Evolution, Creation, and the Bible: Part 7
First, for Christians, the most fundamental and distinctive event of the religion is the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without Christ’s atoning sacrifice, Christianity would just be like any other religion – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and the like – in that it would be one that is based solely on teachings, and not primarily on the validation and effects of those teachings by the historicity of the events that are proclaimed. Because Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection are true historical events,[1] we can then trust what Jesus says. What, then, does Jesus say about Scripture, specifically, the Old Testament? In response to a question on marriage in the afterlife, Jesus chastises, saying, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29, emphasis added). This is extremely important. Jesus presents us with a syllogism. In Matthew 22:29, he essentially says, “You do not know truth because you do not know the Scriptures.” That is our syllogism. So, conversely, by modus tollens, we have, “If you know the Scriptures, then you know the truth.” It is evident, then, that Jesus believed that the Old Testament was true.
That Jesus believed the Old Testament was true also extends to the historicity of Genesis 1-11. Speaking on divorce, Jesus, quoting Genesis, said, “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh’” (Mark 10:6-8; para. Matthew 19:4-6). Contrasted with the evolutionary view, it is important that Jesus declares that “from the beginning of creation, God made them [humans] male and female.” Quite obviously, the creation of which Jesus speaks is that in Genesis 1 and 2. But according to evolution (even theistic evolution), human beings were not created in the beginning. Rather, evolutionists believe that from the beginning of life, random mutations made single-celled organisms that, if anything, were, due to inherent asexuality, female – not both male and female. This view is in complete disagreement with the Biblical narrative and does Jesus’ words complete injustice. Jesus’ words are blatant proof that He believed in the historicity of the creation account.
While Jesus clearly believed in the literal creation account of Genesis 1 and 2, many of the other New Testament writers voiced this same view much more clearly. This, of course, does not mean that Jesus believed in the literality of creation any less than did the New Testament writers. But the significance of the literal belief in Genesis 1 and 2 for the New Testament authors also had doctrinal significance, meaning that many of the doctrines that they propagated were actually based on the creation account and its order. The Apostle Paul, more than any other, bases his God-inspired doctrines on the creation account.
[1] For proof of the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, see Crouser, Wesley A. “The Validity of the Resurrection.” 27 Apr. 2006. http://www.xanga.com/wcrouser/511947403/the-validity-of-the-resurrection.html; Craig, William L., Gerd Lüdemann, Stephen T. Davis, Michael Goulder, Robert H. Gundry, and Roy Hoover. Jesus’ Resurrection: Fact or Figment. Ed. Paul Copan and Ronald K. Tacelli. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity P, 2000; Piper, John. “Eight Reasons Why I Believe That Jesus Rose From the Dead.” Desiring God. 28 Feb. 2007. Bethlehem Baptist Church. 26 Apr. 2007 <http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2007/2009_Eight_Reasons_ Why_I_Believe_That_Jesus_Rose_from_the_Dead/>.
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