Genesis: History or Science?

Many people read the book of Genesis and assume because it explains creation that it is a book of science. The Bible is a human record of the acts of a divine God. It begins with God’s revelation to His people beginning with ancient Israel with its culmination in the New Testament with Jesus Christ. So how does a Christian interpret the Bible when questions of science arise?

Why Genesis Isn’t a Science Book

When reading any piece of literature, it’s always important to know a little about the context, time frame and the original audience. Genesis, chapters one and two, introduces two main subjects of the Bible—God the creator and humanity as His creation. Genesis’ main theme is not science but relationship. The story is of a relationship of God and his creation. It’s the opening of the Torah, the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible), which explain the beginnings of the Jewish people.

These books offer no scientific theories; rather they present the who of creation (God) more than the what (the actual process) of creation. I was once asked by a junior high student, why God had not just told us how he created the world. I explained that first of all, all the books in the world could not contain it and secondly who would be able to understand it beside God. The Bible is not scientific but relational and theological.

The first few chapters of Genesis answer the question, who the real God is, in comparison to the pagan gods that some of people of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the ancient Near East.

Genesis, chapter one, does away with many of the gods worshiped in Egypt and surrounding nations. Conrad Hyers explains, “On the first day the gods of light and darkness are dismissed. On the second day, the gods of sky and sea. On the third day, earth gods and gods of vegetation. On the fourth day, sun, moon, and star gods. The fifth and sixth days take away any associations with divinity from the animal kingdom,” With that as a background, how can we begin to understand Genesis, chapters one and two?

Author Paul Copan, in his book, That’s Just Your Interpretation, offers some interesting theories about interpreting the book of Genesis. He suggests our approach to these creation texts can either create barriers or open doors for a person on a spiritual journey.

We can be assured that Genesis is not a myth because it recounts history. Jesus affirms the historical existence of Adam and Eve in Mark 10:2-9. All through the New Testament, the book of Genesis is seen as a reference book for the writers of that literature. The Biblical writers used observational language. Observational language is used everyday such as the sun rises at 6:52 am or sets at 6:30 pm. We all know that the sun does not really set but is still used to explain a scientific happening.

Because Genesis recounts history, has a specific literary structure, and uses observational language, we cannot read it as a scientific textbook. Rather, we must read it as a historical account that can inform science.

Do you agree that one should read Genesis as poetic-historical literature rather than as a science textbook? Why or why not?

Read Mark 10: 1-10