Posted on 09/08/2023 1:19:05 AM PDT by spirited irish
Evangelicals who receive Genesis 1–11 as factually portraying God’s creative work should be commended. Yet, defending “literal interpretation” to counter “figurative interpretation” prolongs the misguided debate and tends to induce many Christians to suppress Scripture’s realistic portrayals of God’s creative actions and historical accounts throughout Genesis 1–11. Even so, far more egregious is the subjugation of God’s authorized realistic accounts in Genesis 1–3 to evolutionary interpretations of valid fields of study—geology, archaeology, cosmology, and biology. Thus, by demonstrating that the debate is properly located within the author’s domain and not the reader’s realm, this essay necessarily corrects both errors while concentrating on the flagrant one.
(Excerpt) Read more at patriotandliberty.com ...
ping
Your thoughts on this, SI?
I tend to think that Moses wrote down what he saw in vision. So, we see in writing what he saw, but that doesn’t mean what he understood was the complete truth.
First of all, because of the fall our intellects work imperfectly. Second, in this world we are captives of our senses. Thus we cannot know true Truth, in this case anything about creation, unless it is revealed to us (in this case revealed to Moses) from a Source outside of the space/time cosmos.
...i.e., "literally." That's what the word means.
I don't understand what Dr. Caneday is trying to say. On first examination it appears that he's pointing out error in both figurative reading of the Genesis account and the POV of the six-day creationists... and then he sides with the six-day creationists.
The author’s statements are somewhat conflicted. A very good example of what happens when we think we have figured out Gods purpose or intent, without Gods input.
I agree that his use of the term ‘literal’ is somewhat confusing. But being acquainted with him his use of that term applies to interpretations applied, for instance, to Revelation where fallen angels and demons emerging from the abyss are described literally as something they are not.
“In the Beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.”
That is literal enough. It is the description of God creating Time, Space and Matter.
In the Beginning (Time) God Created the Heavens (Space) and the Earth. (Matter)
BFLR
The original piece can be found here.
Agreed. And as Jesus Christ is the Word we know that it was by His spoken Word that He created, as the raising of Lazarus, a microcosmic recreation, illustrates.
If one were to take the Genesis account literally, one has to acknowledge that, in the six days of creation, the only things that were created were, basically, life forms. It says nothing about creating the heavens and the earth; they were already on site. Creation of the heavens and earth had taken place much earlier.
The land is not said to be created, it is said to be gathered into one place. Water is not said to be created, it is moved around, etc.
I believe the Bible’s account is accurate. Exactly how, we’ll understand one day. I trust the Word.
From a science point of view, evolution doesnt make sense to me. But seems to me creation wasnt a snap your fingers and its there as God in theory could do, but it was a process as it took time. What that process is/was is not known and may never be known in this life.
Again I don't understand this use of the word "literally."
Using this logic one might attempt to make the case from Psalm 91:4 that the Lord has wings:
"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge..." - Psalm 91:4
So which is it? Do we believe the Lord has wings, or do we accept that there is figurative language in the Bible?
And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them.
The text calls them locusts that appear "like horses, arrayed for battle". They have human faces, with golden crowns, the teeth of lions, and stings like scorpions.
They come from outside the space/time dimension and emerge from the smoke which comes from the bottomless pit. They are under the command of Abaddon or Apollyon, the destroyer or power of destruction.
Whatever they look like, they are not locusts but fallen angels and demons who come to torture humans, not crops. Their effect upon men is that they will seek death but not find it because the purpose of these locusts that are not locusts is despair. For these locusts are weaponized carriers of torment and despair.
Here we have an example of a text speaking of demons and fallen angels that if interpreted literally, makes evil spirits into something they are not: bizarre locusts with human faces.
Here we have an example of a text speaking of demons and fallen angels that if interpreted literally, makes evil spirits into something they are not: bizarre locusts with human faces.
= = =
Adam Schiff, Nancy Polosi, Soros, ...
Bizarre locusts, all of them.
How very apt!!!
For in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; Colossians 1:16
Jesus Christ the Word (John 1) spoke the world into being by the power of His words (Hebrews 11:3).
"When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” John 11:43
Here we have an ‘in the twinkling of an eye' microcosmic recreation event. It was no lengthy process--- Jesus had only to speak and the body of Lazarus was regenerated and his soul brought back and into his body.
At the end of history, the Word will speak and all things will be made new in the twinkling of an eye.
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