Creation vs. Evolution - Gap Theory
- Nov 1, 2005 - 1
“The gap theory teaches that God created the world perhaps billions of years ago, and it was perfect and beautiful in every way. This is the creation described in Genesis 1:1. This creation was populated with plants and animals and perhaps even with a race of pre-Adamic men who had no souls. Then, as a result of Lucifer’s rebellion and fall (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28), the earth – Lucifer’s domain – became chaos. The picture of formlessness, emptiness, and darkness in Genesis 1:2 is allegedly a picture of divine judgment, for God could not have originally created the earth this way (see Isaiah 24:1; 45:18; Jeremiah 4:23-26). Darkness is often used as a symbol of judgment and sin in Scripture (John 3:19; Jude 13). The original creation in Genesis 1:1 was one of light, but after God judged the earth, it was characterized by darkness (verse 2). Millions of years – perhaps even billions of years – are said to have taken place between verses 1 and 2. Hence the ‘gap’ theory.
“Gap proponents typically translate Genesis 1:2 this way: ‘But the earth became without form and empty’ (italics added). Traditional translations render it, ‘But the earth was without form and empty’ (italics added). Gap proponents argue that the earth ‘became’ (Hebrew: hayetha) without form and empty when God judged the world as a result of Lucifer’s sin. The words ‘without form and void’ (Hebrew: tohu wa-bohu) appear elsewhere only in Isaiah 34:11 and Jeremiah 4:23, and in these verses ‘formless’ and ‘void’ speak of judgment and destruction. Therefore, the words must have the same meaning in Genesis 1.
“In this view, God’s judgment on the earth involved a devastating global flood followed by an Ice Age. All life on planet earth was apparently extinguished. The apparent old age of the earth and the extensive fossils showing development over long periods of time relate to this first creation. The six days of creation discussed throughout the rest of Genesis 1 (verse 2 and following) relate to God’s re-creation or restoration of the earth, not the original creation. This reconstruction probably took place around 4000 B.C.”
Ron Rhodes, The 10 Things You Should Know About the Creation Vs. Evolution Debate (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2004), 45-46.
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1 On Oct 17th, 2006, at 3:47pm, Jordan Bush wrote:
The gap theory contradict the character of a perfect and holy God. The account of creation according to the Bible states that death came into the world as a result of man’s sin. The gap theory states that there was a large period of time between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2. If there were large gaps of time between those verses, that means that there were long periods of death and decay BEFORE THE FALL OF MAN. Gap theorists basically accuse God of bringing sin into the world as opposed to man. If you put bringing sin into the world on God’s shoulders, the rest of the Bible, including the life and word of Jesus Christ might as well be thrown out the window. There is simply far too much evidence that points to a loving, caring, and perfect God for this so-called theory to be anything other than a weak attempt to appease both evolutionists and creationists. You can’t ride the fence folks: It’s all or nothing.