Category Archives: Creation

GENESIS 2 EXPOSITION (2)

Creation March 29, 2024 Leave a comment

creation of evePMW 2024-025 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This article concludes the two-part survey of Genesis begun in the last article.

Gen. 2:16
God commanded the man
This crucial command is given directly to Adam. Eve has not yet been created (2:22). This implies man’s functional loving and protective headship (not his superiority or dominance) over his wife within the family..

Gen. 2:17
you will surely die
Adam was not created in a declining and dying condition. But he was created capable of dying — if he disobeyed God. The covenant of works has consequences; man has responsibility. Death has two components, spiritual (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13) and physical. On the day Adam sinned, he died spiritually, but his body would eventually return to the dust physically (Gen. 3:19b; cp. Psa. 90:3; 104:29; Eccl. 12:7). This is certain because the Hebrew phrase behind “surely die” is a pleonasm, which is a dramatic verbal form expressing certainty. It may be literally translated “to die you will die.”
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GENESIS 2 EXPOSITION (1)

Creation, Uncategorized March 26, 2024 Comments: 4

PMW 2024-024 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Creation of adamOnce again I will offer a running overview of an important passage of Scripture. This two part series will present the creation of Adam, the planting of Eden, and the marriage of man.

Gen. 2:7a
the LORD God formed
This shows the intensely personal creation of man. Animals were created en masse by a spoken word (1:20, 24); man was created as an individual by God’s carefully forming his body and in-breathing life into him (cp. 2:21–22). This is not a poetic, anthropomorphic image of a potter at work, for: (1) neither the word “potter” nor “hand” appear (as in Jer. 18:4, 6) and (2) potters do not work with “dust” but clay (Isa. 29:16; Jer. 18:4).

Gen. 2:7b
man
The Hebrew word for “man” is adam which is related to the word “ground” (adamah). As a land creature man is closely linked with the ground from the beginning (2:5, 9, 15–16; 3:16–19a; cp. 1:29). Under God’s curse for his rebellion, he will return to the ground (3:19b).

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ENORMOUS LIFE-SPANS IN GENESIS 5

Creation September 20, 2022 1 Comment

peacefulPMW 2022-071 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

The early generations of men following Adam live to enormous ages of centuries. According to the genealogy in Gen. 5 Adam lived to be 930; Seth 912; Enosh 905; Kenan 910; Mahalalel 895; Jered 962; Methusaleh 969; Lamech 777; Noah 950.

Then in the Gen. 11 genealogy after the Flood, longevity begins dropping: Shem lives to be 600; Arpachshad 438; Shelah 433; Eber 464; Peleg 239; Reu 239; Serug 230; Naho 148; Terah 205. Later Abraham lives to be 175 (Gen. 25:7) and Moses 120 (Deut. 34:7). Moses’ age was remarkable in its day (Deut. 34:7), and he even declared that a strong man might live to be 80 (Psa. 90:10). Continue reading →

CULTURAL MANDATE & GREAT COMMISSION (2)

Creation, Culture, Great Commission June 10, 2022 Leave a comment

PMW 2022-044 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is the second in a two-part series looking into the relationship between the Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate (Gen 1:26–28). Both mandates feed the postmillennial hope.

There are a few evangelicals who disassociate the Creation (or Cultural) Mandate from the Great Commission, which has also been called the New Creation (or Evangelistic) Mandate. This is an unfortunate mistake that detracts from the greatness of the Great Commission and a proper engagement of the Christian calling in the world. Nevertheless, the two mandates are intimately related. This may be seen from several considerations. Continue reading →

EDEN ANIMALS EATING

Creation December 24, 2021 Comments: 4

Lion lambPMW 2021-093 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In some passages the kingdom of God is pictured in terms of Eden renewed, entailing peaceable conditions. But in our fallen world the lion’s deadly and terrifying power serves as a proverbial image in the Old Testament (Num. 23:24; Psa. 7:2; 17:12; Prov. 19:12; 20:2; 28:15; Isa. 38:13). Yet gentle carnivores are images of the fullness of God’s kingdom. For instance, carnivores are seen living in harmony with herbivores, though herbivores are their natural prey in Moses’ and our post-fall world (Gen. 49:9, 27; Deut. 33:20; Psa. 104:21; Isa. 5:29; Nah. 2:12). Continue reading →

POSTMILLENNIAL EXPECTATIONS IN CREATION FOUNDATIONS

Creation, Culture, Optimism September 14, 2021 Leave a comment

sunrise-4PMW 2021-067 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Does the “Cultural Mandate” in Gen 1:26-28 help the postmillennial argument? Or is it “forced” evidence? One PMT reader expressed doubt that this has anything to do with the postmillennial hope. So I ask:

Does this passage speak to the postmillennial program? I believe it does. And powerfully so. Continue reading →

IN THE SPACE OF SIX PAGES (3)

Creation September 11, 2020 Comments: 5

god-and-creationPMW 2020-072 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In this article I am concluding a three-part study of a Reformed writer’s attempt to re-interpret the Westminster Confession of Faith’s statement on six day creation. The paper I am critiquing was written by Dr. Lee Irons.

Irons complains: “assuming that these men almost universally held to a young earth, logically we cannot conclude that the Confession itself affirms or requires the young earth position.” In response we should note:

(1) Irons’ choice of terms unfortunately tends to bias his readers against Hall’s work: once again he speaks of “assuming” something. Hall does not assume the young earth perspective of the divines: he provides what Irons himself calls “a catalogue of quotes”; that is, he documents their views. Continue reading →