Cosmic Death In Romans 8: Affirming A Recent Creation -- By: Henry Boynton Smith

Journal: Bible and Spade (Second Run)
Volume: BSPADE 26:1 (Winter 2013)
Article: Cosmic Death In Romans 8: Affirming A Recent Creation
Author: Henry Boynton Smith


Cosmic Death In Romans 8:
Affirming A Recent Creation

Henry B. Smith Jr.

Introduction

As men and women made in the image of God, we are compelled to ask questions about the world in which we live. What sort of world did God originally create? How did it get to its present state of death, disorder and disease? What is the solution to the problem of corruption and death we presently see in the created order?

The inerrant revelation of the incorruptible God contains both the answers and the ultimate solution to such questions of eternal significance, providing both a theological and historical framework by which we can properly understand cosmic origins and the present condition of both mankind and the rest of creation. It is incumbent upon all Christians to conform their understanding of the world around them and its history to the truthful realities which are offered in God’s revelation. Critical to a coherent and internally consistent biblical worldview is a proper understanding of the doctrines of Creation and the Fall. These doctrines are historically and theologically rooted in the first three chapters of Genesis, but are also affirmed and augmented in many other places throughout the Bible.

Debates surrounding cosmic origins and the present condition of creation are well-known in Christian circles. The ministry of ABR, since its founding by Dr. David Livingston in 1969, has held the position that the early chapters of Genesis, along with a variety of other historical-theological passages found throughout the Old and New Testaments, affirm a recent origin for the cosmos and man. We affirm that the entire biblical and systematic framework of Scripture presents a six-day recent creation; the subsequent historical fall of the first man, Adam, which corrupted both mankind and the entirety of the created order; and a global flood in the days of Noah covering the whole planet, thousands of years ago. In our estimation, this general structure and interpretation of Scripture is the most theologically, exegetically, and historically sound understanding of the Bible’s presentation of cosmic history. Further, we affirm that this particular framework is the only one which faithfully represents an internally consistent, exegetically rigorous, and theologically viable Christian worldview.

Many other alternatives to ABR’s understanding of cosmic origins and relevant biblical texts have been presented within the professing Christian community. These alternatives include, but are not limited to: the day-age theory, the gap theory,1 the framework hypothesis,2 progressive creationism,You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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