In this lesson we’ll consider different ways of interpreting the days of Genesis 1.
How would you categorize the six days of creation?
While not everything fits neatly into the categories below, many scholars believe the six days can be divided into two main sections: forming and filling. (For further study see Blocher, pgs. 39-59.)
Forming | Filling |
Day 1 – Light | Day 4 – Sun, Moon, Stars |
Day 2 – Sky | Day 5 – Fish & Fowl |
Day 3 – Land and Seas & Vegetation | Day 6 – Animals & Human Beings |
By categorizing the six days in this way, day 1 corresponds with day 4, day 2 corresponds with day 5, and day 3 corresponds with day 6. In the first three days, God prepares the place and in the last three days, he fills it with occupants. In this way, God’s forming and filling solves the fundamental problem of the “formless and void” earth of verse 2.
Views on the “Days” of Genesis 1
1.) 24-hour days – the days were literal 24-hour days. The events of creation occurred in the order in which they are stated in Genesis 1.
Support: The Hebrew word for day (yom) usually means 24 hours and the references to “evening and morning” at the end of each day make it clear that the author is thinking of typical 24-hour days. In addition, the statements in Exodus 20:8-11 and 31:17 support this view. Two variations of this view include: 1.) The days are literal 24-hour days with huge amounts of time between each day – the “intermittent day” view. 2.) The days are 24 hours as we understand time today, but since time is relative, 24 hours today would mean billions of years at the start of creation.
Write out Exodus 20:11 and 31:17.
Problem: Many have been challenged by logical problems with the 24-hour-calendar day view. For example, how could there have been light on day 1 before the sun was made on day 4? Without the sun, how could there have been “evening and morning” on days 1-3? How could the plants (day 3) have survived without the sun (day 4)? Origen (182-254) and Augustine (354-430) asked these questions long ago. In his work, The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Augustine entertained the idea that, contrary to the way it sounds in Genesis 1, God actually created everything instantaneously.
Some solve this problem by suggesting that the light of day 1 was a non-solar, divine light. Others suggest that the sun was in existence prior to day 4, but its light finally penetrated Earth’s atmosphere on day 4.
The following views are alternatives to the 24-hour-day view.
2.) Age-Day – each of the six days were ages or long periods of time. Most who hold to this view affirm the sequence of events as stated in Genesis 1 (see reasons.org) but others don’t (see oldearth.org/progressive.htm).
Support: In the Bible, the Hebrew word for day is sometimes used for longer periods of time (cf. Gen 2:4, 17; Is 34:8). And echoing the words of Moses in Psalm 90, Peter says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Pet 3:8).
Write out Psalm 90:4.
3.) Analogical – the days of Genesis 1 are real days but they are not days as we understand them. They are God’s days used as an analogy with our days. As with all analogies there are similarities and differences between the two items being compared.
Support: On the one hand, the evening and morning that concludes each of the six days directly corresponds with what we think of as a normal day. On the other hand, days 1-3 could not have been normal 24-hour days without the sun, which wasn’t created until day 4. The point of the analogy is to encourage us to follow God’s example of work and rest.
4.) Literary Framework – the days of Genesis 1 did not actually occur; they are metaphorical. Specifically, the days are a creative literary device used to structure the account of creation.
Support: First, Genesis 1 is written symmetrically and includes rhyme, so we should interpret it as a creative piece of writing. Second, divine creation is mentioned in many other places in Scripture, but Genesis 1 is unique in using days to convey the account of creation. The point of the metaphor is to help us understand that God made everything and to encourage us to follow God’s example of work and rest.
Which view makes the most sense to you? Why?
Questions
- What is the significance of God declaring everything good?
This rules out dualism—a division between matter (bad) and spirit (good). Many religions and philosophies view the body as evil and the spirit as good. If that is true, salvation can only be attained by escaping matter. But Genesis affirms that God made all things, including matter, and declared everything good. Therefore, matter is not fundamentally evil, it is fundamentally good.
2. Why does it say “evening and morning” instead of “morning and evening” at the end of each day?
It seems like the entire account is structured around a typical ancient Israelite workweek. The workers would go out to work throughout the day then come home and rest in the evening until morning. (For support see Reading Genesis 1-2: An Evangelical Conversation, ch. 2.)
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For more self-study lessons on Genesis see the courses below.
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.