THE FIKST CHAPTER OF GENESIS 



151 



realised, as we can never hope to get final explanations, or ultimate 

 knowledge. 



Much of the Bible that is taken literally by the orthodox appears 

 to many of us to be meant figuratively, l)ut this story of the 

 Creation, which from the richness of the details clearly refers to the 

 manufacture of the Universe, including our World, and all therein 

 in six literal days, is taken figuratively. Geology, anthropology, 

 and astronomy have demonstrated that this literal account is quite 

 inconsistent with the established truths of evolution. It would be 

 a strange form of revelation that caused Christians for seventeen 

 centuries to accept this plain tale of Creation about 6,000 years ago, 

 and to resist the growth of natural knowledge which has ultimately 

 disproved it and established modern civilization. This new knowledge 

 is being spread broadcast, and our author, by linking these obsolete 

 traditions with the ethical inspiration of the Bible, is ensuring the 

 rejection of both, or, as the German proverb puts it, is "throwing 

 away the baby with the bath." 



The Rev. J. Iverach Munro, M.A. : The value of this paper, 

 showing as it does the impossibility of true Science coming into collision 

 with the religious aspect of the universe revealed in Genesis, chapter i, 

 is very great. The aspect pertaining to Physical Science must be 

 left to men of Science, but with regard to Biblical Science, and in 

 connection with the sublime reticence of the narrative, and the lofty 

 conception of God, as alone the Author of all, attention may be 

 drawn to a single point, viz., there is room in the narrative for the 

 creation and rebellion of angels prior to the creation of mankind, 

 and for their destructive influence. 



Contrary to the usual opinion, the Hebrew narrative actually 

 appears to go out of its way to make room for this doctrine, which, 

 developed in the Old Testament, culminates in the teaching of our 

 Lord and His Apostles in the New. 



In the second verse the usual Hebrew construction to express 

 continuous development would have been, as all Hebraists are 

 aware, the imperfect with vav conversive, i.e., r*.??'? ^^^l wat-Mii 

 hd-d-refs, which would be correctly translated "and the earth was," 

 etc. The fact, however, is that the narrative goes out of the usual 

 order to say nn^n r"iNni. iu^hd-d-reis hd-fthdh, the vav being 

 separated from its verb, the usual way in Hebrew of expressing the 

 pluperfect. The earth was not created a waste and a void, it had 



