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Seven days is what scripture says

Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2008 - 05:31:36 am MST

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To the Editor:

I thought I was through with these letters pro and con on creationism and evolution, but I have to respond to Lester Chapman’s letter (June 5) and his statement about the Hebrew word “Yom.”

Dr. James Barr, a Hebrew professor, though he doesn’t believe the Genesis account is even history, says the Hebrew in Genesis for days most certainly means 24 hours.

Dr. Plum of Wheaton College, who believed in theistic evolution and the millions of years in the geologic column, admits that the Hebrew means 24 hours, but insists it must be interpreted with a “scientific hermeneutic.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary from Dallas Theological Seminary says “that the term ‘Yom’ with an ordinal (first or second) adjective means 24 hours wherever this construction occurs in the Old Testament and the normal understanding of the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:11 (“For in six days the Lord made heaven and Earth.”) would suggest this interpretation. In addition, if the days of Genesis were ages or even millions of years, then the third commandment of the Sabbath must be the same.

So, Mr. Chapman, whether you accept the Genesis creation story or not, scripture teaches that God took six days for creation and rested on the seventh, and that’s what Bible-believing Christians believe.

The Rev. Bob Newman

Sierra Vista

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GT wrote on Jun 24, 2008 3:02 PM:

" St. Thomas Aquinas said that a '..person who believes that the world was created in a literal 7 days is childish"
This guy was born in 1277, and he knew it wasn't possible. He was educated and multi lingual, so he probably understand multiple contexts for one word. "

GT wrote on Jun 24, 2008 2:58 PM:

" Yom does mean day. It also means period or epoch or era. Anyone who speaks any other language is aware of words having multiple meanings. Yom has multiple meanings, but when the Bible was translated (It was written in English) Yom was translated as day, probably because it is the most common use of the word. Please, follow the spirit of the book and not the letter, unless you have copies in the original Old Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and are fluent in each. Trying to follow the letter makes you no different than the Pharisees "

Half Step wrote on Jun 24, 2008 7:30 AM:

" Passerby, you are genius. "

Witness to History wrote on Jun 21, 2008 2:22 AM:

" St Sierravistan - thanks, but I didn't put up nearly enough evidence to prove your point - even though I lean towards agreeing with it. But for the record, I also believe my GOD IS capable of creating the world in 7 modern days if that's his desire. And destroying it in 1. I simply refuse to put limits on HIM. "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:36 AM:

" thanks "Witness" you have now proven my point..it is NOT to be taken literaly! it is in sroty form and there for "7 says" could refer to ANY period of time. "

Dylan Fan wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:15 AM:

" Does this Dylan stanza help explain the metaphysics Passerby complains about?

There's kissing in the valley,
Thieving in the alley,
Fighting every inch of the way.
Trying to be tender
With somebody I remember
In a night that's always brighter'n the day. "

Passerby wrote on Jun 17, 2008 12:52 PM:

" If anyone has the time, this exchange between two zealots will teach you more about religion, its obtuseness, and its modern adherents than if you spent 4 years in a seminary. "

Witness to History wrote on Jun 17, 2008 10:29 AM:

" St Sieravistan.. wasn't really expecting that to get a lot of response.. but you did make my point for me. The Bible contains everything you NEED to know to get to heaven.. but it never claimed to contain everything there IS to know. Of course it's written for a simpler time and place.. then later it was considered too "holy?" for the common man, so only priests were allowed to read it. It still has lessons of value for today.. "Do unto others..." "The farmer and the field workers.." "

Mark C. wrote on Jun 17, 2008 10:14 AM:

" Christian theologians and scientists are looking at two separate sources to answer basic questions about how life began. It can be hard to resist interpreting each in such a way that they find themselves in agreement. The irony here is that the Bible actually contains two creation accounts... and they aren't in perfect agreement with each other. Rev. Newman, I recommend that you learn enough Hebrew to distinguish between the 3 different texts that comprise Genesis, perhaps then you'll lean more toward a non-literal interpretation. "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 17, 2008 7:53 AM:

" which is what, that the book was written for uneducated shepards? that is exactly what I said. and that they needed things in little story forms because they were not a sophisticated people..and just what did that have to do with you many many many years of education and why did you take offense? "

To st sierravistan wrote on Jun 16, 2008 1:57 PM:

" You make my point perfectly, thank you very much! "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:28 AM:

" Well, I guess if the shoe fits then wera it, however, if you would care to read the post as posted, you would realize I was talking about the early Jews, for whom the book was originally written...I really doubt that many of them were college educated, what do you think? can you name even one that went to any college? even one? then I rest my case...and next time, do not be so quick to be insulted where none is intended! and 11 years huh, and have you done anything with them? a professional student? "

To st sierravistan wrote on Jun 15, 2008 8:52 PM:

" "simple minded shepherds who needed things put into parables," "unsophisticated, and mostly uneducated," "not learning life's lessons" - is that how rural people look from inside Sierra Vista? Well, grease my galluses! My 11 years of college don't seem to make me any smarter than my neighbors out here in the boonies, but what can we know, we don't live in a big city. "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 15, 2008 12:50 PM:

" Witness to History...a need to know...?....the bible was written for simple minded shepards who needed things put into parables so they could understand the points being made..they were an unsophisticated, and mostly uneducated people, certainly not learning life's lessons on a "need-to-know basis. "

st sierravistan wrote on Jun 12, 2008 3:31 PM:

" and so..then, Adam lived to 930years old, Seth 912yrs, Enos was 815 etc etc, How about do you eat according to your beliefs? "these shall ye not eat of that chew the cud or them that divide the hoof" (cows, you abstain?) and of course, not pork! and doyou celebrate Passover as prescribed? and how about creating the "greater light and the lesser light, the moon, as we all know is not a light, but rather a reflection of light...andno divorce,no looking at other women, and cut off yourhand should it offend. so take literaly or not? "

Where wrote on Jun 11, 2008 8:39 PM:

" So God made the earth in one day, or one week. Where was he stationed when he, maybe she, maybe transgendered, when this happen? "

Mathematician wrote on Jun 11, 2008 7:13 PM:

" The Institute For Creation Research is made up of people who fake science. "

Witness to History wrote on Jun 11, 2008 6:08 PM:

" In arguments like these, sometimes the only rational thing to do is refer to I Corinthians 13:12 - For NOW we see through a glass darkly, but THEN face to face.

In a place like Fort Huachuca, with the Military Intelligence establishment a community fixture - is it so hard to understand that the Bible is a "Need to Know" document? Not every fact in the world is contained in the Bible. But every fact you NEED to know about navigating this life and attaining the NEXT life is. I find PEACE in that. "

Old Marine wrote on Jun 11, 2008 4:02 PM:

" Amen to what Rev Bob Newman posted. Go to www.icr.org for more information. It will advise you of THE YOUNG EARTH by John Morris. THE INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH is made up of scientists who truly know their science. "

Thumper wrote on Jun 11, 2008 9:42 AM:

" The history ending at Genesis 2:3 says six days, but Genesis 2:4 talks about "the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens." Genesis 2:4 was obviously written after Genesis 2:3, so the Bible's FINAL word is that God made the universe in ONE day. People who say six days are not Bible-believing Christians! "