Final reflections

Just a few thoughts on Walton's The Lost World of Genesis One.

I like his presupposition that the Genesis creation account is functional, not material. But, I don't think he adequately defends it. I am told that the forthcoming book from us at Eisenbrauns will remedy this. But, until I read that, I must say that he leaves too many hanging arguments. I am attracted to it, but not thoroughly convinced.

I am convinced that his argument that we have pushed God to the margins by making him a “god of the gaps” is very true. He is not the only person arguing this, but he does a good job of highlighting why and how it happened.

I also think that his reservations about concordist readings of the Bible are correct. You can't take an ancient text—any ancient text—and read it on modern terms. You have to read it as an ancient text, knowing that you will have to stretch to get into the mind of the author, knowing that his/her world view is significantly different than your worldview.

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Of course, for that matter, communication between people here and now is subject to the same caveat! We all come to every situation with presuppositions and emotional baggage that make clear communication difficult. Communication is work! Or at least clear communication is—all the result of the fall. Genesis 3 is behind everything if you look.
</idle musing>