Evolutionary Creation in Biblical and Theological Perspective

Description

This book undertakes a biblical and theological analysis of evolutionary creation and creation themes pertinent to origins science. A key premise is that a fundamental congruity exists between what the Lord has revealed in nature (i.e., the book of God’s work) and in Scripture (i.e., the book of God’s Word). A corollary supposition is that, based on an analysis of the fossil record, genome evidence, morphological data, and so on, biological evolution offers the best persuasive scientific explanation for the origin and actualization of carbon-based life on earth, including Homo sapiens (i.e., modern humans). Furthermore, considering evolutionary creation in an objective, balanced, and informed manner reveals that the view is wholly compatible with classical theological metaphysics, including Augustinian and Reformed confessional orthodoxy. Table of Contents Editor’s Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Chapter 1: Prologue 1 Chapter 2: An Evolutionary Creationist Process for the Origin of Humanity 9 The Interplay Between Science and Religion 11 The Biblical Account of Creation 13 The View of Materialistic Naturalism 23 The Origin of Human Life on Earth 25 The Reality of Physical Death Predating God’s Creation of Adam and Eve 34 Conclusion 37 Chapter 3: The Prescientific Cosmology Found in the Old and New Testaments 41 The Absolute, Creative Power of God 42 The Son as the Underlying Agent of Creation 50 The Three-Tiered Concept of Reality 59 Conclusion 83 Chapter 4: A Biblical and Theological Analysis of Life and Death in the Old Testament 85 Death’s Permanency for Humans Commencing in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:4U17; 3:1U24) 86 Death’s Subversion of the Human Drive for Life (Gen 5:1U29) 104 Death’s Stark Reality (Eccl 1:1U18) 106 Death’s Finality (Eccl 3:1U22) 114 Conclusion 122 Chapter 5: A Biblical and Theological Analysis of Life and Death in the New Testament 127 Death through Adam, Life through Christ (Rom 5:1U21) 128 Present Suffering and Future Glory (Rom 8:1U39) 142 Jesus’ Resurrection and the Nature of the Believer’s Resurrection Body (1 Cor 15:1U58) 152 Jesus and the Destiny of Believers (Heb 2:5U18) 168 Jesus as the Believers’ Compassionate High Priest (Heb 4:14U5:10; 7:1U28; 9:1U10:18) 174 Jesus’ Final Victory (Rev 20:1U22:21) 196 Conclusion 212 Chapter 6: Progressive Covenantalism as an Integrative Motif of Scripture 221 Theological Covenants 224 Biblical covenants 228 The Unity of the Covenant People of God throughout Salvation History 237 Conclusion 240 Chapter 7: Epilogue 243 Bibliography 249 Subject Index 291 References Index 295