It’s important to get the early chapters of Genesis correct.
On the topic of creation/Genesis 1, I especially recommend Jim Jordan’s Creation in Six Days and Doug Kelley’s Creation and Change. Both of these books are excellent defenses of young earth creationism – the view that God made the world in 6 days about 6000 years ago. This is the traditional way of reading Genesis 1, found in the majority of the church fathers, Luther, Calvin, and the Westminster divines. If you are interested in this question, Jordan’s work on biblical chronology and the chapter on Gnosticism in his creation book are indispensable.
What about the science which seems to tell us the universe is much older? I would argue the age of the earth is not, strictly speaking, a scientific question since it is not subject to observation or experimentation (cf. Job 38ff). It is crucial that we believe the creation account actually happened as Genesis describes; the NT rests several arguments on those historical facts (especially truths concerning the sexes). This is why I have said that the “culture wars” are really the “Genesis wars.” The most disruptive issues in our culture (sexuality and sexual ethics; environmentalism; work; etc.) are all addressed definitively in the early chapters of Genesis.
—
God made the world in 6 days about 6000 years ago 1/4
Genesis 1 is clear about the days of creation – but if there is any doubt, the wording of the 4th commandment in Exodus 20 should settle it 2/4
Genesis 5 and 11 give us chronologies for the express purpose of providing a timeline going back to Adam Biblical religion is historical religion and chronology is the backbone of history 3/4
The NT draws doctrinal and ethical implications out of the historicity of the creation account See Mark 10:6-9 1 Timothy 2:9-15 1 Cor 11:1-16 If the creation account is not taken as history, many other things taught by Scripture (especially sexual ethics) collapse 4/4
TPC Pastor's Page 