[PatrickHenry]

The word water is also a symbol in Scripture

I appreciate the insight. Yet that word does not seem to be used as a symbol in the Genesis verses regarding the 2nd and 3d days -- at least not below the firmament. Once we start down the road of saying "this word doesn't really mean what it seems to mean," we find ourselves interpreting Genesis as metaphor, and then the principle argument of the literalist school for special creation vanishes -- as I suppose it must, given the overwhelming evidence for evolution.

New Year's hugs!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your reply! I'm praying for you a very Happy and Blessed New Year!

The Word is intentionally conveyed such that people will have different interpretations, as follows:

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. - Matthew 13:10-13

I believe that discernment, like faith, comes through grace - but that both can also be magnified as a gift (I Corinthians 12:10)

I cannot assure you that mine is the only correct interpretation of the water passages, only that it sits well with my spirit. And I don't mind having a moderately different view, because if Jesus had wanted us all to be the same - there would have been twelve Peters or Johns or Pauls. Instead, the twelve disciples had their own perspectives and thus were not always in agreement.