Evolutionary Creation in Biblical and Theological Perspective

✍ Scribed by Dan Lioy

• Publisher: Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 338
• Series: Studies in Biblical Literature
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

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

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