The Christian creation story is based on the Jewish Old Testament and several other bible verses. The New Testament adds several important details about the creation story, but most importantly it points to Jesus as being the author of creation rather than any changes to the sequence of events.
It's important to note that christians believe different interpretations of the creation story. While many Christians take the story as a literal seven days, there are others who believe the use of days is a narrative tool. In the below text we will look at the seven days of creation and what they mean.
The Christian Creation Story
The creation story in the bible starts with the popular narrative tool "In the beginning". There are debates about whether this refers to the earliest possible beginning, or a period of beginning. For example, we often say "at the start of the day" and we mean the first few hours of the day, not necessarily 00:00AM. The most important thing to note is not when it was created, but by who and why it was created:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 ESV
The 21st century view of this sentence would be a heaven full of clouds, large golden gate, and baby angels playing harps. But the word for heaven literally means sky. Likewise, our view of earth is a large blue and green planet flying around in space. However, the word for earth literally means the dirt. Therefore the theological point of Genesis is that one God created all that is above, and all that is below.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:2 ESV
There are several interesting points to address here:
Firstly, note that it is stated the earth was 'without form and void.' It is not Earth, as a planet, that is without form and void. The concept of astronomy is developed much later. Instead, Moses would have referred to the ground that was ‘without form and void’. Another interpretation for this phrase is that the earth was ’wild and wasteful’, which seems to better capture the imagery of a planet that lacked order.
Secondly, the earth already exists at this stage of the story. If we are to understand this passage correctly, in order for the ground to be wild and wasteful, it required that there be ground at all. Likewise, the Spirit could only hover the face of the waters if the waters already existed, and darkness could only cover the face of the deep if there was something for darkness to cover. So while Christians do not believe that the earth is eternal, this story is not about the creation of the Earth. It is a story about an already created planet given form and order.
Lastly, this passage offers us a starting point to interpret each day of creation. Here the Spirit hovers the water, and in day two God doesn’t create water but an expanse between it. In this passage the ground is wild and wasteful, and in day three God does not create the ground, but He calls the water away from it. For this reason among others, it is not necessary for Christians to believe that the Earth was created literally in seven calendar days.
The primary focus of Genesis 1 is who and why it was created, not how and when.
Day 1 - Day & Night
The next few verses introduce the structure of days into the Christian creation story. It's important to note that God exists before the first day is declared:
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Genesis 1:3-5 ESV
On the first day God calls forth the light but does not also call forth of darkness. Even though it is the same God that created darkness (Isaiah 45:7). We see in verse 2, darkness already existed and covered the face of the deep.
It’s also important to note that light and dark are created in a general sense on the first day. It is the fourth day that God gives stars and moons to produce and reflect light. Some Christians believe that God is referring to his own illuminating light on the first day, but that would mean God created himself, or, more likely an attribute of himself. Neither of which are compatible with his divine and unchanging nature.
However, more important than the order or manner they are created, is the purpose for their division. God separates the light from dark to form day and night. Following on from this phrase is the introduction of the seven day narrative tool that ‘there was evening and morning, the first day.’ There is significance that it is mentioned, but also the order they are mentioned.
Firstly, their very mention seems to highlight that this seven day structure is in reference to created days as opposed to eternal days. These can be literal or figurative, but they do not appear to be eternal.
Secondly, the evening preceded the morning in the story. This forms the basis for why Jewish days are from sunset to sunset. It’s also for this reason that darkness necessarily precedes light in the creation story. Had the creation of light cast darkness into the universe, then the first day would have been morning before evening on the first day.
The key takeaway is that God creates and holds mastery over day, night, light, dark, evening and morning. Unlike the polytheistic worship of the ancient world, this monotheistic God reigns over all.
Day 2 - Water & Skies
Once God had instituted a structure of time (evening, then morning), we see that the same God also created an expanse between the waters and the waters. This firmament is now known as the horizon:
And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
Genesis 1:6-8 ESV
On the second day, God creates an expanse between the waters, but these waters are not created on that day. God does not say "let there be water" and the water springs into existence. Neither does the Bible claim that water does not submit to God, in this verse he shows mastery over the waters on the earth and in the skies. Simply put, the second day only highlights that water was already created, but it was wild and wasteful. It did not yet fit the full purposes of God.
Therefore, it's important to note that the key takeaway here is also not how or when God separated these events, only that it was the same God. His purpose for doing so is yet to be revealed, but the author is portraying God's sovereignty.
Day 3 - Land & Seas
Once God separated the waters above and the water below, he proceeds to gather the water into one place. This suggests that water had previously been dispersed across all the land. The land is submerged beneath the water and out of it comes forth land:
And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
Genesis 1:9-13 ESV
On the third day, God does not create land from nothing. It's not the case that there was a planet made of water only and God says "let there be land." Similarly, the rock that forms our planet has not been created in either the first or second day of the story. It precedes this creation story and it was considered 'wild and wasteful'.
It then becomes clear that the reason God separates the water from the land is so that it would sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and trees bearing fruit. Yet, at this point there is nothing to consume the vegetation and nobody to work the land and tame it. What we've seen so far is a world without order is being made orderly and with purpose.
Similarly to all the days, the key takeaway is that it is the one and same God that created day and night, skies and water, that also creates land and sea, as well as vegetation. These are all pointing towards the monotheistic God that the Jews worshipped in contrast to a pantheon of gods.
Day 4 - Light & Darkness
On the first day, God said "let there be light" and there was light, but now God creates the sun and the moon to be greater and lesser lights. One to rule over the day and the other to rule over the night:
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
Genesis 1:14-19 ESV
On the fourth day God separates the day and night, even though he distinguished them on the first day. God sets the greater light to the rule the day (our sun) and the lesser night to rule the night (our moon) along with the stars. God set them in the heavens, which is clearly not referring to our sky alone, but all that is above.
Interestingly, at this point there are no living creature on the earth or the waters for which the day and night would be a sign. It points towards a plan and while the story has not yet revealed the fullness of God's plan, it clearly demonstrates that there is one in the making.
Once again the key takeaway is that it is one God that creates the seasons, and controls the sun, moon and stars. This belief contrasts with the polytheistic religions where a god reigns over one aspect of creation, but never all of them.
Day 5 - Birds & Fish
God adds living creatures to the Earth but only for the waters, which are the skies above and the seas beneath the heavens:
And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
Genesis 1:20-23 ESV
On the fifth day, the waters are to swarm with swarms of living creatures and birds are to fly above the ground. But while birds and fish are distinctly different, birds reside in the waters of the heavens and fish in the waters of the earth. These are both creatures form of water and not formed of land.
God saw that his handiwork was good, and blesses these creatures to be fruitful and multiply. So now there is the animal kingdom, but still none to reign over the ground. Again, the key takeaway is that it is one God that reigns above the fish and the birds and not multiple gods.
Day 6 - Mankind & Livestock
God adds to creation livestock and insects, all the beats of the Earth. Then, he creates mankind, but reserves for them a very special role:
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1:24-31 ESV
The creatures of the earth had previously been limited to the waters, even though vegetation has sprouted on the land. God then calls forth beasts and insects, but had not yet created mankind.
When it comes to creating mankind, God reserves both a special process and a special purpose. The other animals are called forth all of their own kind; God takes from the ground and they are good. But here God recreates his likeness in the flesh, he bestows upon humanity a rationale mind that no other animal is given.
Then he gives to mankind a special role that no other animal is given. Not to be the 'apex predator', but to rule and subdue the ground. They are given a job to nurture the planet and He gives them every plant and fruit for food.
When God saw not just humanity to rule the earth, but the day and the night, the water and the skies, the seas and the land, the sun and the moon, the four seasons, all of the living creatures and vegetation; he claims it is very good. There is often an emphasis that God claims only mankind were very good, but in fact he refers to 'everything that he had made' as being very good.
The key takeaway is that it is one and same God above all these things, that He was pleased with all these things. There was no conflict that created them all, there was no division within himself or preference; only that all things had their place and purpose in God's plan.
Day 7 - God's Sabbath Rest
On the seventh day, God rests from all that he had created:
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Genesis 2:1-3 ESV
It is important to note that God's rest is not from fatigue. It does not say that God had grown tired. It mentions three times that God rested because 'he saw that all his work had been done'. On the seventh day there is no necessity to work because God had seen everything he made and it was very good; it was pleasing to Him.
This verse also forms the basis for the Sabbath which is later introduced as part of the Mosaic covenant. Just as God worked for six days and rested on the seventh, he commanded Israel that they should work for six days and rest on the seventh day:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:8 ESV
Some take a lack of the repeated conclusion "there was evening and there was morning, the seventh day" to be demonstration of an eternal sabbath. However, that lacks credibility for two reasons:
Firstly, as we saw on the first day of creation; evening and morning are both references to created days following light that proceeded out of darkness. The story is not referencing a heavenly or lofty concept of time, but a measureable time.
Secondly, even if it was a measurement of heavenly days, it is still a measurement. God could be omni-temporal and operate in his own time, but it is a nonsensensical argument that the creation story is six measurable days and a seventh immeasurable day.
In all likelihood the use of days seems to be figurative. Either due to a human inability to comprehend the concepts of time, or because God planned to institute the sabbath day and so the story mirrors how he wanted Israel to live.
Even within the argument of inability to comprehend time there could be differentiation. On one hand side, it could be that Moses was unable to understand time, or it could be general inability to understand time. For example, it may that we now better grasp the how and when aspects of creation story through science, or that we could never grasp those concepts.
However, as highlighted throughout this story, the core concepts are who and why all things were created. The need to reconcile this story to a specific time frame is not necessary for understanding the Bible and in most cases a waste of literal time.
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