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{{Primarysources|date=July 2008}}
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{{Otheruses4|an interpretation of the biblical creation account|the shift from religion to science|God of the gaps}}
{{Otheruses4|an interpretation of the biblical creation account|the shift from religion to science|God of the gaps}}
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==History==
==History==
Gap creationism became increasingly attractive near the end of the eighteenth century and first half of the nineteenth century, due to the advent of the science of of [[geology]] making it increasingly obvious that Earth was far older than previous straightforward, literal interpretations of Genesis and the Bible-based [[Flood geology]] would allow. Its attraction was that it provided an alternative that allowed religious geologists (who comprised the majority of the geological community at the time) to simultaneously preserve their faith in the Bible and in the new authority of science (necessary as the doctrine of [[natural theology]] was in this period considered a second revelation, God's word in nature as well as in scripture, which could not contradict each other)<ref name=McIver>{{cite journal | last =McIver| first =Tom| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Formless and Void: Gap Theory Creationism| journal =Creation/Evolution| volume =8| issue =3| pages = pp1-24| publisher =| location =| date =Fall 1988| url =http://www.natcenscied.org/resources/articles/598_issue_24_volume_8_number_3__7_30_2003.asp#Formless%20and%20Void:%20Gap%20Theory%20Creationism| doi =| id =| accessdate = }}</ref>
Gap creationism became increasingly investigated in the first half of the [[19th century]], before [[Charles Darwin]] had published his seminal ''[[Origin of the Species]]'', as modern methods of [[natural philosophy]] gained acceptance, especially in the [[physical science]] of [[geology]]. "Pember [1876] cautions that God has not revealed to humans how to interpret geology; for this, we must rely upon geologists."<ref name=McIver/> Proponents believed that scientific study showed them the methods of God as a supplement to their beliefs about God. The doctrine of [[natural theology]] was in this period considered "a second revelation &mdash; God's word in nature as well as in scripture", the two of which could not contradict.<ref name=McIver>{{cite journal | last =McIver| first =Tom| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Formless and Void: Gap Theory Creationism| journal =Creation/Evolution| volume =8| issue =3| pages = pp1-24| publisher =| location =| date =Fall 1988| url =http://www.natcenscied.org/resources/articles/598_issue_24_volume_8_number_3__7_30_2003.asp#Formless%20and%20Void:%20Gap%20Theory%20Creationism| doi =| id =| accessdate = }}</ref>


Gap creationism was popularized by [[Thomas Chalmers]], a divinity professor at the University of Edinburgh, founder of the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], and author of one of the ''[[Bridgewater Treatises]]'', who attributed it to 17th century Dutch [[Arminianism|Arminian]] theologian [[Simon Episcopius]]<ref name=McIver/>. Other early proponents included [[Oxford University]] geology professor and fellow Bridgewater author [[William Buckland]], [[Sharon Turner]] and [[Edward Hitchcock]].<ref name=McIver/>
Gap creationism was popularized by [[Thomas Chalmers]], a divinity professor at the University of Edinburgh, founder of the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], and author of one of the ''[[Bridgewater Treatises]]'', who attributed it to 17th century Dutch [[Arminianism|Arminian]] theologian [[Simon Episcopius]]<ref name=McIver/>. Other early proponents included [[Oxford University]] geology professor and fellow Bridgewater author [[William Buckland]], [[Sharon Turner]] and [[Edward Hitchcock]].<ref name=McIver/>


It gained widespread attention when a "second creative act" was discussed prominently in the reference notes for Genesis in the influential [[1917]] [[Scofield Reference Bible]].<ref name=McIver/>
It gained widespread attention when a "second creative act" was discussed prominently in the reference notes for Genesis in the influential [[1917]] [[Scofield Reference Bible]].<ref name="SRNO">[http://www.studylight.org/com/srn/view.cgi?book=ge&chapter=001 Scofield References Notes online], verse by verse notes on Genesis 1.</ref><ref name=McIver/>


In 1954, a few years before the re-emergence of Young Earth [[Flood geology]] eclipsed Gap creationism, influential evangelical theologian [[Bernard Ramm]] wrote:<ref name=McIver/>
In 1954, a few years before the re-emergence of [[Young Earth creationism|Young Earth]] [[Flood geology]] eclipsed{{or}} Gap creationism, influential evangelical theologian [[Bernard Ramm]] wrote:<ref name=McIver/>
{{quotation|The gap theory has become the standard interpretation throughout hyper-orthodoxy, appearing in an endless stream of books, booklets, Bible studies, and periodical articles. In fact, it has become so sacrosanct with some that to question it is equivalent to tampering with Sacred Scripture or to manifest modernistic leanings.}}
{{quotation|The gap theory has become the standard interpretation throughout hyper-orthodoxy, appearing in an endless stream of books, booklets, Bible studies, and periodical articles. In fact, it has become so sacrosanct with some that to question it is equivalent to tampering with Sacred Scripture or to manifest modernistic leanings.}}


Its proponents have included [[Cyrus I. Scofield]], [[Harry Rimmer]], L. Allen Higley, [[Jimmy Swaggart]],<ref>Numbers(2006), p11</ref> [[G. H. Pember]], Arthur Custance, L. Allen Higley,<ref name=McIver/> [[Arthur Pink]]<ref>Pink (2007)</ref>,{{Syn|date=July 2008}} [[Lewis Sperry Chafer]]<ref name="Chafer">Chafer (1964), p15-27</ref>,{{Syn|date=July 2008}} [[Robert Thieme]]<ref name="Thieme">Thieme (1974)</ref>,{{Syn|date=July 2008}} and Clarence Larkin.<ref>Larkin (2005), pp21-30</ref>{{Syn|date=July 2008}}
Proponents of Gap creationism have included [[Cyrus I. Scofield]]<ref name=SRNO/>, [[Arthur Pink]]<ref>Gleanings (2007)</ref>, [[G. H. Pember]]<ref name=McIver/><ref>Earth's Earliest Ages (1987), pp34-62</ref>, [[Lewis Sperry Chafer]]<ref name="Chafer">Satan (1964), p15-27</ref>, [[Robert Thieme]]<ref name="Thieme">Creation (1974)</ref>, Clarence Larkin<ref>Dispensational Truth (2005), pp21-30</ref>, [[Harry Rimmer]]<ref>Numbers (2006)</ref>, Arthur Custance<ref name=McIver/><ref name="WFAV"/>, L. Allen Higley<ref name=McIver/> and [[Jimmy Swaggart]].<ref name=McIver/><ref>Numbers (2006), p11</ref>


Canadian physiologist Arthur Custance and Ole Madsen{{Verify credibility|date=July 2008}} have argued that the belief can be traced back to biblical times.<ref name="WFAV">[http://www.custance.org/Library/WFANDV/ ''Without Form and Void''], Arthur C. Custance.</ref><ref>[http://www.creationdays.dk/myown/1.php Who did believe?], pre-1800 sources including some textual citations, compiled by Ole Madsen.</ref>
Canadian physiologist Arthur Custance and Ole Madsen have argued that the belief can be traced back to biblical times.<ref name=McIver/><ref name="WFAV">[http://www.custance.org/Library/WFANDV/ ''Without Form and Void''], Arthur C. Custance.</ref><ref>[http://www.creationdays.dk/myown/1.php Who did believe?], Ole Madson. Pre-1800 sources.</ref>


==Interpretation of Genesis==
==Interpretation of Genesis==
{{see also|Creation according to Genesis}}
{{see also|Creation according to Genesis}}
Gap creationists believe that [[science]] has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the [[Earth]] is far older than can be accounted for by, for instance, adding up the ages of [[Bible|Biblical]] [[patriarch]]s and comparing it with secular historical data, as [[James Ussher]] famously [[Ussher chronology|attempted]] in the 17th century.{{Fact|date=July 2008}}
Gap creationists believe that [[science]] has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the [[Earth]] is far older than can be accounted for by, for instance, adding up the ages of [[Bible|Biblical]] [[patriarch]]s and comparing it with secular historical data, as [[James Ussher]] famously [[Ussher chronology|attempted]] in the 17th century. To read about this method of dating, see the [[James Ussher]] and [[Ussher chronology]] articles.


To maintain that the [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] creation account is inerrant in matters of scientific fact, Gap creationists suppose that certain facts about the past and the age of the Earth have been omitted from the Genesis account; specifically that there was a gap of time in the Biblical account that lasted an unknown number of years between a first creation in {{bibleverse||Genesis|1:1|}} and a second creation in {{bibleverse||Genesis|1:2-31|}}. By positing such an event, various observations in a wide range of fields, including [[Age of the Earth|the age of the Earth]], [[Age of the Universe|the age of the universe]], [[dinosaur]]s, [[fossils]], [[ice core]]s, [[ice age]]s, and [[geology|geological formations]] are allowed by adherents<ref name=Chafer/><ref name=Thieme/><ref name="KJVG">[http://www.kjvbible.org/ The Bible, Genesis, and Geology], Gaines Johnson, 1997.</ref> to have occurred as outlined by science without contradicting their [[Biblical literalism|literal belief in Genesis]].
To maintain that the [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] creation account is inerrant in matters of scientific fact, Gap creationists suppose that certain facts about the past and the age of the Earth have been omitted from the Genesis account; specifically that there was a gap of time in the Biblical account that lasted an unknown number of years between a first creation in {{bibleverse||Genesis|1:1|}} and a second creation in {{bibleverse||Genesis|1:2-31|}}. By positing such an event, various observations in a wide range of fields, including [[Age of the Earth|the age of the Earth]], [[Age of the Universe|the age of the universe]], [[dinosaur]]s, [[fossils]], [[ice core]]s, [[ice age]]s, and [[geology|geological formations]] are allowed by adherents<ref name=Chafer/><ref name=Thieme/><ref name="KJVG">[http://www.kjvbible.org/ The Bible, Genesis, and Geology], Gaines Johnson, 1997.</ref> to have occurred as outlined by science without contradicting their [[Biblical literalism|literal belief in Genesis]].

Revision as of 17:46, 27 July 2008

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This article is about an interpretation of the biblical creation account. For the shift from religion to science, see God of the gaps.

Gap creationism (also known as Ruin-Restoration creationism, Restoration creationism, or the "Gap Theory"), is a form of Old Earth creationism that posits that the six day creation, as described in the Book of Genesis, is historically accurate and involved literal 24-hour days, but that there was a gap of time between two distinct creations in the first and the second verses of Genesis, explaining many scientific observations, including the age of the Earth.[1][2][3] In this it differs from Day-Age creationism, which posits that the 'days' of creation were much longer periods (of thousands or millions of years), and from Young Earth creationism, which although it agrees concerning the six literal 24-hour days of creation, does not posit any gap of time.

History

Gap creationism became increasingly investigated in the first half of the 19th century, before Charles Darwin had published his seminal Origin of the Species, as modern methods of natural philosophy gained acceptance, especially in the physical science of geology. "Pember [1876] cautions that God has not revealed to humans how to interpret geology; for this, we must rely upon geologists."[4] Proponents believed that scientific study showed them the methods of God as a supplement to their beliefs about God. The doctrine of natural theology was in this period considered "a second revelation — God's word in nature as well as in scripture", the two of which could not contradict.[4]

Gap creationism was popularized by Thomas Chalmers, a divinity professor at the University of Edinburgh, founder of the Free Church of Scotland, and author of one of the Bridgewater Treatises, who attributed it to 17th century Dutch Arminian theologian Simon Episcopius[4]. Other early proponents included Oxford University geology professor and fellow Bridgewater author William Buckland, Sharon Turner and Edward Hitchcock.[4]

It gained widespread attention when a "second creative act" was discussed prominently in the reference notes for Genesis in the influential 1917 Scofield Reference Bible.[5][4]

In 1954, a few years before the re-emergence of Young Earth Flood geology eclipsed[original research?] Gap creationism, influential evangelical theologian Bernard Ramm wrote:[4]

The gap theory has become the standard interpretation throughout hyper-orthodoxy, appearing in an endless stream of books, booklets, Bible studies, and periodical articles. In fact, it has become so sacrosanct with some that to question it is equivalent to tampering with Sacred Scripture or to manifest modernistic leanings.

Proponents of Gap creationism have included Cyrus I. Scofield[5], Arthur Pink[6], G. H. Pember[4][7], Lewis Sperry Chafer[8], Robert Thieme[9], Clarence Larkin[10], Harry Rimmer[11], Arthur Custance[4][12], L. Allen Higley[4] and Jimmy Swaggart.[4][13]

Canadian physiologist Arthur Custance and Ole Madsen have argued that the belief can be traced back to biblical times.[4][12][14]

Interpretation of Genesis

See also: Creation according to Genesis

Gap creationists believe that science has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the Earth is far older than can be accounted for by, for instance, adding up the ages of Biblical patriarchs and comparing it with secular historical data, as James Ussher famously attempted in the 17th century. To read about this method of dating, see the James Ussher and Ussher chronology articles.

To maintain that the Genesis creation account is inerrant in matters of scientific fact, Gap creationists suppose that certain facts about the past and the age of the Earth have been omitted from the Genesis account; specifically that there was a gap of time in the Biblical account that lasted an unknown number of years between a first creation in Genesis 1:1 and a second creation in Genesis 1:2–31. By positing such an event, various observations in a wide range of fields, including the age of the Earth, the age of the universe, dinosaurs, fossils, ice cores, ice ages, and geological formations are allowed by adherents[8][9][15] to have occurred as outlined by science without contradicting their literal belief in Genesis.

Biblical support

Because there is no specific information given in Genesis concerning the proposed gap of time, other scriptures are used to support and explain what may have occurred during this period and to explain the specific linguistic reasoning behind this interpretation of the Hebrew text.[5][12][15][9][16][17][18][not specific enough to verify] A short list of examples is given below:

  • The word "was" in Genesis 1:2 is more accurately translated "became". Such a word choice makes the gap interpretation quite easier to see in modern English.[citation needed]
  • Angels already existed in a state of grace when God "laid the foundations of the Earth", so there had been at least one creative act of God before the six days of Genesis. Job 38:4–7[citation needed]
  • In addition, space, time, water, and the rock which constitutes the main body of the earth existed before the period of six days began in Genesis 1:3.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Evolution Vs. Creationism: An Introduction, Eugenie Scott, pp61-62
  2. ^ The Scientific Case Against Scientific Creationism, Jon P. Alston, p24
  3. ^ What is Creationism?, Mark Isaak, TalkOrigins Archive
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McIver, Tom (Fall 1988). "Formless and Void: Gap Theory Creationism". Creation/Evolution. 8 (3): pp1-24. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Scofield References Notes online, verse by verse notes on Genesis 1.
  6. ^ Gleanings (2007)
  7. ^ Earth's Earliest Ages (1987), pp34-62
  8. ^ a b Satan (1964), p15-27
  9. ^ a b c Creation (1974)
  10. ^ Dispensational Truth (2005), pp21-30
  11. ^ Numbers (2006)
  12. ^ a b c Without Form and Void, Arthur C. Custance.
  13. ^ Numbers (2006), p11
  14. ^ Who did believe?, Ole Madson. Pre-1800 sources.
  15. ^ a b The Bible, Genesis, and Geology, Gaines Johnson, 1997.
  16. ^ To Gap or Not To Gap?, Pastor David Reagan, 2003.
  17. ^ De Principiis, Book 4 (chapter 9) Origen, 3rd century.
  18. ^ Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Vol 1, p253, 1948.

References

  • Chafer, Lewis Sperry (1964 reprint). Satan: His Motive and Methods. Zondervan. pp. 144 pages. ISBN 031022361X. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Gaebelein, Arno (1991 reprint). The History of the Scofield Reference Bible. Living Words Foundation. pp. 71 pages. ISBN 0962816906. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Larkin, Clarence (2005 reprint). Dispensational Truth. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 268 pages. ISBN 0766184277. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Numbers, Ronald (November 30, 2006). The Creationists: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design, Expanded Edition. Harvard University Press. pp. 624 pages. ISBN 0674023390. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Pember, George (1987 reprint). Earth's Earliest Ages. Kregel Publications. pp. 464 pages. ISBN 0825435331. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Pink, Arthur (2007 reprint). Gleanings in Genesis. Filiquarian Publishing, LLC. pp. 408 pages. ISBN 1599867419. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Thieme, Robert (1974). Creation: Chaos and Restoration. Berachah Tapes and Publications. pp. 34 pages. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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