Introduction:
Our Earth is neither billions nor millions but a
few thousand years old.
Many Christian educators and pastors would try to
convince believers there is an enormous amount of time between Genesis 1:1-2 (i.e., C. I. Scofield). The Gap Theory is where evolution and
the millions of years in the past needed where the great dinosaurs lived and died.
It was between Genesis 1:1-2 that Satan fell to Earth and destroyed it.
At this supposed point, God recreated the Earth Genesis 1:2, making God a liar for when He looked at ALL His creative work and
stated in Genesis 1:31, pronounced it “very good,” it could not have been this way if the
world fell into chaos.
Genesis 1:31 says,
God saw all He had
made; behold, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning,
the sixth day.
Some claim a Gap between verses one and two; if valid,
God would not have said His creation was ‘very good.’
Some removed the ‘AND’ between Verses 1 and 2
The chapter and verse divide in Scripture is a human
invention from the 16th century for ease of memorization. Robert Estienne, known
as Robertus Stephanus in Latin and called Robert Stephens by 18th and 19th-century
English writers, was a 16th-century printer and classical scholar in Paris who number
these separations. They completed the New Testament in 1551 and 1571 for the Hebrew
Bible. The Holy Scriptures for 1500 years had no chapter and verse setting, as in
the Bible we have today. (Wikipedia)
There are many English translations from Greek and
Hebrew, and they are outstanding to read. However, many translations abandon this
simple word, ‘and,’ substituting the word ‘the’ instead.
The Hebrew word וְ (the conjunction, ‘and’) starts
the second verse. However, many translators removed (the conjunction ‘and’) from
many English translations for the sake of the English language flow. The Hebrew
word וְ (the conjunction, ‘and’), left off, has opened the door to many interpretations
of these two verses. This little word וְ, the meaning “then, and, together with,
that is,” shows a connection to the previous statement, not a whole new thought.
Verse two starts with ‘the’ it, which could lead the reader down the wrong road
as it has with many if they do not have even a basic knowledge of the original
language.
Pastors and teachers should use Greek or Hebrew
to prepare for the Sunday service or Sunday school. Doing this will give deeper
meaning to the words used in Scripture. However, many Sunday School Teachers
will just read from the little book provided to them instead of studying.
The Test of Man
Many individuals of the scholarly persuasion believe
that Satan fell between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2, and it was he, Satan, that caused the “darkness and void.”
When God placed Adam in the garden after his creation,
God said everything was his to eat, except the tree of the “knowledge of good
and evil.” However, even this tree had a pronouncement of ‘very good’ after God
created everything. God only restricted the eating of its fruit.
Genesis 2:16-18 says,
The Lord God commanded
the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that
you eat from it, you will die. Then the Lord God said, It is not good for the
man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.
Adam passed his knowledge of the ‘good and evil
tree’ to Eve because of the Scripture statement as she conversed with the
serpent.
Genesis 3:3 says,
But from the fruit
of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat from
it or touch it, or you will die. (Eve made this
statement)
The actual statement is as follows.
Genesis 2:16-17 says,
The Lord God commanded
the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that
you eat from it, you will die.
Eve knew not to eat, yet her pride and lust for knowledge became strong desires. Where did she get to touch the forbidden tree,
which meant death? One may see the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil” as a
test of loyalty to God. Adam and Eve failed this loyalty test of obedience God gave
them.
The Test of the Angelic Beings
The obedience and loyalty of people and Angelic hosts
experience testing to determine their loyalty and obedience to God.
Satan did not fall between Genesis 1:1-2 and the Earth, resulting in destruction. The author contends
that Satan fell after Genesis 1:31 because God said everything He created was “very good.”
Adam and Eve had a test of loyalty with the tree
of the “knowledge of good and evil.” Thus, would it be ridiculous to assume that
Satan would also have a test to determine his loyalty to God, the creator, and knowing
God took special care to create man?
The author believes that Satan’s test was Adam and
Eve and his reaction to God’s creative act, and he failed and wanted to drag humanity
down with him.
Conclusion
Interpreting Scripture based on these breaks can be misleading. The dropping of this small but mighty word “and” can and often causes much trouble.
One cannot stress this too much to study God’s word
using the Greek and Hebrew language, even if one has only superficial knowledge.
Ezra 7:10 says,
For Ezra had set his
heart on studying the law of the LORD, practicing it, and teaching His statutes and ordinances
in Israel.
2 Timothy 2:15 says,
Be careful in
presenting yourself approved to God as a worker who needs not be ashamed and accurately handles the word of truth.
To compromise Scripture for a smooth flow of language is to damage its actual meaning. One must study the original language
to explain the word of God without error.
James 3:1 says,
Let few of you become
teachers, my brethren, knowing we will incur a stricter judgment.
Sola Scriptura–By Scripture Alone
Sola Fide–By Faith Alone
Sola Gratia–By Grace Alone
Solus Christus–By Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria–Glory to God Alone
Copyright George L
Gallant, ©2021
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The
Lockman Foundation, 1995)
