Gap theory paper for theology 201 on the gap theory PDF

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this paper was written in 2021 during the fall semester and was a fun paper to write and it got a good grade...

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Gap Theory

Claire Flanders CRST 290-B10 March 9, 2021

The “Gap Theory” consists of the non-traditional idea that there was a large gap between the creations of God. Specifically, this theory states that there was a gap in time between the first and second verse in the beginning of Genesis 1:1-2. This is a different theory than those who believe in a literal 24 hour day translation of creation pertaining to the first chapter of Genesis. The purpose of this paper is to share, compare, and contrast what the Gap Theory says to what a literal 24 hour day, young earth creationist believes. While reviewing these theories, I plan to use scholarly, peer-reviewed articles to help guide me in an academic direction. The Gap Theory suggests that there was a gap in time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. The theory presents the argument that there was a million year gap after Genesis 1:1, “ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (ESV). It states that God created the heavens and the earth during a period of time, and on the second day, which is stated to be a million years later Genesis 1:2 occurred, “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters”(ESV). This means that after years upon years, after God created the heavens and the earth, He created the waters. Thomas Chalmers was a Scottish minister, a professor of Theology and was given the title of “Scotland’s greatest nineteenth-century churchman” after he founded Free Church of Scotland. Thomas Chlamers originated the Gap theory in 1814 after studying and professing the scriptures. He believed that most of the 6 days were literal 24 hour days, but he believed the word “was” in Genesis 1:2 shows the gap in time due to the past tense wording. The Gap Theory belief is that historically in chronological order, the first two verses of Genesis have a million year gap, and the third, fourth, fifth and sixth days are all literal 24 days. This view requires an ancient earth view of the world, which could explain how evolutionists view geology and the corrosion of the earth.

The non-traditional old earth creation view the “Gap Theory” states the belief that there was a million year gap in time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 from when God created heaven and earth to when He created the oceans and waters. This view uses the word “was” in Genesis 1:2 as a literal past time and translates it to mean a million or so years later. It is translated this way to explain how fossils and rocks and trees are somehow dated millions of years old. However, this can be explained that God did mean a literal 24 hour day, but made everything mature and fully grown instead of embryos and growing. The Gap Theory translates the rest of the creation days to be literal 24 hour days. This brings the question of why there would only be one gap in time between the “days” and not a million year gap in time for the other days. Why not keep the translation of “day” consistent? Young earth creationists and old earth gap theory creation believers agree on the fact that God made everything into existence and do not rely on the theory of evolution or the big bang theory to explain how the earth and everything in it was created. They also agree that there was in fact to some extent a literal 24 hour day in the 6 days God created the world. The disagreement between young earth creationists and old earth creationists is that the gap theory has the belief of the million year gap. It is believed that adam and even must have lived longer than a couple of days to have the fall, as stated by Don Stewart, “Since Adam and Eve did not conceive any children before the fall, there must have been a relatively short time between the completion of creation on day six and the events of Genesis three. This does not allow adequate time for the rebellion, judgment, and expulsion of evil angels”(Blue Letter Bible). This article posts a confirmation from the perspective of Adam and Eve that there must have been a significant amount of extra time between the 6 literal 24 hour days of creation. This view is centered around science and the Bible. It is a good way of explaining fossils, but has implications pertaining to the flood. As

stated by Don Stewart, “then one must assume that Noah's Flood left no trace whatsoever. The fossil evidence can better be explained by a Flood that we know existed rather than a flood in which Scripture does not mention”(Blue Letter Bible). The evidence for the flood is great and recorded in the Bible making this a true event. The Gap Theory is a very popular old earth creation theory originated by Thomas Chalmers. He created this theory to correspond with science and the Bible. The idea of this sounds like the best of both worlds, but this is merely impossible to make the belief of evolution go hand in hand with God’s creation. However, this theory explains evolutionary processes and the age of fossils, etc. extremely well. Instead of finding a way to make the creation of the world by God sound more pleasing to man and easier to understand, why don’t christians become advocates for God, for we know he is omniscient and omnipotent. A God who can do all things.

Bibliography “A Gap in Knowledge.” Answers in Genesis, 12 Apr. 2001, answersingenesis.org/genesis/gap-theory/a-gap-in-knowledge/. Fields, Weston W. Unformed and Unfilled:A Critique of the Gap Theory. Master Books, Green Forest, Ark, 2005. Mazzalongo, Mike. “The Gap Theory in Creationism.” BibleTalk.tv, 1 Jan. 1970, bibletalk.tv/the-gap-creationism-theory. Mortenson, Terry. The Great Turning Point : the Church’s Catastrophic Mistake on Geology -- before Darwin . Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2004. Print. “The Gap Theory of Genesis Chapter One.” The Gap Theory of Genesis Chapter One | Bible.org, bible.org/article/gap-theory-genesis-chapter-one. Stewart, Don. “What Is the Gap Theory? (The Ruin and Reconstruction Theory?).” Blue Letter Bible, www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_654.cfm....