Literal 6 days?

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erikd

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Is Genesis Ch. 1 & 2 a literal history?

With men this is impossible; but with GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Mt. 19:26

I believe this statement and therefore I believe that if God wanted to create the world in six days He would have done it. I also believe that if He wanted to create the world in a nanosecond, He would have done it. However, I believe that the passages are telling us not to accept the literal meaning but to accept the importance of man within these passages. After all, we are created in His image, that is the importance of the first two chapters of Genesis. If, however, you believe that the chapters should be taken literally, let’s explore the possibilities.

1: Genesis 1: 27 tells us: “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”
This happened on the sixth day. Remember that all else was created before man, and man was given dominion over all. Also, remember that male and female were both created on the sixth day. Yet, Genesis 2: 4-7 tells us that the earth was bare until man was formed out of the dust of the ground. I thought man was formed last according to Genesis 1: 27, is the Bible wrong?

2: Genesis 2: 8-15 tells us that God put man into God’s latest creation, the Garden of Eden, created after man. I thought that Genesis 1: 9-13 told us that vegetation came before man. Is the Bible wrong?

3: Genesis 2: 19-20 talks about the creation of all sorts of living creatures that Adam names, such as cattle. I thought Genesis 1: 20-25 told us that all these creatures were created before man. Is the Bible wrong?

4: Genesis 2: 21-23 talks about God taking out one of Adam’s ribs and making a woman out of it. That would mean that Adam and Eve were created at opposite parts of the story. Adam first, then everything else, then Eve. But I thought that Genesis 1: 27 said that “male and female He created them” and I thought that Genesis 1: 31 claimed that this happened on the sixth day. Is the Bible wrong?

The answer to these questions is very simple: a very emphatic NO! The Bible is not wrong when put into correct context. The order of creation is changed because that is not what is being emphasized in both stories. Perhaps the Bible itself is telling us, in its own way, not to take these dates too literally. Perhaps the inspired writers are telling us that the importance of these two separate stories of creation is simply that man is created in the image of God. I am not discounting the other verses, quite to the contrary. I believe all the verses in these 2 chapters stress the importance of this simple point. Man is created in the image of God.
 
erikd said:
Perhaps the Bible itself is telling us, in its own way, not to take these dates too literally.
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Let’s see what the Bible - what God says about how to interpret Genesis, okay?

"And God spoke all these words: “…For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:1,11)

Simple. Clear. True. God bless.
 
Luke65 said:
Let’s see what the Bible - what God says about how to interpret Genesis, okay?

"And God spoke all these words: “…For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:1,11)

Simple. Clear. True. God bless.
Click to expand...
Luke65,
Exodus 20:1 is the preamble for the ten commandments and verse 11 refers specifically to the commandment regarding keeping Holy the Sabbath. Personally, I don’t see the “Simple. Clear. True.” interpretation that those “days” were 6 consecutive 24 hour periods. God Bless.
 
Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Exodus 16:26
Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

Exodus 20:9
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

Exodus 20:11
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exodus 31:15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 31:17
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Exodus 34:21
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

Luke 13:14
And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

Comparing scripture to scripture, we learn that God made the universe in Six Days.

The reason why all these verses say to work six days but on the seventh, that is the sabbath, we are to rest, This because God worked six days to make the universe, and on the seventh He rested.

The Old Testament ceremonial law of the sabbath, was because On that day God rested and sanctified it. Sanctified means ‘to set apart’. God did absolutely all the work, and for the seventh, set Himself apart as we are sanctified **by **the work of Him.

His work. And it is not to difficult to fatham and infinate God creating the universe in six days. And this is establshed by the fact that it is repeated.

Gen 41:32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

In Genesis we learn the universe is made in six days, and Moses in Exodus in two places verifies that God made the universe in six days, it has been established. It is true.

Do you trust enough in the bible to beleive it"?

God bless
 
I have a Jewish commentary on Genesis which points out how the number 7 is used in the first creation account.

We can’t see it in the English translation, but the number 7 is featured not only in the number of days of creation (which is a way of telling us the IMPORTANCE of creation, not necessarily the scientific, astronomical detail about it), but also in the number of words used in the Hebrew verses, either seven words or a multiple of seven words.

Although it’s only dimly implicated, the climax is really day seven, where all creation is given the opportunity to worship God.

The word used to refer to God is Elohim (which also happens to be plural) emphasizes that God is a Judge. And, the statements of God about how good everything is after it is created, is not God praising Himself, as it is an expression of His judgment of the things in creation (which aside from anything else should be a lesson for us).

The second creation account starting around Gen 2:3 switches to using the word Yahweh, which is a word which emphasizes the love, compassion, and mercy of God. And, among other things, we see God’s love,compassion, and mercy in that Adam and Eve do not die, as God earlier said that they would. That and the hint of a savior is the preamble of the rest of the Bible, especially the Christian version.

Sooooooooooooo, this is to say that we should not go off the deep end about the astronomical ideas, without looking at the literary characteristics of the passages as well. The writing is religious and theological in the first and overwhelming instance.

After all, the narrator of Gen 1 couldn’t have “been there” as a literal witness of the events that are described. There are important issues that are raised and established for the benefit of the entire Bible, such as original sin. And, certainly later, the seventh day would be designated as the day of worship, as it was “in the beginning.” That is, we are made to worship God!

Don’t feel defeated. God has simply given us much more than to worry about 7 days.
 
EnterCanaan said:
In Genesis we learn the universe is made in six days, and Moses in Exodus in two places verifies that God made the universe in six days, it has been established. It is true.
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Well, I see that you’ve already conquered the world on this issue. God bless you too.
 
Luke65 said:
Let’s see what the Bible - what God says about how to interpret Genesis, okay?

"And God spoke all these words: “…For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:1,11)

Simple. Clear. True. God bless.
Click to expand...
We are not required to believe that the creation period was 6 days comprising 24 hours each day.
 
Luke65 said:
Let’s see what the Bible - what God says about how to interpret Genesis, okay?

"And God spoke all these words: “…For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:1,11)

Simple. Clear. True. God bless.
Click to expand...
Hi Luke, I beg to differ with your opinion, but if it was that clear than the inconsistencies proposed in the OP should be clearly explained as well. Reading through the explanations so far, I don’t see any clarity,
 
EnterCanaan said:
Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Exodus 16:26
Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

Exodus 20:9
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

Exodus 20:11
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exodus 31:15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 31:17
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Exodus 34:21
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

Luke 13:14
And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

Comparing scripture to scripture, we learn that God made the universe in Six Days.

The reason why all these verses say to work six days but on the seventh, that is the sabbath, we are to rest, This because God worked six days to make the universe, and on the seventh He rested.

The Old Testament ceremonial law of the sabbath, was because On that day God rested and sanctified it. Sanctified means ‘to set apart’. God did absolutely all the work, and for the seventh, set Himself apart as we are sanctified **by **the work of Him.

His work. And it is not to difficult to fatham and infinate God creating the universe in six days. And this is establshed by the fact that it is repeated.

Gen 41:32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

In Genesis we learn the universe is made in six days, and Moses in Exodus in two places verifies that God made the universe in six days, it has been established. It is true.

Do you trust enough in the bible to beleive it"?

God bless
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Hi Enter Canaan, and yes I absolutely believe the Bible, which is precisely why I don’t make it something that it’s not: a textbook of chronological world history. Perhaps, if it’s this obvious than you could spend a little time explaining the inconsistencies I proposed in the OP. Also, please remember the verse St. Peter himself wrote us:

But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day"
2 Peter 3:8
 
Crumpy said:
I have a Jewish commentary on Genesis which points out how the number 7 is used in the first creation account.

We can’t see it in the English translation, but the number 7 is featured not only in the number of days of creation (which is a way of telling us the IMPORTANCE of creation, not necessarily the scientific, astronomical detail about it), but also in the number of words used in the Hebrew verses, either seven words or a multiple of seven words.
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Thank you for bringing up this important point, Crumpy, as the writing styles have dramatically changed in 4000 years. I also wanted to add that 7 is a perfect number, just as six is a very imperfect number. This may have also had something to do with the numbering sequence of events. The perfect number should be saved for the Lord.
 
erikd said:
Hi Enter Canaan, and yes I absolutely believe the Bible, which is precisely why I don’t make it something that it’s not: a textbook of chronological world history. Perhaps, if it’s this obvious than you could spend a little time explaining the inconsistencies I proposed in the OP. Also, please remember the verse St. Peter himself wrote us:

But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day"
2 Peter 3:8
Click to expand...
And to quote part of the Psalm which Peter is referencing here (Psalm 90:1-4):

*A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
*Adonai, a dwelling place you have been to us in generation and generation,
Before mountains were born, and you gave birth to the earth and the world; and from age to age you are God!
You turn back man to dust and say, “Turn back, O sons of men!”
For a thousand years in your eyes are as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night…

One thing that crossed my mind though. How can we be exactly certain that it took God exactly six days in human reckoning to create all there is aside from Scripture - that is, taking to account the literary devices and the cultural background of the sacred writers? Did God have a watch handy with Him at creation, and if so, are we sure that it doesn’t run by Divine Mean Time? 😛

I am certain that He could have done it in six human days if He wanted to, but that brings the question: did God create the whole universe/s in literal six modern-age human days (i.e. a 24-hour, 1440-minute, 86,400-second day), or do we need to take into account that it would seem that the Earth’s day increases in length over time?

As an interesting aside, it is believed that about 620 million years ago (this is based on varves on sandstone) one day consisted of only 21.9 hours. Going further from that, based on computer simulations, the average day 4.5 billion years ago (when according to those who hold the “earth is billions of ages old” hypothesis is about the time when the earth is still new) is believed to have lasted only about six hours.
 
patrick457 said:
And to quote part of the Psalm which Peter is referencing here (Psalm 90:1-4):

*A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
*Adonai, a dwelling place you have been to us in generation and generation,
Before mountains were born, and you gave birth to the earth and the world; and from age to age you are God!
You turn back man to dust and say, “Turn back, O sons of men!”
For a thousand years in your eyes are as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night…

One thing that crossed my mind though. How can we be exactly certain that it took God exactly six days in human reckoning to create all there is aside from Scripture - that is, taking to account the literary devices and the cultural background of the sacred writers? Did God have a watch handy with Him at creation, and if so, are we sure that it doesn’t run by Divine Mean Time? 😛

I am certain that He could have done it in six human days if He wanted to, but that brings the question: did God create the whole universe/s in literal six modern-age human days (i.e. a 24-hour, 1440-minute, 86,400-second day), or do we need to take into account that it would seem that the Earth’s day increases in length over time?

As an interesting aside, it is believed that about 620 million years ago (this is based on varves on sandstone) one day consisted of only 21.9 hours. Going further from that, based on computer simulations, the average day 4.5 billion years ago (when according to those who hold the “earth is billions of ages old” hypothesis is about the time when the earth is still new) is believed to have lasted only about six hours.
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You bring up some very interesting points, Patrick. These points are important as I believe, in my humble opinion, that all of the possibilities you mentioned are indeed scientifically possible and absolutely not contrary to Genesis 1 or 2. It’s very possible that the solar system has been here for 4.6 billion years, and at that point the earth’s rotation was faster around its axis, then it is today (which would account for the six hour day 4.5 billion years ago). And, of course, as I mentioned in my OP, it’s possible that six 24 hour periods were utilized, maybe six nano-seconds, six thousand years, six million years, or 4 billion years. Only science can tell us the chronology of these events and the Word of God can tell us who is responsible for the events.
 
This took a turn didn’t it, well let me put your verses in context

2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
2 Peter 3:4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
2 Peter 3:5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
2 Peter 3:6 by which **the world **that then existed perished, being flooded with water. *(Gen 7:11)
2 Peter 3:7 **But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.**2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

and

Psalm 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.

**Gen 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened on May 21, 4990 BC.

In context, The Lord here is saying that in the last days, in which we are currently living, scoffers will come, walking accordingly to their own lusts, their own DOCTRINE, and not the DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE. And they will say, where is His second coming, eversense the fathers of yore have been looking for His second coming, it has not come, it will continue to not come, let us laugh and delight in this world because there is no way the LORD will come back in my lifetime. But the day will come, our Lord has promised it, and as in the Days of Noah, when they were eating and drinking and given away in marraige and not trusting in the word, so is it now, However just as the world was destroyed by a great flood, and only 8 survived, meaning a remnant out of the whole worlds survived, so to will it be on the last day, when the Lord will destroy with fire, and those who are listening to the bible, will be part of that remnant just as Noah and his family were a remnant.

And beloved, I would have you not be ignorant of this on thing, a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day.

It is repeated twice, to prove to you, dear reader, that the God will shortly bring it to pass because IT IS ESTABLISHED

Gen 41:32 And the dream **was repeated **to Pharaoh **twice **because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

This is why is it good to study the bible, because then you learn that the flood happened in 4990 BC on May 21st: **Gen 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened on May 21, 4990 BC.

The Lord says in seven days I will open up the gates and the floods will destroy the earth.

seven is a spiritual number representing completion. The complete picture, the complete amount of time, before the thing is done by God.

7 days tims a 1000 years, a 1000 years times 7 days.

The thing is established.

Continue in the bible, and faith comes by hearing and hearing in the word of God. Do not take you eyes off of the Lord, and the Lord is found in His word, and His word is the bible, Do not take you focus off of His word and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

God bless
 
The Creation account of Genesis one can be compared to other narratives of creation of the ancient world. The difference between the Genesis account and others is interesting in that the “gods” the ancients worshipped are listed as being created by God. So, one of the main purposes of this account is to separate God from the creation - the creator from the created.

A major clue that unlocks the problems that one has with a literal reading; e.g. there being light before the creation of the sun is found in the second verse of Genesis 1:. And the earth was without form AND void. The way the ancient writer of this creation narrative looked at creation was a very unique and interesting perspective. First God created the great forms - earth - heavens - seas and second God filled these forms making them no longer voids - but filled with life. So, one can look at days 1-3 as God’s creation of the great forms and days 4-6 as God’s filling these great forms with life. So, the emphasis is not really on what God did on day one as opposed to day two – in other words, there’s not a real chronology going on. The days are being used “poetically” and not literally or chronologically. Or, to put it another way - this creation narrative is not meant to be a scientific accounting of the creation at all. The ancients and their view of time shouldn’t be imposed with our 21st century understanding of everything needing to be accounted to the very second.

The concept of the week most probably comes later in the development of civilization where the month was more accurately understood as coming in cycles of four quarters - each quarter being approximately 7 days. But to look at God revealing to Adam the concept of time as being organized into hours - days - weeks - months and years does seem to be a little bit odd to me. God has seemed to allow man to take his own path as to the discovery of the universe. If it wasn’t all that important for man to know the earth rotated around the sun where the earth (man) wasn’t the center of the universe or other like discoveries - I don’t think these scientific matters were all that important to reveal to Adam either. The revelation of the Bible is concerned with salvation and not science. We would be better off it we allowed revelation to take care of those things that revelation is best able to suit.

MonFrere
 
Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.

Gen 1:19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

God created the sun, moon and stars to shine on the earth.

To better understand TIME, God has created a system in which signs and seasons mark the passage of TIME.

It is a literal seven days, and on the fourth day, God set up a system in which signs and seasons mark that passage of TIME, so we can track time, this is why the bible gives so many dates, and this is why those dates are important, After careful study the dates start to have meaning.

for example

Gen 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

This date is May 21, 4990 BC

Gen 8:14 And in the second month, on the twenty seventh day of the month, the earth was dried.

This day is May 4989 BC: 2nd month, 27th day. 1 year, 10 days later. Dry earth.

Now are these dates arbitrary, or did God put them in there for a reason.

This is what you are saying:
The concept of the week most probably comes later in the development of civilization where the month was more accurately understood as coming in cycles of four quarters - each quarter being approximately 7 days. But to look at God revealing to Adam the concept of time as being organized into hours - days - weeks - months and years **does seem to be a little bit odd to **me

So because of your lack of understanding, God seems odd to you. Well who are you to say that, and you have no basis for your teaching here right? You are guessing, you are trying to explain God to make Him fit your idea. I don’t understand why a person would do that, when instead of trying to explain God, falsely might i add, you should be in His word trying to understand God, in His words in His context.

In all humility, I apologize if I sound to straight forward here, not my intention to be rude. Just trying to enlighten those who would listen.

God bless,
 
To be clear, the Catholic Church does not impose upon the faithful to embrace as fact that the universe was created in six days. If you want to believe it - fine; if you do not wish to believe it - also fine.

The Catechism spells out very well the theological truths we must believe in. Namely…
  • There is one God, creator of all.
  • God is separate from creation, creation does not “contain” God. This counters a prevalent new age idea.
  • God intended creation, sustains creation and has ordered creation or “purposed” creation for a specific end. It didn’t just happen.
  • Man is the pinnacle of God’s creation.
  • All humanity descends from an original man and woman.
  • This original man and woman in some fashion disobeyed God causing a permanent alienation of man from God - original sin.
There may be some others, but I think this cover the big ones.
The point?

In regards to reading scripture to benefit one’s spiritual and rational growth - I find the above list of theological truths to be superior matters for reflection over those that would have us believe literal details like six actual days, eating from fruit trees, talking snakes, made from a rib, naming all the animals, etc. and then have to confront the perplexing chore of reconciling these literal beliefs with common sense.

However, I am not the ‘belief czar’. If one wishes to read Genesis in an extremely literal way - go ahead. God can speak to us in many different ways. Mine certainly is not the best by far and I wasn’t posturing to make it so.
 
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