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Well, I think we
should first determine precisely the background and focus of the Genesis
creation account before moving to such question that can open door to many
legitimate interpretations.
The Genesis
creation account was first delivered and dedicated to God's chosen people after
their rescue from the Egyptian captive. thereafter the Genesis account of
creation was conveyed to them so that they can understand their identification
with God himself. Their mind was occupied with surrounding culture of
polytheism and they had theological questions. Genesis 1 was addressing their
query with timeless truth about God, his relationship with creation and
humanity.
Keeping in mind
these things, I believe the appropriate interpretations that fits Genesis 1 are
Framework hypothesis, ancient near Eastern polemic account, and Cosmic temple inauguration.
A mixture of these views must have been the original context that audience
perceived. remember, they didn't have questions about fossils, geological ages,
dinosaurs, DNA, evolution and Big Bang like us. The plain text reading for them
was simply their language and understanding of contemporary culture and
worldview.
Modern day
interpretations attempt extracting scientific knowledge from the ancient
Genesis which actually had ancient worldview such as three tier universe and
seeing cosmos as God's temple. We try to see where Big Bang, evolution and
dinosaurs fit and come up with varieties of views like Day-age, Gap, Ideal time
and so on.
Some might argue
dynamic nature of language and vocabulary which can be valid. perhaps we may
attempt to interpret Genesis 1 in our context and in term of modern language. Christian
apologist such as Dr. Hugh Ross is excellent at this. While this approach might
be helpful the way apologetics provides cosmological and teleological
arguments, the honest honour to the scripture is to read it in its original
context. In light of speech-act theory, the concern of Genesis 1 wasn't the
worldview but the theme of God and his cosmos. The same theme runs today while
the worldview of this cosmos has changed a lot since millennium past.
To sum up, I think
we need to grab the original context rather than modern in order to understand
Genesis creation account. There goes non-concordist interpretations.
Resources
concerned:
1)
Michael Heiser
2)
John Walton
3)
How (Not) to Read the Bible, DanKimball
4)
Inspiring Philosophy
5)
Ben Stanhope
6)
Biologos
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