Seven Days That Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science [Hardcover]

John C. Lennox (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 23, 2011

What did the writer of Genesis mean by 'the first day'? Is it a literal week or a series of time periods? If I believe that the earth is 4.5 billion years old, am I denying the authority of Scripture? In response to the continuing controversy over the interpretation of the creation narrative in Genesis, John Lennox proposes a succinct method of reading and interpreting the first chapters of Genesis without discounting either science or Scripture. With examples from history, a brief but thorough exploration of the major interpretations, and a look into the particular significance of the creation of human beings, Lennox suggests that Christians can heed modern scientific knowledge while staying faithful to the biblical narrative. He moves beyond a simple response to the controversy, insisting that Genesis teaches us far more about the God of Jesus Christ and about God's intention for creation than it does about the age of the earth. With this book, Lennox offers a careful yet accessible introduction to a scientifically-savvy, theologically-astute, and Scripturally faithful interpretation of Genesis.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John C. Lennox (PhD, DPhil, DSc) is Professor of Mathematics in the University of Oxford, Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science, and Pastoral Advisor at Green Templeton College, Oxford. He is author of God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? on the interface between science, philosophy, and theology. He lectures extensively in North America and in Eastern and Western Europe on mathematics, the philosophy of science, and the intellectual defense of Christianity, and he has publicly debated New Atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. John is married to Sally; they have three grown children and four grandchildren and live near Oxford.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (August 23, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310492173
• ISBN-13: 978-0310492177
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.8 x 7.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Science & Religion

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 100 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A biblical case for an old earth August 24, 2011

By Paul R. Bruggink

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book primarily makes a biblically based case for an old earth, or at least that the Bible does not preclude an old earth. The book begins with a well-developed analogy between the current young-earth/old earth debate and the 17th century fixed earth/moving earth debate. He concludes this portion of the book with a final lesson from the Galileo affair: "The Galileo incident teaches us that we should be humble enough to distinguish between what the Bible says and our interpretations of it. The biblical text might just be more sophisticated than we first imagined, and we might therefore be in danger of using it to support ideas that it never intended to teach. The Bible could be understood to teach that the earth was fixed. But it does not have to be understood that way. At least, Galileo thought so in his day, and history has subsequently proved him right." (p. 35)

Lennox continues the analogy with the fixed-earth controversy: "There we saw that, although Scripture could be understood as teaching that the earth did not move, that was not the only logically possible interpretation. Here we see that, although Scripture could be understood as teaching that the earth is young, it does not have to be interpreted in this way." (p. 53) Along the way, he makes a number of points, including "it is Scripture that is inspired and not my particular understanding of it" and the importance of distinguishing between the facts and how to interpret them.

Lennox has a nice, brief summary of the three main interpretations of the days of Genesis 1: the 24-hour view, the day-age view, and the framework view. He then presents his case for the fiat days view, a variation of the day-age view in which "the six creation days themselves could well have been days of normal length ...... in which God acted to create something new, ... spaced out at intervals over the entire period of time that God took to complete his work." He also has a brief discussion of the four different meanings of the Hebrew word yom (day) in Genesis 1 & 2, and the obligatory discussion of death before Adam's sin.

The book has five appendices which cover (1) the relationship of the Genesis account of creation with other Ancient Near East accounts, (2) John Walton's functional interpretation of Genesis (in which he disagrees with Walton's insistence that Genesis 1 has nothing to do with the material origin of the universe), (3) the beginning according to Genesis and science (the Big Bang), (4) the two accounts of creation (Genesis 1 & 2), and (5)a 28-page discussion of his views on theistic evolution. In this discussion, Lennox comments on the versions of theistic evolution described by Francis Collins, Michael Behe, Simon Conway Morris, and Denis Alexander. While he accepts biological evolution, he makes a case for the special creation of Adam and Eve as another intervention (singularity) in history, along with the Big Bang, life from nonlife, the Incarnation and the Resurrection. He winds up by suggesting that, just as science and the Bible have converged on the beginning of the universe, science and the Bible may also converge on the origin of life.

All in all, this is a very worthwhile book, both for non-Christians who has been put off by the young earth creationism of some Christians and for Christians "who are disturbed not only by the controversy but also by the fact that even those who take the Bible seriously do not agree on the interpretation of the creation account." Read more ›

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lennox on Genesis One October 1, 2011

By Mike Robinson

Format:Hardcover

John C. Lennox (PhD, Professor of Mathematics Oxford, Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science) in "Seven Days that Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science" aims to offer an interpretation of the Book of Genesis that demonstrates that a conflict between science and Christianity doesn't really exist. Lennox provides answers that are easy to understand without the naiveté of simple answers to difficult and complex issues. He delivers what he views as a scripture-grounded case for the old earth interpretation of Genesis (and science).

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

In "Seven Days" Dr. Lennox:

* Employs the lessons learned during the Galileo situation
* Holds to the notion that the infallibility of scripture should not be confused with one's interpretation of scripture
* Offers a succinct survey of the chief interpretations of Genesis One
* Analyses the Hebrew word for "Day" (Yom)
* Evaluates the work of Collins, Behe, Walton, and others
* Provides his view of humanity's special creation
* Analysis of the "Cosmic Temple View"

The good doctor holds various views that many readers may reject, including a sort of theistic evolution. This is a small hardback book that gives the reader many concepts to ponder, but it is too short to offer any exhaustive or conclusive contentions. Additionally he holds to a form of the framework theory while encouraging the reader to appreciate the many parallelisms in Genesis.

"Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.... For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:19-20).

The author affirms a robust view of the enormous amount of scientific and philosophical evidence for a Creator; many of these arguments Lennox has used with great success in debating atheists. Since he affirms a unique creation of life by God, he is not a strict Darwinist, but holds to a form of macro-evolution; he supplies some fine critiques of Dawkins and a godless creation.

Endorsed by:

* C. John Collis
* Paul Copan
* Ravi Zacharias
* Doug Groothius
* Alvin Plantinga

"Seven Days" is written in non-technical language and is an admirable volume as it can serve as an introductory study of Genesis One. This is the rare apologetic book that leaves one wanting to read further. The reader can turn to videos on the internet to see more of Lennox. He clearly puts forth his version of a scriptural picture of integrating all of Genesis in an apologetic for a Creation by God. This subject often divides Christians and one should do the proper due diligence in faithfully forming one's Biblical view of Genesis and Creation. I prefer a much more conservative view, yet I received a lot of notions to contemplate.

Mike Robinson Author of:
"Truth, Knowledge and the Reason for God: The Defense of the Rational Assurance of Christianity" Read more ›

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars brings new thoughts to the issue October 5, 2011

By Joan N.

Format:Hardcover

Lennox has written this book for people who have put off considering Christianity because of the questions surrounding creation, perhaps thinking Christianity is unscientific. He has also written for those who take the Bible seriously but are unsure about the creation account.
To understand the nature of the creation controversy Lennox goes back to Copernicus. The Bible seemed to teach the earth was fixed and the sun moved but the church eventually accepted the heliocentric model of the universe. Why did Christians change their interpretation of Scripture?
Lennox suggests that when looking at Scripture we need to ask several questions such as the author's intent, use of metaphors, etc. He reviews early church fathers on Genesis.
Lennox explores the Hebrew words used in Genesis 1. He concludes that day 1 starts at verse 3. "The initial creation took place before day 1, but Genesis does not tell us how long before. This means that the question of the age of the earth (and of the universe) is a separate question from the interpretation of the days..." 53 The text allows one to believe in an ancient universe and twenty-four hour days of Genesis.
Genesis tells us God specially created humans. That is supported by the New Testament. He notes that from the genealogical records in the Bible, "the dating of the age of humanity is indeterminate." 75)
That human life is younger than animal life brings up the issue of the existence of death before the entrance of sin into the world. Lennox suggests Paul asserts that death passed to human beings as a result of Adam's sin. He notes that animals eat other animals and must have done so before the Fall. He also notes the presence of the serpent in the Garden, a being clearly opposed to God.... He makes the point, "evil in the universe appears to antedate the sin of Adam and Eve." 84)
The best way forward, he says, is to consider: the current scientific evidence for an ancient earth and that Scripture does not require a young earth, and, we do not know everything.
He reminds us that we should not miss the important points of Genesis 1: God exists, God created, God is personal, God has a goal in creating, etc.

This is a slim but powerful book. As a Christian with a degree in science (physics), I have read scores of books on the Genesis creation/science controversy. In this one, Lennox has added insights I have never considered before. I highly recommend this book for those interested in the subject. Read more ›