Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 86:1 (Spring 2024)
Article: A Further Defense Of The Initiation View Of Genesis 1:1: A Rejoinder To Dr. Bruce Waltke’s Revisit To Genesis 1
Author: Vern Sheridan Poythress

WTJ 86:1 (Spring 2024) p. 33

A Further Defense Of The Initiation View Of Genesis 1:1: A Rejoinder To Dr. Bruce Waltke’s Revisit To Genesis 1

Vern S. Poythress

Vern S. Poythress is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary.

In an article in this issue of WTJ, Dr. Bruce Waltke has revised his arguments for the summary view of Gen 1:1. He presents five points. The first claims that “the earth” in v. 1 is defined as the dry land in v. 10. This argument does not account for v. 2 and is inconsistent with merism. The second argues that it is inappropriate to consider God as the author of the situation described in v. 2, because it is negative. This argument fails because Waltke admits that God did bring about the situation. The third, based on Isa 45:18, is not convincing because 45:18 is building on the general principle of creation rather than giving precise information about the meaning of “create” in Gen 1:1. The fourth and fifth points, as Waltke admits, provide at best confirmation of conclusions that have to be based on other arguments.

Dr. Bruce K. Waltke has responded graciously in this issue of the Westminster Theological Journal1 to an article of mine (2017) on Gen 1:1.2 I appreciate his willingness to take up the topic. I now respond in turn. I focus on the main points rather than address every detail.

The discussion between us takes place within a larger context, which includes several stages.

Stage one took place as a number of scholars preceded Waltke in advocating the summary view of Gen 1:1, that is, the view that Gen 1:1 is a summary of 1:2–2:1.

Stage two took place when Waltke presented lectures on Gen 1:1–3 at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in 1974, and then published them in

WTJ 86:1 (Spring 2024) p. 34

1975 and 1976 as a series of five articles in Bibliotheca Sacra.3 Within this five-part series, “Part III” advocates the summ...