Featured Is the "Gap Theory" teaching, adding unto the Word of God?

No, it is simply an interpretation of Scripture.

Some interpretations are unhealthy,
Speculation on the age of the earth is not an interpretation of Scripture that salvation rests upon.
Speculate away!

If God would laugh at all our faulty interpretations we will have a jolly time in eternity.

Rob

 

The Bible never tells us exactly how old the earth is. People come up with the 6 thousand year mark by counting the “generations” in scripture assigning about 40 years to each.

The ancient Hebrews didn’t put every descendent in their genealogies, as evidenced by the phrase “he had other sons and daughters. They only recorded those they considered to be important.

All that said, I did manage to get a biology professor in college to admit there is no evidence of any civilization existing beyond 10,000 years ago.

Concerning the “gap theory” I see it as unnecessary, just like “creation science” is unnecessary.

It is speculation beyond what scripture teaches.

peace to you

 

I don't see it as adding to Scripture any more than I see any theory of creation as adding to Scripture.

 

Which one? The 'gap' between Gen 1:1 & 1:2 or the gap between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel? There's some on this site that will cry heresy over one while swallowing the other hook, line, and sinker.

 

Here is a write-up from the internet:

Gap creationism (also known as ruin-restoration creationism, restoration creationism, or "the Gap Theory") is a form of old Earth creationism that posits that the six-yom creation period, as described in the Book of Genesis, involved six literal 24-hour days (light being "day" and dark "night" as God specified), but that there was a gap of time between two distinct creations in the first and the second verses of Genesis, which the theory states explains many scientific observations, including the age of the Earth.[1][2][3] It differs from day-age creationism, which posits that the 'days' of creation were much longer periods (of thousands or millions of years), and from young Earth creationism, which although it agrees concerning the six literal 24-hour days of creation, does not posit any gap of time. ​

All these theories or interpretations are based on speculating concerning the creation account of Genesis 1. However, Job 38 clearly teaches we were not there, and therefore do not know just how God created everything. Best to stick with that truth rather than waste our ministry time disputing something unknown.[/INDENT]

 

There are different interpretations of Genesis 1:2, ". . . And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. . . ." Between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:3.

 

There is no gap between Genesis 1 & 2. Genesis 2 simply elaborates on Genesis 1, giving more detail of the creation.

peace to you

 

I personally believe there is time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:3. I believe the first day Earth day begins with verse 3. The gap theory I disagree with, believes "was" should be changed to read "became." I believe the Earth was without form, and void before the first day, Genesis 1:3-5.

 

Gen 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gap Theory Inserts Speculation Here.
Gen 1:2
And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The earth was a formless and desolate emptiness suggests the earth was non-existent, before creation. Darkness over the surface of the deep which appears to refer to the unknown, as does the waters. So verse 2 seems to indicate the condition of God before space, time and anything else was created. To speculate that verse 2 refers to a created earth that was ruined and the following verses describe the earth's "re-creation" has no scriptural basis, but instead is wholly created by the invention of men.

 

Scofield note on Genesis 1:2

Genesis 1:2
without form and void

Jeremiah 4:23-27; Isaiah 24:1; 45:18 clearly indicate that the earth had undergone a cataclysmic change as the result of divine judgment. The face of the earth bears everywhere the marks of such a catastrophe. There are not wanting imitations which connect it with a previous testing and fall of angels.

See Ezekiel 28:12-15; Isaiah 14:9-14 which certainly go beyond the kings of Tyre and Babylon.

 

He understood what you were talking about. He just being him. You stated "creation". The gap in Daniel is not about creation.

 

Well, that’s interesting. Thanks for clarifying. I guess I haven’t been keeping up with the theories.

Maybe you can help me understand the argument. How does a “gap” in time between verses 1 & 2 effect anything? I always thought the “gap” theory attempted to explain how there could be so many people building cities and such when Cain still lived.

Are they simply allowing for 10 billion years of “gap” from God creating the planet but before God created life?

Is it someway to explain the scientific belief of the age of the universe?

peace to you

 

Yea it is!

1. You have an imperfect God incapable of a perfect creation - blasphemy

2. You have death and destruction before the fall and introduction of sin

3. You have divine judgement upon His own creation