Featured Humans descended from monkeys

I thought a little levity at this point in the lecture would be useful considering the great burden you have placed on those 'less apt in the study of Scripture than you.' Not that it matters but I would also note you were the first to use the word afar related to burning {post 32} in this discussion and those less learned might think the ashes came from afar started by one of the pre-humans, .

That being said I suspect most on BB are waiting with 'bated breath' to discover which Version of Scripture, taking advantage of your 'great learning':laugh::laugh: in the Hebrew language, renders the Hebrew word 'aphar' as either "clay, earth, mud:-- ashes, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish" in Genesis 2:7!

 

Folks, once again all we get from the usual suspects is ridicule, disparagement, nonsense and misrepresentation. These folks seem to have no interest in discussing the topic, but are wanting to discourage anyone who is.

For example, I addressed following blindly the traditional translation pattern of the past and dismissing other views as quirky, or uninformed. The problem with the traditional translation is the Hebrew word appears to be more generic, referring to any number of materials, rather than to one specific material such as natural soil (dirt, loose ground, etc).

I have explained why I believe "materials of the earth" better conveys the message of Genesis 2:7, and the response, as usual has been, "taint so and you are out of your depth for saying so."

 

And we have conveyed why that cannot possibly be so. Being wrong doesn't make you a victim, or mean your opposition is engaging in ridicule, disparagement, nonsense and misrepresentation. Grow up.

 

Actually Mr Van the only thing I misrepresented was implying that "most on BB are waiting with 'bated breath' " for the latest missive from 'on high'! I am sure they are not but as I noted earlier a little levity is warranted when dealing with someone 'puffed up' {bloated, magniloquent, grandiloquent, orotund} by their own ego! Your remarks might be better received if you were not attempting to refute centuries of Hebrew scholarship and Biblical interpretation and doing it in a "bloated, magniloquent, grandiloquent, orotund" manner !

 

Same ol, same ol from the usual suspects. Post after post address me and my supposed flaws, and nary a word on the subject.

To come full circle, "material of the earth" could be dust, dirt, loose ground, earth, or whatever the usual suspects assert, but it could also include
organic material from say a primate previously made. Over specifitivity in translation misses the message and adds the translators view of what is being said.
According to Job 38, we do not know precisely how God created man, and to be dogmatic that He used dust (dirt, soil, etc) adds to scripture and is without merit.

 

Your claim that we have said "nary a word on the subject" is laughable.

 

A little exegesis of what Mr. Van says!

Same ol, same ol from the usual suspects. Post after post address me and my supposed flaws, and nary a word on the subject.


To come full circle, "material of the earth" could be dust, dirt, loose ground, earth, or whatever the usual suspects assert, but it could also include
organic material from say a primate previously made. Over specifitivity in translation misses the message and adds the translators view of what is being said.



According to Job 38, we do not know precisely how God created man, and to be dogmatic that He used dust (dirt, soil, etc) adds to scripture and is without merit.

 

Now, while man didn't evolve from a monkey, i've seen more than one man evolve into a monkey!

 

Turning to Isaiah 40:12, which has God measuring or enclosing or comprehending the "dust of the earth" Gill offers this as part of his commentary:

So again we find that "aphar" refers is some cases not to one or another form of material of the earth, but literally refers to all or a major portion of the material of the planet. So the idea that "aphar" means the material of the earth has support from Gill.

 

In Proverbs 8:26, we see reference to the first dust of the world, as if the idea was the world was made up of tiny bits that God made then put together to form habitual land. This would argue against "aphar" referring to something that had been formed (say a primate) but would not argue against the materials that could be formed into a primate.

So at the end of the day the materials of the earth of Genesis 2:7 would be the building blocks used to form man. But who knows if God used similar building blocks and put them together in a very similar way to make primates beforehand? There are plenty of examples where God takes something existing, a blind eye, a withered hand, and modifies it to bring about a modified design, a seeing eye, a functional hand.

 

Folks, It seems that some on this BB want to make God after a super-duper handyman. But Scripture tells us very simply:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created

3. And God said,

6. And God said,

9. And God said,

11. And God said,

14. And God said,

20. And God said,

24. And God said,

26. And God said,

28. And God blessed them, and God said
.
29. And God said,

31. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

How about that.

 

Being one of "those" I feel compelled to respond. I really do not understand why one disparages anyone who honestly attempts to understand the God of creation both through the lens of the natural world and the revelation of scripture. I DO understand that you and most others here have complete disagreement with anything having to do with evolution, and more pointedly methodological naturalism. Those, like myself, who share a position in opposition to MN have absolutely no problem with "and God said". But, in your words I "read" that I (we) do. Please correct me if I am off base here.

 

Rather than ascribing evil motives to others, i.e. those who want to turn God into a handyman, why not address the view presented, which is that we do not know precisely how God formed man, but He used materials of the earth.

As far as God declaring the end from the beginning, yes God says what He will cause to occur, then He causes it to occur. All things came into being through Him. He brought some of creation into being from nothing, but other of His creation He brought forth from materials He had created beforehand. Case in point, God formed man from the materials of the earth, not necessarily soil or rubbish or any specific material of the earth because "aphar" refers generically to the tiny bits of material used to form something else, whether dirt, dust, plaster, or man.