Biblical Creation

Non-denominational Bible Studies

The Book of Genesis

Lee Delbridge

Author: Moses (compare Exodus 17:14; Matthew 8:4; Matthew 19:1-9; Mark 12:26; Luke 16:29, 31; 24:27; 24:24; John 1:45; Acts 26:22; Acts 28:23; "Moses and the Prophets" seems to be a NT description of the entire OT)

Date Written: 1450-1400 BC

Time Covered: 4004 – 1804 BC

Genre: Historical Narrative

Genesis 1-11 covers the beginning of the human race and Genesis 12-50 covers the beginning of the Hebrew race.

Overview: Four Events and Four People

Creation (1-2)

Fall (3-5)

Flood (6-9)

Nations (10-11)

Abraham (12:1-25:18)

Isaac (25:19-26)

Jacob (27-36)

Joseph (37-50)

Key Word: Beginnings

Prophecies About Christ: Gen. 3:15; Gen. 12:3; Gen. 18:18; Gen. 22:18; Gen. 26:4; Gen. 28:14; Gen. 49:10

Jesus foreshadowed as a type/portraits of Christ

Adam is a type of Christ, Romans 4:15.

Abel’s accepted blood sacrifice points to Jesus’ sacrifice.

Melchizedek is a type of Christ, Hebrews 12:3.

Joseph is also a type of Christ, as they were similar in numerous ways: both loved by their father, both hated, rejected and condemned though innocent.

Evolution vs Creation

Know the difference between operational science and historical science.

Operational science is repeatable, observable, and testable. It’s the kind of science that allows us to make advances in medicine, technology, and so on. Historical science, on the other hand, deals with the origin of the universe. But, clearly, no humans were there to witness this event, and it can’t be tested or repeated. Both evolutionary ideas and biblical creation are historical science — accounts concerning what happened in the past in regard to origins.

Is Genesis one and Genesis two contradictory accounts of the creation?

NO! They are complementary. Genesis one is an overview of the creation week and it is in chronological order. Genesis two is specifically a detailed account of the sixth day of creation.

Why I believe the “days” of Genesis 1:1-2:4 are normal days of about 24 hours each.

The primary reason is that I sincerely believe that is what the Bible says.

The first time the word “day” is used in Genesis 1:5 it means the daylight part of the day/night cycle.

In Genesis 2:4 the word day means a long period of time.

In Genesis 1:5b; 1:8; 1:13; 1:19; 1:23; 1:31 the word day means a normal day of about 24 hours. The reasons I believe this are:

Genesis is written as simple historical narrative

Exodus 20:8-11 clearly teaches that the creation days were normal days

God said He created the world in six days Exodus 31:17 (see 31:12-18)

The author’s original audience would have understood the text to mean normal days.

In the OT the word day combined with a number and/or the phrase “evening and morning” nearly always means a normal day.

Scripture, not science, is the ultimate test of truth (start with the Bible and compared everything else to it; not vice versa).

Why I do not believe in the Gap Theory.

There is NO Bible reason to do so. The Bible never says nor even “hints” at a gap between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2

Jesus said in Mark 10:6 “But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.” And then goes on to quote what God told Adam and Eve – therefore Jesus says that Adam and Eve were there from the beginning of creation!

Exodus 20:11 says that everything was created in six days.

If the Gap Theory is true then you have death before sin and the Bible teaches that death came as the result of sin (Genesis 2:15-17; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23a; Romans 5:12; I Corinthians 15:21; Ezekiel 18:4, 20).

Why I Believe the Flood of Genesis 6-9 was a universal Flood

The primary reason is that I sincerely believe that is what the Bible says.

Evil was universal according to Genesis 6:11-12

God decided to destroy both man and the earth Genesis 6:13

God said that everything with the breath of life was to die Genesis 6:17

* Genesis 7:19-23 makes it clear that it was a universal flood

All the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered with water Genesis 7:19

The mountains were covered Genesis 7:20

All with breath died Genesis 7:22

All present non-marine animals came from the ark Genesis 8:19

God promised that a flood like this one would never happen again Genesis 9:11 (see also Genesis 8:21 and Isaiah 54:9)

Noah condemned the world by his faith Hebrews 11:7

Marine fossils have been found on top of mountains

“Millions of dead things buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the earth” (Ken Ham)

The eruption of Mt. Saint Helen in May 1980 show what can happen in a short period of time with a lot of liquid.