Is It a Theory?
The Issue
Over the last couple of hundred years, the position that most Christian teachers and expositors have taken on Genesis 1:1-21In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1‑2) is that it refers to an original creation of God wherein, after some kind of judgment, the earth passed into a state of chaos and ruin. Then, in Genesis 1:3-313And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 26And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:3‑31), in six literal days, God engaged in a reconstruction of the earth, with the creation of animal life and mankind being added to the reconstruction (vss. 21, 27). Bible teachers have concluded, therefore, that there is a period of undisclosed time between the creation of the earth (vss. 1-2) and its reconstruction (vss. 3-31). They do not attempt to calculate how long this gap was because Scripture is silent about it, but simply to note that it is there. Some have speculated that the gap might have been millions of years, and this perhaps explains the presence of the fossils in the geologic layers of the earth’s crust, which were once creatures that were part of the earth's original creation.
This interpretation has been the belief of virtually every respected Bible scholar of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century—from J. N. Darby, G. V. Wigram, W. Kelly, C. H. Mackintosh, F. W. Grant, W. Scott, A. J. Pollock — to C. I. Scofield, R. A. Torrey, E. Schuyler English, A. C. Gaebelien, H. A. Ironside, M. F. Unger, etc. The headings in "The Scofield Reference Bible" on Genesis 1 reflect this interpretation. It says: Verse 1—"The Original Creation;" verse 2—"The Earth Made Waste and Empty by Judgment;" and verses 3-31—"A New Beginning—the First Day, etc."
In spite of this generally accepted interpretation, most evangelical Christians today believe that these scholars are mistaken in their view of Genesis 1—mostly because certain things have been discovered in science and geology in the last 50 or 60 years. "Young Earth Creationists" (as they are commonly so-called) are Christians who reject the idea that there was an original earth created by God prior to the reconstructed one on which we live today. In their way of interpreting Genesis 1, they see verses 1-2 as part of God's work in the six days in verses 3-31. (This is essentially a re-emergence of Reformation teaching on Genesis 1—i.e. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Matthew Henry, etc.) To Young Earth Creationists, Genesis 1 is all one continuous explanation of creation. They conclude, therefore, that the Genesis record indicates that the earth is relatively young—about 6000 years old—because (they say) the six days in Genesis 1 wherein time begins mark God's creative beginning. They have gone to great lengths to try to convince the Christian world of this—using science, the fossil records, and misinterpretations of Scripture. The question is, “Which of these two beliefs is correct?" And, "Is it important?”
Those who hold the view of there being a gap do not see this issue as being vital (for it does not touch upon the Person of Christ or the work of Christ in atonement), but Young Earth Creationists believe that it is very important. They strenuously insist that the earth is young, and the main reason for this is that it is a useful tool in debunking the erroneous theories of Evolution, which require long periods of time for things to slowly evolve. To hold that there is a gap in Genesis 1—which Young Earth Creationists call “the Gap Theory”—is, in their minds, a terrible compromise with the false notions of Evolution. These men believe that the idea of a gap accommodates Evolution, and thus, undermines the gospel message. They think that it is a serious error and counterproductive to the whole purpose for which Christians have been placed in this world, which is to spread the gospel.
On the other hand, “Gapists” or "Gapsters"—as Young Earth Creationists call those who hold that there is a gap—predominantly, if not exclusively, use the Word of God to support their beliefs on creation, and leave science out of the picture. They do not believe that holding what Scripture says on this subject (or on any other subject) could possibly weaken the gospel message to the world, because God does not teach things in His Word that tear down truth stated elsewhere in His Word. "Gapists" understand that the ultimate cause for a person’s belief in the gospel is a result of God’s quickening power in souls (Eph. 2:55Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5)), and that atheists will not be convinced that their beliefs on Evolution are wrong by clever arguments from science. “Gapists” see from Scripture that Christians have not been called to reason with infidels, and thus, they have no business trying to convince lost men of the existence of God and His creation. They are content to leave the results of the gospel to God who alone has the power to bring men to repentance and to belief on the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, "Gapists" see the premise of the Young Earth Creationist’s beliefs as being on a wrong footing—besides being unscriptural.
The Bible—the Ultimate Authority for the Answer
An authoritative answer to this difference of opinion will not be found by turning to science or to the fossil records, or to human reason, but by turning to the Word of God. It is our ultimate authority for what we believe. Our inquiry, therefore, must begin with, "What does God's Word say about this question?" An examination of Genesis 1 indicates that there was indeed an original creation of "the heavens and the earth," and that the earth passed into a chaotic state which was "without form [waste] and void [empty]," where "darkness" prevailed over the whole scene. How long it lay in that chaotic condition we are not told, but we are told that there came a point in which God acted and "made" (a work of reconstruction) a new earth and heavens (Ex. 20:11; 31:1711For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:11)
17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:17); Psa. 33:66By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. (Psalm 33:6)). This has led many sound and respected Bible teachers to conclude that there is a gap in the account between these two works of God. Young Earth Creationists accuse these Bible teachers of adding a gap to Scripture, when really, they are simply observing the fact that God has not disclosed to us when He began His creative work in the dateless past and how long it laid in a fallen state before He undertook His work of reconstruction. These respected teachers believe that it would be a mistake to say that Genesis 1:1-21In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1‑2) is the same work as Genesis 1:3-313And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 26And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:3‑31) in the light of the evidences from Scripture which we are about to consider.
Isaiah 43:77Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. (Isaiah 43:7) mentions all three terms in one verse. "Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." (See also Isaiah 45:1818For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18).) Thus, on the first four days of the reconstruction God was making only; on the fifth day He was making and creating; and on the sixth day He was making, creating, and forming; on the seventh day He did none of the above.
Those who advocate a young earth say that these terms are used interchangeably in Scripture and that they all refer to the same thing: However, a careful look at the account of creation will show that they are not used interchangeably. For example, Genesis 2:33And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:3) says, "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made." If created and made are identical terms, this would be a redundant and senseless statement. As a rule, God does not use terms interchangeably in His Word. If a different word appears in the text, it is because there is a different meaning or aspect in view in the subject in discussion. This is consistent throughout Scripture, and "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:3535If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; (John 10:35)).
Young Earth Creationists will point to Genesis 1:26-2726And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26‑27) to support their idea that God uses terms interchangeably. These verses say, "And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." However, these words are referring different parts of man’s tri-part being. Genesis 1:2626And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26) is emphasizing the natural and physical side of Man, which God made, and Genesis 1:2727So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27) refers to the spiritual side of man's being which God created when He made man (Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)).