The Interpretation of Genesis One by Gorman Gray

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The Interpretation of Genesis Oneby Gorman
Gray
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What are the characteristics of a good
interpretation of Genesis, chapter one?
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1) A good interpretation will be simple enough,
profound enough to satisfy all- youth, peasant
and Ph.D.
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• 2) A good interpretation will be in perfect
  harmony with demonstrable science.
• 3) Conversely, science, if true, will match
  perfectly with the Bible when all the facts are
  in.

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4) The Bible must not be hammered to fit the
facts of science, and science must not be
hammered to fit the Bible.
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5) If a normal interpretation satisfies all the
facts of demonstrable science, then this simple,
literal, grammatical-historical interpretation is
to be preferred over figurative, poetic or
non-historical ones.
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For example, all the historical Bible stories are
plainly literal even though some also carry a
spiritual meaning. Examples Abraham offering
Isaac on Mt. Moriah (Jerusalem), David and
Goliath, Daniel in the lions den.
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6) On all disputed areas we must not depend on
English translations alone, but must support all
conclusions from the original Hebrew text.
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7) Get the big picture first.
It is mandatory to get the general contextual
sense of a Scripture passage before detailed
analysis is undertaken.
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8) A good interpretation is often confirmed when
it supports a spiritual dimension and message.
For example, Paul comments on Genesis 1 Let
there be light. For God who commanded the
light to shine through the darkness has shone in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
II Cor. 4
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9) A good interpretation of Genesis must allow
for Gods supernatural intervention.

• The Bible is filled with recorded miracles     
      
• The resurrection of Christ (Matt. 28)
•   Joshuas long day (Joshua 10)
•   Six days of biosphere preparation (Genesis 1)

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10) A good interpretation will confirm the
inerrancy of Scripture.

• Not a jot nor tittle will pass from the law till
  all be fulfilled.
• The Scripture cannot be broken.
• All Scripture is God-breathed.
• The prophecies of Scripture are more sure than
  eye witnesses.
• God declares the end from the beginning.

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11) A good interpretation guards against the
tactics of the devil, who is a supernatural,
powerful liar.

• God hid these things from the wise and prudent
  but has revealed them to babes.
• The eyes of our hearts must be enlightened.

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Summary A good interpretation should be simple
for all to understand, including
children.Remember the K.I.S.S. principle (keep
it simple, saints.)
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We all have an emotional stake in religion. Be
it pro or con, our psyches will resist change in
the Bibles meaningChanging ones paradigm is
not easy.- Gerald Schroeder
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Not My mind is made up and I am not about to
change.
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In the beginning God created the heavens
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and the earth. v.1
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Now the earth was desolate, and empty and
darkness was on the surface of the ocean. v.2
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So, how long was Earths surface dark?

• Twelve hours?
• Two weeks?
• 4-1/2 billion years?
• Can the time of beginning be found?
• Or is the beginning undefined in time?

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And where was this darkness?

• Did darkness permeate the entire cosmos?
• Plainly the Genesis text limits darkness to the
  surface of the ocean.
• Just how was this achieved physically?

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God declared, Where were you when I laid the
foundation of the earth? ... I made clouds its
garment and thick darkness its swaddling
band.- Job 384,9
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Examples The waters that were above totally
darkened the earths ocean for perhaps megayears.
(Compare Venus and Titan )There was thick
darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.
Exodus 1021
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Day 1And God said, Let there be light and
there was light. 13
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A sample photograph of the sun obscured by a
cloud of thick darkness but thinning to allow
some light through as in day one.
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Day 2And God said, Let there be a firmament
in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the
waters from the waters. v. 6
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Definitions in Genesis One

• The activities of the six days are defined in
  the simplest everyday terms known to everyone no
  one should misunderstand.
• Light on ocean surface (Day and Night)
• Expanse where birds fly (Air - shamayim)
• Dry land appearing in water (Earth - eretz)
• Gathering of water to one place (Sea - yawm)
• Hebrew transliterations

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Day 3 dry land made vv.9-13
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and plants created
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Day 4 celestial objects worked upon
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Jumping to conclusions God said He made the sun
moon and stars on day four. God said it, I
believe it, that settles it.
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Reconsider Genesis 11 In the beginning God
created the heaven and the earth.The literal
reading indicates this ex nihilo creation
preceded day one. The creative work on day four
was to draw forth the light of the celestial
bodies (clearing the sky) and designating them
for signs.
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Day 5 fish and birds created
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Day 6 animals and man created
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The Age of the Universe What are the Biblical
Limits

• Read the book for a more complete presentation.
• By Gorman Gray
• Morning Star Publications, 931 15th Street,
  Washougal, WA 98671-1209
• 1-888-667-6464
• Visit www.AgeoftheUniverse.com