Reconciling 6 Days with 13.7 Billion Years

[Tristen]

14 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

I have a couple of questions I hope you will answer but first, I believe the authority in Gods Word comes from the Holy Spirit, and though I agree there is NOT 'Always room to add more information', 

there is the 'rightly dividing the words of God' and there are places GOD SAYS we are to, as you put it 'insert' pieces of information, as written here in Isa 28

9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts.

10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

14Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. 19From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. 20For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. 21For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. 22Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.



The rules of grammar.  God didn't make up those rules, at least not as far as I have found.  The problem I have with that is those who should have KNOWN them BEST, the Scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees, GOT it SO WRONG that not only did they MISS the Messiah, the 'spreading' of the gospel was taken away from them.  I think MAYBE we should learn from that and heed what is written a bit more.

2 Corinth 3 

1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

4And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?


I think the CHURCH isn't acting any differently than those that came before, arguing over 'the dissections of the words of God' never allowing any building by the SPIRIT that gives life, the Spirit of Truth, the leading of the Holy Spirit because it isn't of the traditions handed down through the years and information everyone already knows. 

My question to you is, 'do you believe God FORMED the earth null and void or not?

1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.


And if yes, then WHEN did this take place and at what point do we see God in the null and void stage?

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

I don't see ANY chaos, nor anything null and void, as GOD describes His creating the earth while the 'sons of God' looked on.  

He MADE THE CLOUD AND THE THICK DARKNESS FOR THE EARTH.  WHY would it be 'made' if it was ALREADY upon it?   I am just wondering how you fit Gen and this together.  Thank you. 


 

 

Hi DeighAnn,

You said, “I believe the authority in Gods Word comes from the Holy Spirit, and though I agree there is NOT 'Always room to add more information', there is the 'rightly dividing the words of God' and there are places GOD SAYS we are to, as you put it 'insert' pieces of information, as written here in Isa 28 9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts. 10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

Just so I understand - you think that, if we are uncomfortable with any text of scripture, we are permitted to “add” or “insert” “information” from outside of scripture, to change the meaning of the written text?

In my opinion, if we permit ourselves this liberty, then God’s Word has no “authority” over us – since we give ourselves the power to change what God’s Word means. This is a very dangerous interpretation precedent that essentially voids God’s authority in His own Word.

I don’t think your provided scripture logically justifies taking this liberty with God’s Word.

 

“The rules of grammar.  God didn't make up those rules, at least not as far as I have found”

Grammar is simply how we agree to organize our thoughts for written communication. Words are organized into sentences to express the ideas we wish to communicate. Given that structure, it is possible to insert information between sentences if one wishes to change the meaning of what is written. This is self-evident and non-controversial.

It is morally questionable to do this with anyone’s words. So, the question here is – Are we really comfortable doing this to change the meaning of God’s Words?

 

“The problem I have with that is those who should have KNOWN them BEST, the Scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees, GOT it SO WRONG that not only did they MISS the Messiah, the 'spreading' of the gospel was taken away from them.  I think MAYBE we should learn from that and heed what is written a bit more”

What? Sorry, I’m not following how this fits into our discussion.

 

“I think the CHURCH isn't acting any differently than those that came before, arguing over 'the dissections of the words of God' never allowing any building by the SPIRIT that gives life, the Spirit of Truth, the leading of the Holy Spirit because it isn't of the traditions handed down through the years and information everyone already knows”

Again, I’m having trouble understanding what this means.

 

“My question to you is, 'do you believe God FORMED the earth null and void or not? 1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ”

I think the wording of your “question” is awkward.

The verses tell us that God brought the earth into existence before He formed and filled it.

After God initially created the earth, but before He molded and filled it, “the earth was without form, and void”; probably a formless mass of land covered with water.

 

“And if yes, then WHEN did this take place and at what point do we see God in the null and void stage?”

I would not necessarily interpret the Hebrew phrase ‘tohu va vohu’ as “null and void”. The context doesn’t warrant that. The Hebrew ‘tohu’ just means unformed (or in this case, unfinished). At this point, the earth was like clay before it goes onto the Potter’s wheel. ‘Vohu’ (or ‘bohu’) just means empty or unfilled. God created the earth on day 1; God formed the earth over days 2 and 3 – during which He also started to fill the earth with plants.

 

“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

I don't see ANY chaos, nor anything null and void, as GOD describes His creating the earth while the 'sons of God' looked on.  ”

Interpreting ‘tohu va vohu’ as “chaos, nor anything null and void” is not justified by the context. That is an idea you are reading into the text because of an external agenda, but that idea is not actually present in the words themselves. In a different context this phrase may mean “chaos”, but there is no internal reason to force that meaning onto the context of Genesis 1.

I would secondly note that the verses you provide describe the forming process using architectural metaphors; fastening foundations, laying cornerstones, setting bars and doors for boundaries – all describing the process of ‘building’ or forming something – i.e. something that was previously in an unformed (‘tohu’) state.

 

“He MADE THE CLOUD AND THE THICK DARKNESS FOR THE EARTH.  WHY would it be 'made' if it was ALREADY upon it?   I am just wondering how you fit Gen and this together”

You seem to be assuming something here – and I’m not exactly sure what – so I’m not exactly sure what you are asking. Here God is talking about the creation of clouds. I don’t see where the creation of clouds is specifically mentioned in Genesis. I would assume that clouds were created during the separation of firmaments (Genesis 1:6-7).

 

[BeyondET]

On 12/13/2022 at 11:17 PM, Saved.One.by.Grace said:

Source: Genesis and Creation

You take the Bible as written to the people it was written to. They weren't 21st century theologians, the were people living at the time of the original author as they understood the world. They were not scientists, geologists, doctors, etc. That's why someone with Dr. Michael S. Heiser is meaningful.

Who is Dr. Michael S. Heiser?

[Dr. Heiser] is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (M.A., Ancient History) and the University of Wisconsin- Madison (M.A., Ph.D., Hebrew Bible and Semitic Studies). I have a dozen years of classroom teaching experience on the college level and another ten in distance education. I’m currently a Scholar-in-Residence at Logos Bible Software, a company that produces ancient text databases and other digital resources for study of the ancient world and biblical studies. You can get a more detailed answer to my academic background by reading through my CV.

He uses all forms of media to reach the people. Two other researchers (authors) I've been relying on more in the last few years are Dr. Darrell L. Bock and Dr. Ken Johnson.

I find the mentioning of evening and morning in the bible fascinating about what that meant to people when the first writings were known. Certainly a 24 hour system and the mechanical devices to correctly know how long a day is wasn't even a thought back then.

Though I do know that knowing a 24 hour day length was elusive to people in ancient times. there's about 18 mins in the evening dusk and morning dawn that can't be gauged without a mechanical device because sun dials and star counting isn't that accurate the 36 mins of each day is basically unknown using those rudimentary devices.

 

Edited December 15, 2022 by BeyondET

[BeyondET]

On 12/11/2022 at 7:26 PM, Tristen said:

Hi VA,

As a thought experiment, are we also permitted to use this interpretation technique for the rest of scripture when we are uncomfortable with what is written?

That is, anytime we wish scripture said something other than what it does, are we permitted to presumptively insert masses of information from non-Christian sources, between sentences, such as to make the scripture say what we want it to say, rather than what it actually says?

"To me", that is a very concerning precedent to set regarding what is permissible when interpreting scripture.

 

I like the thought experiment, I've had a similar uncomfortable understanding of scripture. Here's an example in Genesis plants are mentioned before sunlight. In order to believe that can happen without sunlight someone has to say either its not known or come up with a answer like God can make the plant grow without sunlight and yes I believe God can do that but is that the correct answer because knowing plants don't grow without sunlight there's no other options available.

Edited December 15, 2022 by BeyondET

[Tristen]

3 hours ago, BeyondET said:

I like the thought experiment, I've had a similar uncomfortable understanding of scripture. Here's an example in Genesis plants are mentioned before sunlight. In order to believe that can happen without sunlight someone has to say either its not known or come up with a answer like God can make the plant grow without sunlight and yes I believe God can do that but is that the correct answer because knowing plants don't grow without sunlight there's no other options available.

Howdy,

Obviously, we don’t know, but several plausible speculations come to mind.

I’d firstly point out that those plants only had to survive without “sunlight” for a day (or less) – so this really is just a “thought experiment”, since most plants are just fine if deprived of “sunlight” for a short period.

I’d also suggest that the plants were created mature (like the mature humans), as they were needed to feed most of the rest of created nature (including humans). So the plants didn’t really have to “grow” much over that time.

I’d further suggest that the photosynthesis required by most plants only requires photons from light. That light typically comes from the sun. But there was already another source of light present since day 1. And that light was already divided between day and night periods; regardless of the presence of the luminaries.

Therefore, the lack of “sunlight” for a short period doesn’t negatively impact the plausibility or consistency of the Genesis narrative.

[Guest]

19 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

Those people were the SCRIBES for the words of God written to and for ALL times, not just theirs, AND it is the Holy Spirit that BRINGS FORTH the truth of what is written for whatever 'time' is current.  

Nowhere is it written that the book of Genesis is sealed.

19 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

One of the best places this is described 

4But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

5Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

6And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

7And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

This applies to the Book of Daniel, at least in part, but not to Genesis.

19 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

____________________________________________________________________________________

Living in the middle of the high desert, very nearly at the Grand Canyon, I have spent days looking deep down into the earth, as I have many a moonless nights looking up into the HEAVENS.  It never crossed my mind that GOD was in any sort of hurry whatsoever, neither did the heavens or the earth being created 'in a week', no matter how much speed talking the laws into existence He is capable of. 
God is long suffering and patient.  What would be the rush?  Did He do nothing but think for a cazillion years or was he having a good time and experimenting?   Since we are made to KNOW Him, and created to be LIKE Him, wouldn't that stand to reason, stop and smell the roses so to speak?  There are over 2000 types of Jellyfish alone.  How long do you think it took Adam just to NAME all the animals?

This worlds beauty and vastness in all kinds of diversity 'speaks' to eternity, and an infinite 'time' RATHER than to a finite time.  He SHOWS us HIS ETERNALNESS, a witness for us to get to know Him in the heavens and the earth, helping us 'TO SEE', so as to know (AND BEFORE we had telescopes to confirm it).  

THE THINGS VISIBLE 'speak' to us of the invisible.  That is what GOD SAYS.  The LAWS of Nature 'show us' His truths.  EVERYTHING had to be spoken and every process proceeds by A LAW that had to be FIGURED OUT, not to mention had to be spoken.  How many 'laws' had to be written for us just to be able to 'type'???  Eyes that see a brain that processes that information, a brain that directs, blood that keeps it alive, a heart that pumps it, air that oxygenates it, bones that create it, food that feeds it...it goes on and on.

I've written before about Stephen C. Meyer's books on DNA. DNA is not just God's signature, it is His programming language by which we know we are His creation exquisitely made.

19 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

WHY would GOD do NOTHING up until a couple thousand years ago and THEN DO EVERYTHING in just a moment???  It makes no sense.  Why do the WORDS OF GOD make us question the WORKS of God?  I personally don't think they do.  I think it is the TRADITIONS that make us question and dissect even the most basic common sense things, like 'what is a soul'?  HOW is that BUILDING?  

Now, either GOD is a 'God of confusion' and created the heavens TO APPEAR TO BE something they are NOT,
OR
GOD IS NOT about confusion whatsoever and what APPEARS TO BE, is exactly what is.    

Maybe 'Christians' need to bring more common sense into the discussions to get more in touch with THE SPIRIT of the TRUTH, rather than 'the LETTER' of what is written (like the scribes and Pharisees did, getting LOTS of it wrong) and trust in the Holy Spirit SPEAKING TO AND THROUGH US, because when what is written in the Bible SEEMS to conflict with what we can see with our own eyes, SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. 

I'm not supporting changing God's word to agree with man's perception? What I am saying is that there is more than one way to properly translate from the Hebrew grammer. I believe Dr. Heiser shows that in the YouTube videos.

19 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

Just saying, it didn't work out well previously, and since it was GOD who CHANGED IT FROM the Letter to the SPIRIT, and DIED for that change, maybe we should heed and learn from it all.

?

19 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

Psalms 

(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Absolutely.

19 hours ago, DeighAnn said:

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

Repeated but in the Greek way
16 Not for I am ashamed of the gospel {the} power for of God it is unto salvation to everyone believing - to Jewish both first and to Greek  {The} righteousness for of God in it is revealed from faith to faith as it has been written: And the righteous by faith will live is revealed for {the} wrath of God from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, the truth by unrighteousness suppressing. because the known of God manifest is among them, God for to them has revealed {it}.

Jeremiah 31

31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

35Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:

36If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

Getting lost in another direction, time to stop

I know the feeling.

Edited December 15, 2022 by Saved.One.by.Grace
Bad auto spell

[Guest]

7 hours ago, BeyondET said:

I find the mentioning of evening and morning in the bible fascinating about what that meant to people when the first writings were known. Certainly a 24 hour system and the mechanical devices to correctly know how long a day is wasn't even a thought back then.

Though I do know that knowing a 24 hour day length was elusive to people in ancient times. there's about 18 mins in the evening dusk and morning dawn that can't be gauged without a mechanical device because sun dials and star counting isn't that accurate the 36 mins of each day is basically unknown using those rudimentary devices.

Dr. Heiser talks about the various ways day and night can be translated. Hebrew poetry is different than our written English language.

[Guest]

On 12/11/2022 at 7:26 PM, Tristen said:

As a thought experiment, are we also permitted to use this interpretation technique for the rest of scripture when we are uncomfortable with what is written?

That is, anytime we wish scripture said something other than what it does, are we permitted to presumptively insert masses of information from non-Christian sources, between sentences, such as to make the scripture say what we want it to say, rather than what it actually says?

"To me", that is a very concerning precedent to set regarding what is permissible when interpreting scripture.

I believe Hebrew grammer can be translated two ways, at least that's my understanding from Dr. Heiser's lecture. He is a Hebrew language scholar so he has no ax to grind. He is not adding text between Genesis 1:1-3. He is suggesting Genesis 1:1-1:2 is dependent on Genesis 1:3 grammatically. If this is so, the text would support both a young Earth Creationists' position and an old Earth Creationists' position if it occurred before Genesis 1:1. No text is inserted in either case and the KJV and the ESV Bibles would both be somewhat improperly translated. In other words, the beginning mentioned is the beginning of man and his environment. Hebrew poetry does not translate from English properly without an understanding of Hebrew grammer.

 

[BeyondET]

6 hours ago, Tristen said:

Howdy,

Obviously, we don’t know, but several plausible speculations come to mind.

I’d firstly point out that those plants only had to survive without “sunlight” for a day (or less) – so this really is just a “thought experiment”, since most plants are just fine if deprived of “sunlight” for a short period.

I’d also suggest that the plants were created mature (like the mature humans), as they were needed to feed most of the rest of created nature (including humans). So the plants didn’t really have to “grow” much over that time.

I’d further suggest that the photosynthesis required by most plants only requires photons from light. That light typically comes from the sun. But there was already another source of light present since day 1. And that light was already divided between day and night periods; regardless of the presence of the luminaries.

Therefore, the lack of “sunlight” for a short period doesn’t negatively impact the plausibility or consistency of the Genesis narrative.

I find it as simple as knowing the order of days is not in order for a reason. Days are 1,2,4,3,5,6 I know it takes quite alot of faith to believe such things, that is probably why I am the only one who will take the leap or at least among a very few possibly.

when the days are read in that order there is no questioning on how plants grow without sunlight, or a need to explain how it can happen. 

Edited December 15, 2022 by BeyondET

[BeyondET]

2 hours ago, Saved.One.by.Grace said:

Dr. Heiser talks about the various ways day and night can be translated. Hebrew poetry is different than our written English language.

It was a good read from Dr. Heiser but he was off on a few things like how a solar system is created and a few other things. Though it was a good effort.

[Vine Abider]

On 12/11/2022 at 6:04 PM, Tristen said:

I think you dodged the question, and its obvious implications.

So let's, for the sake of argument, assume that the correct interpretation is "And the earth became formless and void". Is it possible that something could 'become' formless and void in the span of a day? Or is more time necessarily required for the claim to make sense? And would that mean we are free now to squeeze 14 billion years of secular, cosmological, historical storytelling into the Biblical narrative?

In terms of the rules of grammar, there is always room between sentences to add more information to change the intended meaning of an author - if we have an agenda to do so. The question is, do we, as Christians, permit ourselves this liberty with the Word of God. And if that is permitted as a precedent, and we can change God's Word to mean whatever we choose, where then is God's authority in His own Word?

 

Responding again to your post to clarify . . . The idea is that after verse 1:1 there is a full stop before 1:2.  God created the heavens and the earth: Stop. Then something happened in an unspecified length of time (between verse one and two) which needed to be addressed, to recover things back to a good situation (for man to be created).  Then comes the last 6,000 years of biblical history.  

I know at first it's perhaps a foreign concept, but that's the idea with the gap theory.  And it's an idea that's been around for some time and was once a pretty popular thing with many Christians (and I understand perhaps ancient Jews).  It's not just an attempt to "squeeze 14 billion years" willy-nilly into scripture to appease evolutionists, at least not in my estimation.