GAP Theory

[shodan]

Many Christians who cite the 'gap theory' [they just heard the term someplace and repeat it] have little idea what it is--a theory that did not begin until the 17th Century, and gained popularity with the 1917 publication of the Schofield Bible.

1) It gained popularity as a way to explain modern geology.
2) It posits a 1st creation (verse 1) that was ruined by Satan's fall which resulted in the 'mess' of v. 2, and then is followed by a re-creation vv3f. ....creation-ruin-restoration
3) It has NO exegetical basis in Scripture. It results from looking for a solution for an old earth, and then imposing fanciful ideas on verses that have nothing to do with such a scenario.

BUT NOT KNOWING this history, what many Christians are talking about when they say 'gaptheory' is whether Scripture allows for any time before "Let there be light" on Day One of verse 3. Such arguing for an unknown period of time prior to v.3, "Let there be light" is NOT "Gap Theory" [i.e. not creation-ruin-restoration]

So, Victor P. Hamilton, Professor of Old Testament, Asbury, 1971-2007, Genesis, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: "...on syntactical grounds, v. 2 [is to] be understood as distinct from and prior to v. 3. . . .
"Verse 2 then describes the situation prior to the detailed creation that is spelled out in vv. 3ff." [underline mine]

 

[shodan]

Something buggy ...my post does not show the last sentence, only when I try to edit.
So, Victor P. Hamilton, Professor of Old Testament, Asbury, 1971-2007, Genesis, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: "...on syntactical grounds, v. 2 [is to] be understood as distinct from and prior to v. 3. . . .
"Verse 2 then describes the situation prior to the detailed creation that is spelled out in vv. 3ff." [underline mine]

 

[Happy]

In another thread about Andrew Wommack the Young Earth subject came up.

Does the Bible scripturally allow for the possibility of the Gap theory - specifically between Gen 1:1 and 1:2

Hmmmm

No.

 

[Happy]

GAP Theory

Called "Theory" for a reason. It is a philosophical view from a mans carnal mind.


Gen.1
[1] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Then Scripture reveals God created "time", called day and night.

Then Scripture reveals God created "particular things" for six "days".

Then Scripture reveals God "rested" on the seventh "day".

Then Scripture reveals "more" "ABOUT" the "things" He created.

We have in Scripture .... an INTRODUCTION and then SPECIFICS that apply to what was introduced.

The Gap "Theory" is most accommodating for geologists and evolutionists, but is NOT what Scripture teaches.

In short, geologists use man made instruments, THEY calibrate, to determine "facts" of their items of discovery.
In short, evolutionists have no viable explanation for how something "LIVING" came from "nothing living".

God dictated what "time" is and "called" segments of "time" according to His pleasure.

Hours, Days, Nights, Seasons, Years have not changed (even when mankind presumes to dictate what those things mean).

All men born "of" the earth have an appointment with God, at a "particular" "time", according to what God has determined is "time". Time Theory's of mankind have zero to do with what applies to every single man born of the earth.

 

[Marooncat79]

And how, exactly, did you come to that conclusion?

The Gap Theory is an impossibility

1. It rejects the plain meaningnof scripture. Evening and morning clarify the amount of time considered as well as 1st, 2nd etc.

2. It destroys the significance of the Sabbath in the OT. God rested the 7th day or an indefinite period of time?

3. It is an argument from silence in the scriptures

4. It undermines the plain meaning of scripture

5. Its an argument to attempt to accomodate secularists and the Godless

 

[TCassidy]

1. It rejects the plain meaningnof scripture. Evening and morning clarify the amount of time considered as well as 1st, 2nd etc.

What does that have to do with the Gap Theory?

2. It destroys the significance of the Sabbath in the OT. God rested the 7th day or an indefinite period of time?

What does that have to do with the Gap Theory?

3. It is an argument from silence in the scriptures

Really? How so?

4. It undermines the plain meaning of scripture

How?

5. Its an argument to attempt to accomodate secularists and the Godless

Possibly, but not universally.

 

[Marooncat79]

The

What does that have to do with the Gap Theory?

What does that have to do with the Gap Theory?

Really? How so?

How?
Possibly, but not universally.

Gap


The Gap Theory undermines all of the perfections of God: His Holiness, Wisdom, Sovereignty including omniscience, omnipotence and Transcendence.

 

[TCassidy]

The

Gap


The Gap Theory undermines all of the perfections of God: His Holiness, Wisdom, Sovereignty including omniscience, omnipotence and Transcendence.

But most of what you posted has nothing to do with the Gap Theory. Gap Theorists believe the gap is between verses one and two, and that verses three and following is accomplished in 6 literal 24 hour days.

 

[Marooncat79]

But most of what you posted has nothing to do with the Gap Theory. Gap Theorists believe the gap is between verses one and two, and that verses three and following is accomplished in 6 literal 24 hour days.

Correct.

Why is there a need for the Gap Theory?

Did God mess up/error in v 1-2? If so, then He is not God and not worthy of worship which is heresy

Was there a "full creation" meaning humans ad well? Sin and death is not introduced until Genesis 3 and the fall with Adam and Eve.

Again, please explain to us why you believe that a Gap in these verses is necessary?

 

[Salty]

Correct.

Why is there a need for the Gap Theory?

Did God mess up/error in v 1-2? If so, then He is not God and not worthy of worship which is heresy

Why would you assume that God messed up?

I could say that God messed up - because it took him six days for creation.

 

[TCassidy]

Again, please explain to us why you believe that a Gap in these verses is necessary?

I don't.

 

[Calv1]

In another thread about Andrew Wommack the Young Earth subject came up.

Does the Bible scripturally allow for the possibility of the Gap theory - specifically between Gen 1:1 and 1:2

Hmmmm

No reason for a GAP theory my friend, all of the SCIENTIFIC evidence points to a young earth. GAP was invented because some couldn't answer the question of seeming billions of years, but it's impossible that we were here for very long, IE Magnetic field, go back just 20,000 years an we'd all be crushed, the moon, it moves away approximately 2' each year from the earth, go back and it would be ON the earth, there are about a million reasons to believe in a young earth.

Now understand I DON'T CARE, I truly don't think it's a big deal, but think of this, Moses is talking to the people of Israel, He says "7 days" Yom, yes it can mean period, "In the Yom of the Lord, there will be...." but it seems he would be misleading them, teaching them, as THEY UNDERSTOOD, 7 literal days, only for it to be massive periods.

If you have any questions shoot them my way, IE what about the distance, light from stars? That's no problem at all if you're a believer, for God said "Let there be LIGHTS IN THE SKY", so do you think El Shaddai had to wait millions of years for the light to appear, or made it appear immediately? Also Carbon 14, it's only good for a couple thousand years, doesn't take into account the FALL, Christians believe we had a FALL, a MASSIVE FALL, and in that fall not only man lost His glory, but glorious Gems became rusted out rocks, glorified trees became what we see today, remember the Garden of Eden was Paradise, or "The Kings Garden", that is GODS GARDEN, how much higher do you think that was then today? Scripture says "ALL CREATION WAS SUBJECT TO FUTILITY", but yeah if you have questions, I took about a decade, I drew with some atheists in debate and determined that would never happen again That is there is not a Atheist on the planet who can out debate me, I'm not being arrogant, I've just done it so many times, I make them look ridiculous, not ridicule them, just make them look ridiculous while proving the NECESSITY of a UNCREATED CREATOR

 

[AV]

Gaps in scripture are not unusual- (see below). That being said any Genesis gap would still have to be very short based on the genealogies. And day/age attempts if you remain strictly scriptural can only get you a thousand years (a day with the Lord...etc.)

1. Isa.61:1-2- Where it is quoted by Christ (Luke 4:17-20) the "day of vengeance" has not yet occurred 2000 years later. So a 2000 year gap.
2. Isa.9:6-7- We again see a 2000 year gap from the Mighty God being born as a child, and his reigning over the house of David which has yet to occur.
3. Isa.11:1-10 Christ the Branch shows up and brings judgment on the earth slaying the wicked. There is no indication of a gap and yet here it is.
4. Isa.42:1-4 The first part was applied to Christ's first coming (Matt.12:16-21), but the latter part will be fulfilled in Isa.2:2-4.
5. Matt.3:10-12 Christ came to baptize with the Holy Ghost and 2000 years later with fire in judgment.
6. Zech.9:9-10 Again beginning with a prophecy of his first coming in Matt.21:4-5, but Zech. 9:10-15 etc. is the 2nd coming of Christ.
7. Rev.12:5-6 Satan tried to devour Christ when he was born, but he ascended up to the throne of God. Now the dragon will persecute the woman Israel 3.5 years in the tribulation, yet to come (v13-17). Again a 2000 year gap.
8. Micah 5:2-7. The eternal God shall be born in Bethlehem, and then punish the Assyrian and be exalted in the earth (millenial reign).
9. Dan.9:26-7 Is very important in understanding last days events. But it is well known and taught by pre-trib scholars that the 69 weeks of years have already past with the Messiah being cut off. There remains 1 more week of years for Israel; again a 2000 year gap.
10. Psalm 2:7-12 Here we see Christ declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection (Rom.1:4, Ac.13:33) going directly into his millennial reign- again a 2000 year gap.
11. Dan.2:37-44 Where the Roman Empire represented by the legs transitioned into the 10 toes of the final kingdom destroyed by Christ in person.

conceal a thing

 

[TCassidy]

That being said any Genesis gap would still have to be very short based on the genealogies. And day/age attempts if you remain strictly scriptural can only get you a thousand years (a day with the Lord...etc.)

I can't help but think you do not know what the Gap Theory actually is. The genealogies (more properly ethnologies) have nothing to do with a "gap." The "gap" is said to occur before the creation of Mankind and thus before any of the "genealogies."

And the "day - age" theory (popularized by W. B. Riley) also has nothing at all to do with the "gap theory." The day = age theory occurs after the supposed gap.

The "gap" is said to occur after verse 1 and before verse 2.

 

[AV]

TCassidy,
Sorry for any confusion- I understand the various Gen.1:1-2 gap theories. My point of listing the genealogies was that if someone is reaching for a gap to account for millions of years you have a timeline leading back to Adam which lends itself to a young earth. And then if you reach for a day/age view to account for millions of years you have to hurdle a day as at the most a thousand years in scripture- not millions of years which would have to be read into the bible.

That being said what do you think of the 11 instances of a gap in scripture passages not obvious from the immediate context?

 

[TCassidy]

My point of listing the genealogies was that if someone is reaching for a gap to account for millions of years you have a timeline leading back to Adam which lends itself to a young earth.

But the gap theorists accept the geneologies as indicative of a short time since the creation (or recreation) of Genesis 1:2 and following. Their gap is prior to the events of verses 2 and following. Their point is that the time of the original creation is at an unknown period in the past, but that mankind, the Adamic race, was created only a short time ago. Some, but certainly not all, believe there was a pre-Adamic race who were destroyed prior to verse 2.

And then if you reach for a day/age view to account for millions of years you have to hurdle a day as at the most a thousand years in scripture- not millions of years which would have to be read into the bible.

And 2 Peter 3:8 has nothing to do with the day/age theory. The day/age theory postulates that the six days in Genesis are not ordinary 24-hour days, but represent much longer periods (from thousands to billions of years). It is this view which is held by many theistic evolutionists or progressive creationists.

 

[AV]

TCassidy,
Perhaps I was speaking to generally - the genealogies and day/age reference was to indicate that scripture lends itself to a young earth. My referencing 2 Pt.3:8 & Psa.90:4 was simply to point out that using scripture you have at least a reference to argue a 7 day= 7 thousand year week but no scriptural starting point to say a day is more than that (e.g. billions of years).

But my post was mainly to ask you to account for the gaps in the 11 places I referenced. What do you think about these gaps?

 

[AV]

TCassidy- What do you think about the gaps in the 11 places I referenced?

 

[TCassidy]

TCassidy- What do you think about the gaps in the 11 places I referenced?

They are irrelevant to the Gap Theory.

 

[AV]

But you acknowledge that they exist and are not obvious from reading the text in context?