GENESIS 1:1 – 2:4A: WORLD PICTURE AND WORLD VIEW

  • F E Deist University of South Africa (UNISA)
Keywords: Genesis 1, Biblical creation narrative, Creation of the world, World picture, World view

Abstract

The Biblical creation narrative (Gn 1) is often depicted as a scientific statement about the creation of the world, and as such held to be a divinely inspired alternative to theories of (natural) evolution. This article seeks to understand the creation narrative in its literary and cultural context, and to grasp its appeal to its readers. A distinction is made between the world picture and the world view reflected by the text, and it is argued that it is precisely the world view presented to us in the text that challenges modern mechanistic and naturalistic views of the world.

Author Biography

F E Deist, University of South Africa (UNISA)
Department Old Testament
Published
2020-10-03
Section
Articles