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What Does the Bible Definitively Reveal About Creation?

The Bible teaches first and foremost that creation is the work of the triune God (Gen 1:1-2; Jn 1:1-3,14).

Genesis describes a six-day creation period (Gen 1:3-31). However, Bible scholars are divided over the interpretation of the Hebrew word translated “day.” Some say that each “day” was a literal 24-hour period. Others note that the Hebrew word for “day” is sometimes used in Scripture to describe an indefinite period of time.

The Biblical account also teaches that human beings were the result of a divine creative act (Gen 1:27; 2:7). Some Christians view Adam as literally the first human being created by God. Others view Adam as a selected representative of humanity. Still others view the story of Adam and Eve as a symbol of the gradual development of humanity’s moral and spiritual status, including the sinful nature, over time. Romans 5:12-19 says that sin entered the world through one man and that Adam was a pattern of the one to come. Does this language require the existence of a literal Adam? Longstanding interpretation says yes, while some more recent interpretation says either no or maybe. Some say Romans 5 uses what appears to be a literal parallel between the first Adam and the second Adam (Christ) to explain not only the presence of sin in the human race (Adam) but also its remedy (Christ). Many people also think that in Romans 5 “Adam” stands for humanity’s condemnation; “Christ” stands for the believer’s justification.