Creation in Old Testament Theolog y - The NTSLibrary

1 Creation in Old Testament theology Paul R. House Paul R. House is Professor of Old Introduction and Methodology suing Old Testament and Biblical Theol- Testament and Chair of the Dept. of Bible In recent times few passages in scripture ogy is outlined elsewhere,2 I will present and theology at Wheaton College. Pre- have generated as much heated discus- my procedure in skeletal form here. Sim- viously he taught at Trinity Episcopal sion as Genesis 1-2. Naturalistic evolu- ply stated, Old Testament theology as it School for Ministry, The Southern Bap- tionists have debated adherents of a is practiced in this article follows five tist Theological Seminary, and Taylor literal six-day Creation . Theistic evolution- basic principles. University. In addition to various books ists, framework theory proponents, and First, this article proceeds with a com- and scholarly articles, he is the author others have attempted to find mediating mitment to the Bible as God's written of Old Testament theology (IVP).

2 Ground in the disputes. Many people sim- word (see Ps 19:7-14 and 2 Tim 3:16-17).3. ply do not want to engage in the debate, Since the Bible is God's written word, it or do not possess the scientific or theologi- carries the authority and character of God. cal background to comment on the dis- What this means is that the faithfulness, cussions. Through the years much has kindness, severity, truthfulness, coher- been accomplished to clarify what the ence, accuracy, and authority connected Bible and what science teaches. Gains with God's person is likewise attached to have been made, though not without sig- the scriptures. It also means that the nificant struggle. Happily, many of the Bible's main (though not sole) concern is gains made have been in the area of the to reveal the character of the triune God.

3 theology of As the Bible unfolds, a distinct portrait of This article does not attempt to cover the Lord emerges. God remains greater the various areas involved in these than the portrait. One never learns all debates. Rather, it attempts to strengthen there is to know about God, but one does readers' theological understanding of cre- learn about ation by tracing the use of Creation theol- Second, since the Bible shares God's ogy in selected portions of the Old Testa- unified, coherent, and complete character, ment canon. It tries to broaden readers' this article attempts to interpret the Bible's appreciation for Creation theology by teachings on Creation as a This demonstrating some of the ways writers principle is thereby drawn from the of scripture used the truths found in Gen- nature of scripture, not from an external esis 1-2 to challenge or comfort their read- system imposed on the text.

4 As Carl ers. Perhaps this method will then help Henry writes, The very fact of disclosure teachers, students, and ministers to use by the one living God assures the com- these texts in their own context. prehensive unity of divine revelation. 6. Because of the current diversity of By this statement Henry means that the approaches to Old Testament theology in Bible's unified moral message and consis- academic and ecclesiastical circles, it is tent emphasis on redemption in history appropriate to explain the methodology is an outgrowth of God's inherently uni- that will be used to accomplish these fied nature. Henry adds, The revelation goals. Given the brevity of this article and of the living God is therefore one compre- the fact that my general method for pur- hensively unified revelation.

5 Its basic 4. unity derives from the purposive initia- Old Testament theology as it unfolds in tive of the self-revealing God, and not the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings, from a harmony imposed by philosophi- and Biblical theology as it continues cal manipulation or theological projec- through the Gospels and Acts, Pauline tion. The strands of that divine revelation Epistles, and General Epistles and Revela- imply no discontinuity or rupture in the tion. unity of divine disclosure. 7 Fourth, this article attempts to wed Third, this article interprets the Bible's exegesis and theology . Walter Kaiser was unified teaching on Creation in canonical correct a generation ago to stress exegeti- order. It does so because the Bible treats cal theology , and he remains correct itself as a connected, canonical, theologi- Old Testament theology ought to cal After all, in the Old Testament arise from a careful analysis of the text.

6 It the Former Prophets reflect on the Law ought to utilize the best results of histori- of Moses (see Josh 1:1-9; 1 Kings 2:1-10; cal criticism, though it must not become etc). The Latter Prophets note the impor- captive to reconstructed histories of how tance of Abraham, Samuel, and Moses (Jer theology emerged in Israel and the early 15:2), and they also cite one another (see church. History must support theology , Jeremiah 2-6; Zech 1:1-6; etc). The Psalm- not the other way around. Exegesis ists read the history of Israel as a great should keep scholars from imposing theo- unfolding act of the God who rules the logical systems on texts that cannot bear universe (see Psalms 78; 89; 104-106; etc), that particular weight. Of course, in an and mention the Law and the testimonies article of this length it is not possible to as part of God's written word (see Ps 19: offer all the elements of exegesis that went 7-14).

7 Daniel accepts Jeremiah as an into the theological comments. Still, I. accurate predictive prophet (Dan 9:1-19). hope that it will be apparent that exegeti- Ezra considers himself a priest commit- cal work has been done, even if readers ted to Moses' Law (Ezra 7:10). In the New disagree with the article's exegetical and Testament Jesus reads the Old Testament theological conclusions. as a connected whole stretching from the Fifth, this article offers summary state- Law, to the Prophets, to the Psalms (Luke ments on the themes that emerge from 24:44). In theological debate the apostle exegetical, unitary, canonical, and theo- Paul often argues from the Law and the logical analysis. Hopefully, these summa- Prophets to the Writings in other words ries will not obscure the diversity of the in canonical order (see Romans 4; Bible as they seek to stress the unity of Galatians 4; etc).

8 Peter mentions Paul's scripture. If used correctly, this method writings (2 Pet 3:14-18), and both apostles should enable readers to see the sweep- clearly knew at least some of the contents ing scope of the Bible's theological wit- of the Gospels. Hebrews, James, and Rev- ness without losing a keen sense of the elation demonstrate a vast and sustained many particular ways that God's word interest in the connection between the Old coheres. This unity within diversity is es- and New Testaments. They write care- pecially essential for grasping the many fully about how this connection affects facets of Creation , for this theme traverses salvation, holy living, and several related the whole of scripture. issues. Thus, it is appropriate to analyze 5. Creation and God's Person: Creation no less than the remaining con- Creation in the Law tent of Christian confession is an article Obviously, the Law begins the Bible's of faith that must be believed by those sustained interest in Creation and its who trust in God's revelation.

9 12 Both attendant theology . It is here that themes Henry and Barth conclude that Hebrews such as God's personal involvement with 11:3 summarizes the key connection human beings, God's sovereignty, God's between faith and Creation : By faith we power, God's giving of standards, and understand that the worlds were pre- God's willingness to forgive erring pared by the word of God, so that what human sinners have their origins. It is also is seen was not made out of things which here that the fact that God is the only cre- are visible. 13 Clearly, then, one's under- ator, indeed the only deity, begins its key standing of Creation is fundamental to role in Biblical theology . In some way all one's faith in God and to one's commit- subsequent doctrines flow from these ment to the Christian faith.

10 How one truths, all of which are founded on the responds in faith to this first biblical claim principle that the Lord is the creator. has ramifications for one's whole Biblical These truths must be received and pro- theology . cessed through human reason, but in Of course, Genesis 1-2 is the most the end they must be accepted as true crucial passage in the Law concerning by faith. Creation . This text does not include every- The church has long confessed Creation thing the Law, let alone the Bible, has to as a key article of faith. After all, based say about Creation , but it does provide the on Genesis 1-2, the Apostles Creed and framework for all that follows. Though the Nicene Creed indicate that at the head Genesis 1-2 offers important insights of all Biblical theology stands the prin- about the human race and the created ciple that the living God of the Bible is the order, its most significant instruction is maker of heaven and earth, of all things in the area of God's person.