If creation is unceasing, how are we to understand Genesis 2:1-3?

[Bill_II]

@Mike_Gantt

Is it fair to say that you view Gen 1-11 as a succession of parables (i.e. fictions) and Gen 12-50 as a succession of historical accounts (i.e. facts)?

I wouldn’t call Gen 1-11 parables as a parable is totally made up. It contains truth that is based on events that did happen (God did actually create) but not at the time indicated (creation is more than 6,000 years ago). Remember I mentioned the difference between history and literal history.

@Mike_Gantt

It is correct to say that you take this view based on these three factors:

Yes with one more addition. It was a YEC preacher that pointed out that if you take the Bible as a record of history of the earth, half of that history is covered in Gen 1-11. It struck me that why would we have such a detailed history (99% of the Bible) for one half and almost nothing for the other half? That is when I decided that God wasn’t trying to give us history in those first 11 chapters.

@Mike_Gantt

If I was aware of them, I’ve lost the awareness.

@Bill_II

The Bible doesn’t tell you everything. The people who wrote it had no idea of the vast age of the earth and when they were being inspired by the Holy Spirit He had no way to convey that information to them. The only record we have of knowledge being directly transmitted from God to man is when God speaks to a prophet about a future event. I don’t think we have any cases of a prophetic past being given to man.

Also remember why we have the Scriptures. They are to “to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”, 2 Timothy 3:15. The age of the earth is not a salvation issue, unless you are Ken Ham, so I wouldn’t expect to find anything related to the age of the earth just as I wouldn’t expect to find anything on quantum mechanics.

And let me add I believe we can trust the truth contained in the oral histories that were recorded we just can’t trust the history, the when it happened part.

@Mike_Gantt

So, even though you see Gen 1-11 as figurative (i.e. parables, fiction, whatever), you believe there are embedded there facts - like this one - that can be safely extracted, while other aspects - such as the period of rest described in Genesis 2:1-3 - should not be regarded as factual. How do you go about deciding which is which?

Easy. You let Scripture interpret Scripture. We know that God doesn’t need rest in the human sense. We know the Sabbath (which is what this is picturing) was made for man. We know God’s creation is an ongoing process. So I do not take this as saying God’s creation was completed, finished, perfect, and never to be repeated again.

@Mike_Gantt

Of what “details” are you here speaking?

Where do I begin? Creation in 6 literal days 6,000 years ago. The order of creation. Woman being created from Adam’s rib. The two different versions of creation. A talking serpent. Magical trees. God walking in the garden and speaking in an audible voice to Adam.

@Mike_Gantt

You don’t think Jesus perceived His audience as understanding that He was referring to Adam and Eve?

The actual verse in Genesis couldn’t be referring to Adam and Eve. Gen 2:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” A&E did not have a father or mother.

@Mike_Gantt

If you think that Jesus held your view because He did not use the personal nouns “Adam” or “Eve,” do you think that Paul did not hold your view because he did?

Yes. Paul was working with what he knew.

Edit to add:

Do I trust Paul when he speaks of God, yes. He learned of God from the OT.
Do I trust Paul when he speaks of Jesus, yes. He learned of Jesus from Jesus.
Do I trust Paul when he speaks of Adam, not so much. He learned of Adam from the OT.
Do I trust Paul when he speaks of medicine, no, but I would trust Luke to the extent of his knowledge at that time.

@Mike_Gantt

Can you give me a sense of how many of the miracles (i.e. how much of the hard-to-believe stuff) this leaves as factual in Gen 12 through Mal 4 - 10%? 50%? 99%?

As I have said I have no problems with miracles. Some of them, such as the sun standing still, are only a problem because of the way people interpret what the Bible is saying. Off the top of my head I can’t think of any that I would say are simply false.

Wow this is a record for me but I hope it helps.