The ESV Study Bible on creation — Introduction and Introduction to Genesis

The ESV Study Bible (ESV is the English Standard Version translation) is a masterpiece of conservative Evangelical scholarship. The scholars who put this volume together are highly-qualified Bible experts who have a high respect for the Bible as the Word of God. For those of you not familiar with the concept of a study Bible, …

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The Reason for God — interview excerpt

One of the best new books on apologetics (the defense of the Christian faith) is The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. I haven't read it yet, but it has received good reviews from theologically conservative reviewers. Here's an excerpt from an interview of Timothy Keller from First Things which touches on evolution and the …

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Death before the fall — an old-Earth Biblical perspective

The topic of death before Adam's fall into sin is a common area of debate between Christians who accept an old Earth and those who insist that the Bible requires a young Earth. Old-Earth creationists (whether or not they are theistic evolutionists) have to accept animal death before the fall. After all, the fossil record …

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Spurgeon distorted

Apparently, the young-Earth organization Answers in Genesis doesn't want its readers to know that 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon had no problem with an Earth that is millions of years old. AiG is posting Spurgeon sermons on its web site, but has edited at least one sermon to remove references to an old Earth. A …

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What is a day?

The blog Tough Questions Answered has a good five-part series addressing the question "What is the meaning of the word 'day' in Genesis?"  The posts take a look at reasons why the six days of Genesis 1 are not necessarily six literal consecutive 24-hours days. Young-Earth creationists have much of the Evangelical world convinced that …

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Augustine: The Literal Meaning of Genesis

I recently finished The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll, and will be sharing a few insights and quotes from this important book. The first quote is a long one from St. Augustine of Hippo, from his work The Literal Meaning of Genesis, written in about AD 415. Usually, even a non-Christian knows …

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Darwin’s birthday #2

What drives more scientists away from Christianity, evolution, or young-Earth creationism? I don't know the answer, but I suspect that both have significant roles. Some forms of evolutionary philosophy drive scientists (and others) away from Christianity. The New Atheists, such as Richard Dawkins, claim that evolution makes it intellectually feasible to be an atheist. To …

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Darwin’s Birthday

Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809; two hundred years ago today. Darwin's theory of evolution, obviously, has been an extremely divisive topic. Has Darwinism made the world safe for atheism, as the "New Atheists" would claim? Is Darwinian evolution really EVILution; a doctrine of the devil? Or are evolution and Christianity perfectly compatible? …

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Day-age time chart

One of the most prominent old-Earth creation organizations is Reasons to Believe, headed by astronomer Hugh Ross. Ross is an advocate of what is known as the day-age interpretation of Genesis 1-2. In the day-age theory, the days of Genesis 1 are not literal 24-hour days, but represent vastly longer periods of time. Ross advocates …

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Derek Kidner on Genesis

Derek Kidner, author of the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (IVP) on Genesis, Ezra, Nehemiah, Psalms, and Proverbs, died this week, at age 95 (HT: Be Bold, Be Gentle). Kidner had a love and respect for the Scriptures, a thorough knowledge of Old Testament language, history, and culture; and an ability to communicate clearly. He also …

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Francis Schaeffer on the age of the Earth

Francis Schaeffer on the age of the Earth: What does day mean in the days of creation? The answer must be held with some openness. In Genesis 5:2 we read: "Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." As it is clear …

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