can I post this here?

[Babylove]

I was researching about whether the account of creation in the bible can be taken a literal or figerative, and I came across this link stating why it must have been literal:

http://sg.geocities.com/saltandlight5/literal.html

Some basic points it makes are:

The Hebrew word for "day" in Genesis 1 is "yome" (Strong's 03117). It can mean a 24-hour day or the daylight portion of it (day as distinct from the night).

Without exception, in the Hebrew Old Testament, the word "yome" is never used to refer to a long period of time, as in thousands or millions of years.

Many Christians forget that the Holy Spirit himself has defined the word "day" the first time it appears in the Bible. A basic rule of thumb in Bible study is to let the Bible interpret the Bible.

Genesis 1:5

5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day.

The first time the word "day" is used, it is defined as "the light" to distinguish it from "the darkness" called "night".

Genesis 1:14

14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,

If the word "day" here is not to be taken literally, then, to be consistent in our interpretation, neither should the words "seasons", "days" and "years". What do they mean then?

Likewise, we are told in Genesis 1:26-31 that God made Adam on the sixth day. We know that Adam lived through the rest of the sixth day and through the seventh day. Genesis 5:5 says that he died when he was 930 years old.

If we take "day" in Genesis 1 to mean millions of years, how do we understand Adam's lifespan of "930 years"? What is a "year"? Or, for that matter, a "night", a "week", a "month"?

I'd like to see both sides of the story, though. Does anyone know of any sites I can visit that show scriptural support of how the seven days of creation may not have been literal?

[Guest]

So it's okay if I say, "It's my opinion that anyone that believes in a 6 day creation theory is a nut-job that ignores science and doesn't know the first thing about interpreting God's Word"? That's really okay?

Joel, its OK!

You can say it of your brother Joseph.

I have no problem with God creating the cosmos and and all life forms in six literal days and then resting on the first literal seventh day, The First Sabbath!

And, No I do not believe this Sabbath was millions and billions and trillions of years long!

I believe it really was from sun down to sun down just like the first six days of Creation recorded within Chapter One of Genesis.

Does that difference make my brother Joel any less The Beloved of The Lamb?

Parish The Thought!

Does that difference in anyway take away from my God given love and respect for my eternal brother Joel.

Au Contraire!

You my brother are a delight and a pleasure as you duel and dice with The Atheist and The Cultist who troll Worthy.

Who stalk this Internet House of Jesus seeking lambs of God to torment with their lies.

They who twist factual science into their myths of evolution.

They who mock God's Holy Word and scorn The Lord Jesus Christ and despise the Holy Blood shed for the remission of sin.

Joel, when they run into you I just laugh out loud!

Oh Bless You Abba Father for Brother Joel

Oh How I Adore You Lord Jesus for my Worthy Family

Oh Mighty Flame of my Heart Holy Spirit of The Living God light these boards up with Your Truth and Your Love .

Pour out Your Conviction of sin and Your Testimony of The Lord Jesus and of His Redemption upon Worthy.

Glory! Glory! Glory!

Hallelujah!

In Jesus

Amen!

Love, Your Brother Joe.

[apothanein kerdos]

Joe,

I really, really, really hope this doesn't come across the wrong way. I sometimes have a hard time reading your posts because your writing style is something I'm not used to...but I do appreciate you.

What I said, the quote you have, is NOT what I believe about 6 day creationists. I love all of you dearly and will not dare to say my translation of scripture is any more authoritative or better than your own. I believe there are very valid arguments on both sides, so I would never call someone a nut-job...unless they deserved it.

I have no problem with God creating the cosmos and and all life forms in six literal days and then resting on the first literal seventh day, The First Sabbath!

And, No I do not believe this Sabbath was millions and billions and trillions of years long!

I believe it really was from sun down to sun down just like the first six days of Creation recorded within Chapter One of Genesis.

Does that difference make my brother Joel any less The Beloved of The Lamb?

Parish The Thought!

In this I have no problem at all. Our common ground is Christ...and that we both do believe in a literal Adam and Eve and a literal fall of man. I believe these to be essential to the doctrine of the Bible.

At the same time, I generally try to avoid debates and topics about "6 Day Creation" vs. "Old Earth Creation." We can both agree that God created the Universe and that without Him, nothing would have been made. We can both agree that He stepped into time and space and made a special creation called "man." We can both agree on these things and should seek to prove these things. I think of Marcus Ross, a young scientist that is up and coming. He is a 6 Day Creationist who is an amazing man of God. He demands respect with the science he does, and he has earned it.

The bottom line is, I love and respect 6 Day Creationists. I believe my interpretation is correct, but I am willing to admit I could be 100% incorrect on it. For all I know, there could be a major scientific discovery tomorrow that would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the world is no older than 40,000 years. It could prove that everything came about in an instance. There simply is no way to tell what science will say tomorrow, or even 200 years from now. That's why I can't bring myself to judge anyone who says they believe in a 6 Day Creation.

I just wanted to make clear that what I said was a hypothetical and I by no means stand by it.

[Guest]

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity"

Proverbs 17:17

I just wanted to make clear that what I said was a hypothetical

You Are A Dear Brother, Joel

Thank you for replying to my post.

I was obliquely giving our sister more scripture to consider in her quest for Creation understanding.

I also thought I was gently teasing you.

Please forgive me brother if I can off as judgmental toward you or toward your Creation understandings.

Maybe, after we are picked up off our faces before The Throne, you and I will have a little Crown to share, earned together at Worthy and we will take turns tossing it before The Lord!

Because it is God's Work, The Cosmos is indeed a hard nut to crack using the natural tools man can invent.

The timing of Creation I think is clear but you and I both cheat and use The Holy Bible.

No shame!

Science is used to constantly probe and explore The Earth and The Universe but with ever changing parameters and boundaries and measurements and dimensions and, Gee, we do not even know what light really is or what the smallest particle is or wither the Universe is left-handed or right-hander but Boy Oh Boy is this ever fun!

I suspect because it Is God's Universe and it Was God's Timing and It Was God's Mind that made it all, the more we discover about the Cosmos the further or deeper we will see and the less we know!

If this keeps up, most all scientific knowledge will become truly Agnostic.

We will know a whole lot of nothing about almost everything!

I think we must look plain goofy as every ten years or so we change our numbers and our mathematical models and strut around and fake it as if we really knew a thing or two!

The Angels must split a gut watching mankind puff up like little Banny Rosters and cock-a-doodle-doo utter nonsense about beginnings and endings and such.

No Glory!

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

Jeremiah 9:23

His Time!

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Dear Brother

I agree The Focus of all Creation and of all Time and Eternity is The Work done at Calvary.

To top it off, somehow, our loving God makes a place for Joel and Joe to serve in His Work of Salvation.

I thank Him for the gifts He gives us so we have something to give back.

I laugh with joy that this total lop-sided trade.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

Ephesians 2:10

Joel that I or any decedent of Adam and Eve are used of God in His Work astounds me.

We who are but dust are included in His Family and empowered to work for His Glory!

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:10-11

Love, Your Brother Joe