Notes on Genesis 1 – Part I

BOICE on Genesis

1. Frederick A. Filby in Creation Revealed – a chemistry professor in England for many years.

It takes many pages of symbols to discuss the nature of a single ATOM of hydrogen.  It has been estimated that to give a complete account of the position of the groups and bonds in a single VIRUS of “molecular weight 300 million” would take a 200 page book…If the scientific description of a single Hydrogen ATOM, or of a virus too small to be seen without a microscope TAKES a BOOK – what hope is there of even giving a SCIENTIFIC account of the creation of man and the universe??

YET GENESIS in its original form uses only 76 different root words.

If GENESIS 1 was written in ABSOLUTE SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE to give an account of CREATION there is no man alive, nor ever has been, who could UNDERSTAND it. If it was written in any kind of SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE – only the favored few could comprehend it. It would have to be rewritten every generation to conform to the new views and terms of SCIENCE.

It could NOT be written in the language of the beginning of 21^st century. For no earlier generation could have grasped its meaning, and to our children it would be OUT of DATE…The SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION of the HOW of the universe is beyond the understanding of ANY HUMAN BRAIN – but Genesis was written for ALL readers, not for NONE…

What then would be the best method for the CREATOR to use for:

1)      Making a beginning to his book

2)      Establishing that the God of the Bible is also the God of CREATION – in language simple enough for all men in all time???

THE ANSWER IS  GENESIS 1. …The most AMAZING composition in all the world’s literature, using only 76 different word-FORMS fundamental to ALL mankind, arranged in wonderful poetical pattern (it is historical prose) yet free from any highly colored figures of speech.

It provides the PERFECT opening to God’s BOOK and establishes all that men really need to know of the FACTS of CREATION… No man could have invented it…It is sufficient for Hebrew children or Greek thinkers or Latin Christians; for medieval knights, poor fishermen, cottage dwellers, East or West, Ethiopians, young and old, simple and learned…SUFFICIENT for ALL.

Only GOD could WRITE such a chapter…and He did.

Boice : the most fundamental issue is whether or not God has spoken on Scripture as the Bible claims he has…HAS GOD SPOKEN?

Answer YES – and all that follows will become increasingly CLEAR.

Answer NO – and all is CHAOS.

Biblical & Theological Studies — Assistant Professor

WHEATON COLLEGE (IL) seeks candidates for an assistant professor of Old Testament.  The position is a full time, tenure-track appointment to begin in August 2010.  The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. completed by time of employment, evidence of outstanding teaching, and a proven commitment to research and scholarship.  The position involves teaching 12 hours per semester, including general education courses and biblical Hebrew.  Application deadline: October 2, 2009.  Send letter of interest and curriculum vitae to:  Ann Gerber; Old Testament Search Committee; Wheaton College;Wheaton, IL 60187-5593, or via email to:  OTsearch@wheaton.edu.  Application forms will be sent to promising candidates.  Wheaton College is an evangelical Protestant Christian liberal arts college whose faculty affirm a Statement of Faith and adhere to lifestyle expectations.  The College complies with federal and state guidelines for non-discrimination in employment.  Women and racial ethnic minorities are especially encouraged to apply.

Send letter of interest and curriculum vitae (unless otherwise stated) to: Office of the Provost Wheaton College Wheaton, IL 60187 Applications will be mailed to promising candidates.