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NASB | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. [Heb 11:3] |
Subject: Bible and evolution both? |
Bible Note: "Avoid spiritualizing or allegorizing the Bible. This is that which gives to the Bible some kind of mystical meaning. In other words, what is on the surface is not the meaning, but what is hidden becomes the meaning. This is very popular. Allegorizing means to say that the historical meaning is not the real meaning, and in fact may be nothing but a fabrication. The historical meaning is not the real meaning, the real meaning is the spiritual meaning hidden beneath the surface. "And once you say that something in the Bible is an allegory, that is, it is only a symbol of the reality, you have just made it impossible to know what that reality is because if that reality cannot be discerned through the normal understanding of language, how can it be discerned?" (from the radio message: "How to Study Your Bible: Interpretation" by John MacArthur on Grace to You broadcast) Steve: Thank you for your follow-up on my note. I respect you as a fellow believer. I welcome you to the forum. I have a few problems with your view -- not with you yourself, but with your view. You make the statement "But no one's salvation depends on whether or not they believe there is valid scientific information in Genesis 1-2." If you believe the above statement that you made, then I think that you did not properly understand the meaning of my previous note. "If Genesis chapter 1 and chapter 2 don't tell us the truth, then why should we believe anything else in the Bible?" And how can Genesis chapters 1 and 2 tell us the truth, if those passages are not valid scientific information? The Genesis account of creation is not a parable. And if Gen. 1 and 2 contradict true science, then those chapters are not true. And if those chapters are not true and accurate, then why should we believe anything else in the Bible? For example, if it says in the New Testament that the Creator is our Redeemer, and if God is not the Creator, then maybe He's not the Redeemer either. If the first two chapters of Genesis are not to be taken as literal, accurate and true, then maybe the scriptures that tell us of salvation in Christ are not literal, accurate and true either. Any further comments you have on this topic are welcome. However, please understand that I do not wish to enter into a debate on this or any other topic. Grace to you. |