In propositions 2 through 6 of The Lost World of Genesis One author John Walton supports his view that Genesis 1 describes how function is bestowed on pre-existing matter. Obviously, the view he is opposing is the orthodox view that Creation is describing the creation of matter out of nothing or ex nihilo. LDS readers won't have a problem with this part of the argument, which tracks the LDS view of Creation quite comfortably.
Walton supports his views with close analysis of the text. In Chapter 3, for example, he gives a chart listing the grammatical objects for each of the 47 occurrences of the Hebrew verb bara, to create, to show that the idea that what is created is something material is not supported by the text. He also notes that the one material thing clearly identified as created in Genesis 1, the dome of the sky ("firmament" in KJV verses 6-8) which restrains the waters above, is, for obvious reasons, not accepted at face value by those who favor a materialist reading of Genesis 1. Following Walton's functional reading, that is just a description, in terms contemporary to the text, of weather and rainfall.
Next up: the Universe is a temple.
Like Latter-day Saints, early Christians also seemed to have believed that Creation did not take place ex nihilo. Justin Martyr said "we have been taught that He in the beginning did of His goodness, create all things out of unformed matter."
Posted by: larryco_ | Dec 02, 2011 at 12:54 AM