Genesis One

Multiple Perspectives.

Vern S. Poythress, Christian Interpretations of Genesis One, [Philadelphia: Westminster Seminary Press, 2013]. See also: frame-poythress.org/ebooks/.

J. Daryl Charles, ed., Reading Genesis 1-2: An Evangelical Conversation, [Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2013]. Preview.

Kenneth Keathley, Mark F. Rooker, 40 Questions About Creation and Evolution, [Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic , 2014]. Preview. 

Robert Letham, Systematic Theology, [Wheaton: Crossway, 2019], Appendix 1: Main Interpretations of Genesis 1, pp. 909-932. Preview.

Presbyterian Church in America, Minutes of the Twenty-Eighth General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America: June 20-23, [Atlanta: Presbyterian Church in America, 2000], “Report of the Creation Study Committee,” pp. 122-212. See also: pcahistory.org. Cf. Presbyterian Church In America, Report of the Creation Study Committee, [2000]. See also: pcahistory.org.

The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Minutes of the Seventy-First General Assembly June 2-8, 2004, [Willow Grove: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 2004], “Views of Creation,” pp. 193-350. See also: opc.org and opcgaminutes.org.

Ronald F. Youngblood; The Genesis Debate: Persistent Questions About Creation and the Flood, [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986].

David G. Hagopian, ed., The Genesis Debate: Three Views on the Days of Creation, [Mission Viejo: Crux Press, 2001].

Charles Halton, gen. ed., Genesis: History, Fiction, or Neither? Three Views on the Bible’s Earliest Chapters, [Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2015]. Preview.

Young and Old Earth, Compatible?

Gerald L. Schroeder, Genesis and the Big Bang: The Discovery of Harmony Between Modern Science and the Bible, [New York: Bantam Books, 1990].

Analogical View.

Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (c. 354-430 A.D.): Thus, in all the days of creation there is one day, and it is not to be taken in the sense of our day, which we reckon by the course of the sun; but it must have another meaning, applicable to the three days mentioned before the creation of the heavenly bodies. This special meaning of “day” must not be maintained just for the first three days, with the understanding that after the third day we take the word “day” in its ordinary sense. But we must keep the same meaning even to the sixth and seventh days. Hence, “day” and “night,” which God divided [divisit Deus], must be interpreted quite differently from the familiar “day” and “night,” which God decreed the lights that He created in the firmament should divide [dividant luminaria quæ creavit] when He said, And let them divide day and night. For it was by this latter act that He created our day, creating the sun whose presence makes the day. But that other day which was originally made had already repeated itself three times when, at its fourth recurrence, these lights of the firmament were created. (Augustine of Hippo, The Literal Meaning of Genesis (De Genesi ad Litteram), 4.26.43; PL, 34:314; trans. Ancient Christian Writers: The Literal Meaning of Genesis: Volume 1, No. 41, trans. J. H. Taylor, [Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1982], p. 134.)

C. John Collins, Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Poetry, Science, and Truth in Genesis 1-11, [Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2018]. Preview.

C. John Collins, Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Commentary, [Phillipsburg: P&R, 2006].

C. John Collins, Science & Faith: Friends Or Foes? [Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2003], 5: What Kind of Days Were Those, Anyhow? pp. 77-96.

W. Robert Godfrey, God’s Pattern for Creation: A Covenantal Reading of Genesis 1, [Phillipsburg: P&R, 2003].

William G. T. Shedd, Dogmatic Theology: Volume I: Second Edition, [New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1889], pp. 475-477.

Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics: Volume 2: God and Creation, ed. John Bolt, trans. John Vriend, [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004], §§. 274-276, pp. 490-500.

Herman Bavinck, Our Reasonable Faith, trans. Henry Zylstra, [Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956], XI: Creation and Providence, pp. 172-173.

Vern S. Poythress, Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach, [Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2006], 10: The Analogical Day Theory and the Framework View, pp. 131-147. See also: frame-poythress.org/ebooks/.

Vern S. Poythress, Interpreting Eden: A Guide to Faithfully Reading and Understanding Genesis 1-3, [Wheaton: Crossway, 2019], 11: Time in Genesis 1, pp. 213-246. See also: frame-poythress.org/ebooks.

Intermittent Day View.

John C. Lennox, Seven Days That Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science, [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011]. Preview.

Day Age View.

Hugh Ross, A Matter of Days: Resolving a Creation Controversy, [Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2004].

Hugh Ross, Navigating Genesis: A Scientist’s Journey Through Genesis 1-11, [Covina: RTB Press, 2014].

Hugh Ross, The Genesis Question: Scientific Advances and the Accuracy of Genesis, [Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1998].

David Snoke, A Biblical Case for an Old Earth, [Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2006].

Framework View.

Meredith G. Kline, “Because It Had Not Rained;” In: WTJ 20.2 (May 1958): 146-157.

Meredith G. Kline, “Space and Time in the Genesis Cosmogony;” In: Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 48.1, (March 1996): 2-15.

Meredith G. Kline, Kingdom Prologue: Genesis Foundations for a Covenantal Worldview, [Overland Park: Two Age Press, 2000], Chapter One: Lord of the Covenant Kingdom, pp. 22-41. See also: monergism.com.

Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way, [Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2011], pp. 381ff. Preview.

Gordon Wenham, Word Biblical Commentary: Volume 1: Genesis 1-15, [Waco: Word Books, 1987].

Cosmic Temple Inauguration View.

John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate, [Grand Rapids: IVP Academic, 2009]. 

144 Consecutive Hours View.

Douglas F. Kelly, Creation And Change: Genesis 1:1–2:4 in the Light of Changing Scientific Paradigms, [Fearn: Mentor, 2004].

“Symbolic World” View.

Matthieu Pageau, The Language of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism in Genesis: A Commentary, [Matthieu Pageau, 2018].

Historical Interpretations of the First Chapters of Genesis.

Andrew J. Brown, The Days of Creation: A History of Christian Interpretation of Genesis 1:1 – 2:3, [Blandford Forum: Deo Publishing, 2014]. Preview.

Craig D. Allert, Early Christian Readings of Genesis One: Patristic Exegesis and Literal Interpretation, [Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2018]. Preview.

Augustine of Hippo, De Genesi ad Litteram; trans. Ancient Christian Writers: No. 41: The Literal Meaning of Genesis: Volume 1, trans. John Hammond Taylor, [Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1982]. Preview. 

Gavin Ortlund, Retrieving Augustine’s Doctrine of Creation: Ancient Wisdom for Current Controversy, [Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2020]. Preview.

William A. Dembski, Wayne J. Downs, Fr. Justin B. A. Frederick, eds., The Patristic Understanding of Creation: An Anthology of Writings from the Church Fathers on Creation and Design, [Nashville: Erasmus Press, 2019]. Preview.

Other Resources: Non Literal (i.e., Non 144 Consecutive Hours).

Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, [Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994], Chapter 15: Creation, pp. 293-309.

Derek Kidner, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary, [Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1967].

Edward J. Young, Studies In Genesis One, [Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1964].

Bruce K. Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, [Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2001]. Preview.

Henri Blocher, In the Beginning: The Opening Chapters of Genesis, [Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1984].

Robert W. Eckardt, “Were the Days of Genesis 1 and 2 Ordinary Days?” In: Ordained Servant, Vol. 9, No. 1, (January 2000): 20. See also: opc.org. 

Kenneth. A. Mathews, New American Commentary: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture: Genesis 1-11:26: Vol. 1A, [Nashville: B&H, 1996]. Preview.

Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible: Genesis, [Washington, D.C.: Regnery Faith, 2019]. Preview. 

Gleason L. Archer, Jr., A Survey Of Old Testament Introduction: Revised Edition, [Chicago: Moody Press, 1978], pp. 184-188.

John Sailhamer, Genesis Unbound, [Colorado Springs: Dawson Media, 2011].

Vern S. Poythress, Interpreting Eden: A Guide to Faithfully Reading and Understanding Genesis 1-3, [Wheaton: Crossway, 2019]. See also: frame-poythress.org/ebooks. 

Johnny V. Miller, John M. Soden, In the Beginning... We Misunderstood: Interpreting Genesis 1 In Its Original Context, [Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2012]. Preview.

Gleason L. Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, [Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1982], pp. 58ff.

Harry Lee Poe, “The English Bible and the Days of Creation: When Tradition Conflicts with Text;” In: Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 66.3, (September 2014): 130-139.

J. Vernon Mcgee, Genesis: Chapters 1-15, [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991].

καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν πρὸ πάντων καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν ~ Soli Deo Gloria