Quibbling or Learning from the Creation narrative?

[Van]

Would it "invalidate" the Bible to allow that the six days of creation were periods of time, not necessarily 24 hour days? Some of them occurred before the solar system was created which governs our 24 hour day durations. In Genesis 2:4, scripture uses "day" to refer to a period of time. I believe the six "day-age" divisions in the sequential description of creation are for the purpose of culminating in the Lord's Day of Rest.

Note that eight creative events (two on day 3 and two on day 6) each beginning with "... the Lord said," suggest that the sequence of creation was fitted into a "week of creation" for the end purpose of establishing a set apart period for the blessing of mankind and the glory of God.

I believe God did not intend to tell us precisely how He created the Universe, or in what time-frame. This view is supported by Job 38:4-7. On the other hand, I believe God's purpose in the Creation narrative is to demonstrate God's sovereignty, over not only what is, but what we might obtain, the Lord's Rest.

The first thing to note, Genesis 2:3, is God set apart His day of rest, for our benefit. See Exodus 23:12. If we do not engage in or enter His Rest, the result might be immediate death, or the certainty of the Second Death. See Exodus 31:15 or Hebrews 3:18.

When and if we believe into Him, we enter His Rest, fulfilling in our minor way, God's purpose of giving us His Creation narrative.

 

[Ben1445]

Would it "invalidate" the Bible to allow that the six days of creation were periods of time, not necessarily 24 hour days? Some of them occurred before the solar system was created which governs our 24 hour day durations.

They give men a concept of time. God passed three days without any watchmakers or planets. God had days before He made what we associate with the marking and making of time. They were periods of time. Precise measurements of 24 hours. Ordered and planned as one can understand readily from reading Genesis 1.
What portion of the nondescript day would you call the evening? If we are going to turn it into an allegory, why does the end of the period of time come before the beginning?

In Genesis 2:4, scripture uses "day" to refer to a period of time. I believe the six "day-age" divisions in the sequential description of creation are for the purpose of culminating in the Lord's Day of Rest.

How long did God rest after making man?
Did Adam allow God to take an equal amount of time to rest before sinning?

Just talking it out shows they are not periods of eons, years, or anything else but 24 hour days.
God would have to break pattern and have a shorter period of rest because Adam was there for day seven and would measure it by the sun.
Remember, God doesn’t need time. Man does.

Note that eight creative events (two on day 3 and two on day 6) each beginning with "... the Lord said," suggest that the sequence of creation was fitted into a "week of creation" for the end purpose of establishing a set apart period for the blessing of mankind and the glory of God.

Would you suppose that God didn’t “say” anything about either birds or fish because they are not listed?
I could split up day four into two or three also.
You could take out day two because nothing was created, things were only separated.
This is a bit of a ridiculous way to create a theory, especially when God divided creation by days and not by “saids.”

I believe God did not intend to tell us precisely how He created the Universe, or in what time-frame.

Why?

This view is supported by Job 38:4-7.

So He was kidding about Genesis 1?

On the other hand, I believe God's purpose in the Creation narrative is to demonstrate God's sovereignty, over not only what is, but what we might obtain, the Lord's Rest.

Which is inevitably shorter.
I really don’t think it was more complicated than exactly what God said He did.
You want to use evolution? Evolution is not Jesus Christ the Word. It is random process devoid of intelligence.
Without Him, you don’t exist. John stated it very clearly, nothing that is was made without Christ. It is Intelligent Design or evolution. I believe that I was made the way the Creator stated.

The first thing to note, Genesis 2:3, is God set apart His day of rest, for our benefit. See Exodus 23:12. If we do not engage in or enter His Rest, the result might be immediate death, or the certainty of the Second Death. See Exodus 31:15 or Hebrews 3:18.

I think it especially important that an equal amount of time be allotted to the seventh day of rest to show the permanence of it. It certainly should not be less. So then Adam lived for at least millions of years on the seventh day before the 24 hour day took effect.
Not a reasonable theory.

When and if we believe into Him, we enter His Rest, fulfilling in our minor way, God's purpose of giving us His Creation narrative.