Days of Creation:  When was the earth created?  3 approaches to the Genesis “days”

Actual 24 hr day Theory

Gen 1:5 defines how “yom” is being used in Gen 1. 

Sabbath blessed Exod 20:11 basis of Sabbath observance = 24 hrs

Day + number = 24 hr days

Appearance of age:  Adam made adult; universe has appearance of age

Symbolic Day Theory

Gen 1 = logical order of creation not time

Revelational day

Pictorial days

Literary Framework

Functional approach not time

Day-Age Theory

Yom (day) has a wide variety of meanings 

Period of light as opposed to darkness (Ps 32:4; Judg 19:8)

An age -- the Day of the LORD (Joel 1:15... day with the Lord as 1000 years Ps. 90:4)

Time of person’s life (1 Sam 3:2)

Sun not made till day 4

Too much work on day 6

How old does the Bible say the universe is?

“When” not a test of orthodoxy;  there is NOT one clear verse where the Bible says how old

Be careful pushing today’s science into or out of the Bible (cf. Ps 140:3 poison of asps;  Isa 11:12 flat earth; Isa 40:22 circle of earth; Job 9:6 pillars of earth)

Major on majors; attitude check

Genealogy not = chronology

Just add times of genealogies of Gen 5 & 11 à 4004 BC

Gaps in genealogy:  Mt 1:8 cf. 1 Chr 3:11;  14=DVD

Leaves you with 4004 BC; no one holds this—Jericho = 8000 BC

Two patterns in Gen 1

Fiat - Fulfillment Pattern AFFET

                                Announcement:  And God said

Fiat (command):   Let there be

Fulfillment:   and there was

Evaluation:   and God saw it was good

Temporal framework:  day 1

Parallel Days Pattern: 

Forming:  Macrocosm                  Filling:  Microcosm

Day 1:     Light                                  Day 4:   Light bearers (sun, moon,…

Day 2: waters above/below        Day 5: Fish and birds

Day 3:  Dry Land                             Day 6: Inhabitants of Dry Land

What does it mean to be human? Are humans one or two parts?
                Are humans different than animals? How?
                How does that fit with cloning, cyborg’s and spiritual machines (AI Robots)?
                Is trimming deformed kids with problems for their organs like weeding a garden?

                In God’s Image Gen 1:26ff:  

Four Aspects of God’s image  SiR DR.

Spiritual/Moral Qualities

Relational

Dominion/rule

Replica

Spiritual/Moral Qualities  (Col 3:10/Eph 4:24)

Ability to make moral choices

Humans are capable of knowledge, righteousness and true holiness

Relational aspect of the image:   “Let US make man in OUR image”

Who is the “us” 

Trinity

Plural of majesty

Heavenly court (Isa 6:8 who will go for us?”) I Kgs 22:19ff; Job 1

Implications?

Dominion/Rule Image

“Let us make humans as our image”  to rule...

Kings would have representatives and they would rule in the king’s place over that region. 

Notice the emphasis in Gen 1:26f on ruling

What are the implications of this?  Purpose, meaning, destiny, vice-regent role of humans

Image as physical replica

Do we physically look like God? 

Selem [image] and demut [likeness] both very physical terms;  image = physical representation

1 Sam 6:5

Assyrian kings made “images” of themselves and set up in territories to show that they were rulers of that area

Physical image built on Christ?   

What are the implications of the Image in us?

Eschatologically:  1 Jn 3:2f  

Weight of Glory: dignity and respect to others--Maxine, Michael Card concert

Your most image violating/affirming moments