Interplanner
Well-known member
If 'formless and void' has as much to do with a huge sinister creature as it does in other ancient near east cosmology, then there maybe a metaphor.
Rather than find a figure of speech in Genesis 1, I go with actual description for now because of Peter in 2 Peter 3's "through water and with water." V5 is saying things that I think are how we are supposed to read Genesis:
1, the heavens existed long ago (this time frame is distinct vocabulary chosen to be further back than when 'earth was formed.')
2, the earth was formed. Note the language that answers 'unformed' or 'formless.' This occurs later than the existence of the heavens. He uses distinct terms.
3, the forming was out of water and with water. Very interesting match to Gen 1:2.
4, the amount of time between 'forming' and the flood is relatively short. They are put together as 'the world of that time' whereas the existence of the heavens is much older. Biblical chronologists have a point about how short this is, but seemed to be in the dark about 'formless and void' and about Peter's word choice.
Once again, it is imperative that a person sort out 'formless and void' before saying how the Bible does cosmology. It is very strange that the YEC folks have almost nothing to say.
There is a rumor that 'formless and void' was discussed here at TOL. I can't find that and I have asked for a summary but no one has given that either.
Rather than find a figure of speech in Genesis 1, I go with actual description for now because of Peter in 2 Peter 3's "through water and with water." V5 is saying things that I think are how we are supposed to read Genesis:
1, the heavens existed long ago (this time frame is distinct vocabulary chosen to be further back than when 'earth was formed.')
2, the earth was formed. Note the language that answers 'unformed' or 'formless.' This occurs later than the existence of the heavens. He uses distinct terms.
3, the forming was out of water and with water. Very interesting match to Gen 1:2.
4, the amount of time between 'forming' and the flood is relatively short. They are put together as 'the world of that time' whereas the existence of the heavens is much older. Biblical chronologists have a point about how short this is, but seemed to be in the dark about 'formless and void' and about Peter's word choice.
Once again, it is imperative that a person sort out 'formless and void' before saying how the Bible does cosmology. It is very strange that the YEC folks have almost nothing to say.
There is a rumor that 'formless and void' was discussed here at TOL. I can't find that and I have asked for a summary but no one has given that either.