Sydney Episcopalians' Narrow Reading of Scripture.

Many Sydney Episcopalians, when approached by Biblical Creationists with the Romans 5:12 (KJV)reading:

"5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned"

as testament to death entering the world when Adam sinned are quick to say "But that only refers to death occurring to man not to animals!"

They say this to defend their compromise with the 'world' on the alleged long age for the earth. In their compromised position they have to allow a long age of death and struggle for animals - thus accounting for a fossil record of death in the animal 'kingdom'.

What the compromise fails to take account of is other Scripture, one passage of which is
Hebrews 9:24-26 (KJV) which reads:

"9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

The context of the passage is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ being a better sacrifice for sin than the year after year sacrifice of animals offered by priests for sin. What is important to note is the content of verse 26. The writer of Hebrews makes the point that if Christ's sacrifice of himself was not a once for all sacrifice then it was necessary for him to make a sacrifice of himself repeatedly since the foundation of the world.

The clear implication is that man's sin came very early in earth history "since the foundation of the world" and, obviously, "death by sin".

Man's sin and death coming so early in earth history rules out any possibility of a long age of death and struggle in the animal 'kingdom' and consequent build up of a fossil record before the appearance and sin of Adam.

Such a scenario fits best with another passage of Scripture viz. Romans 8:19-23 (KJV) which reads:

"19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

It was the incidents recorded in Genesis 3 which brought sin and death into the world for man and animals and this all very early after creation of the world.

Sam Drucker