Walton’s approach calls into question the presupposition that dominates the other views of Genesis which is that Genesis is primarily a presentation of material origin.

The Lost World of Genesis
Dr. John Walton
InterVarsity Press, 2009

Until recently, conservative Christians who wanted to understand the meaning of Genesis one and its  relationship to science had essentially three options, as reflected in the book, The Genesis Debate, ed. by David Hagopian.  However,  to the twenty-four hour view, the day-age view and the framework hypothesis, must now be added the temple inauguration view as put forth in John Walton’s fascinating new book, The Lost World of Genesis One. Walton’s book is composed of eighteen propositions, twelve of which present Walton’s understanding of Genesis one as function oriented rather than materially oriented, with the last six propositions exploring questions concerning evolution, intelligent design and  how origins should be taught in public schools.

Walton’s approach calls into question the presupposition that dominates the other views of Genesis which is that Genesis is primarily a presentation of material origin, of where matter came from, of where physical stuff originated.  Walton argues that throughout the ancient Near East and Genesis one the concern is not the origin of matter but rather how that matter is organized and the roles given to it.  Walton compares the cosmos to a company, arguing that Genesis one is interested in who the CEO is and what his job is and the sales force and what their jobs are, rather than the bricks and mortar that make up the physical buildings of the company.  It is Walton’s contention that the questions that dominate modern discussions about Genesis one were not the concerns of the original recipients of Genesis.  Walton correctly stresses that Genesis one must be read as the original readers would have read it and as Moses originally wrote it.

Walton tries to establish, though many examples, that cosmology in the ancient world was function oriented, not material oriented.  It was a given among the Hebrews that the physical matter of the universe was created by God.  Thus, Walton believes firmly in creation ex nihilo, but he believes that that is the presupposition of Genesis one, not what is taught there.

Walton goes through each day of Genesis one and shows that on days one through three, God establishes functions such as time and weather, while on days four through six, he establishes the functionaries that will govern or rule in these areas.  Walton also shows how ancient creation accounts always pointed toward the building of a temple for their particular deity.  Looking at Genesis one, Walton shows convincingly that the cosmos is viewed as God’s temple and the Sabbath is when God takes His rightful place as the one who sustains the earth from his temple.  The seven days of Genesis one correspond to the seven day pattern of temple inauguration found in other ancient creation texts.  Walton repeatedly states that he is not saying that Moses borrowed from these ancient accounts, just that this is the cultural milieu that the original author and readers lived in.  Much in the same way that Americans live in a consumer driven society, where democracy is practiced and valued, so the way that people thought in the ancient world involved questions of how order came from disorder and how the roles or functions of the things of their world originated.

The positive comments on the cover of Walton’s book come from noted conservative Old Testament scholars such as Bruce Waltke, Francis Collins, and Tremper Longman and include phrases such as “a landmark study”, “a profoundly important new analysis” and “a compelling and persuasive interpretation of Genesis”, “must reading for all who are interested in the origins debate.”  They are not overstating the case when they offer those comments.  Walton’s book is interestingly written, understandable by laypeople, and cogently argued.  If correct, Walton’s approach would call into
question the entire debate over Genesis one and modern science, since Walton believes that Genesis one does not speak to the physical origin of the universe at all.

Buy The Lost World of Genesis at Amazon.com.