvific focus of the Christian faith—only the Creator can ultimately save and restore.

Part two will follow in a few days.

Sam Drucker