Framework interpretation (Genesis)
Encyclopedia
The framework interpretation (also known as the literary framework view, framework theory, or framework hypothesis) is an interpretation
of the first chapter of the Book of Genesis which holds that the seven-day creation account found therein is not a literal
or scientific
description of the origins of the universe
; rather, it is an ancient religious text which outlines a theology
of creation. The seven day "framework" is therefore not meant to be chronological but is a literary or symbol
ic structure designed to reinforce the purposefulness of God in creation and the Sabbath
commandment
.
While based primarily on exegetical
considerations, the framework interpretation also attempts to synthesize knowledge of historical and cultural conditions out of which the text arose, as well as a theology of general revelation
. It has been advanced in modern times by scholars such as Meredith G. Kline
and Henri Blocher
and has the support of commentators including Gordon Wenham
. It stands in contrast to more literalist
approaches to the Genesis text.
Framework theologians observe that the first and fourth day of creation appear to have many similarities which leads them to conclude that these are two descriptions of one single event: the creation of "light and darkness" and "day and night". A critical analysis of the passage reveals that on the first day God "separated the light from the darkness" and "called the light day, and the darkness He called night" , which is repeated again on the fourth day when God created the two great lights in order "to separate the light from the darkness" and "to separate the day from the night" .
Using the interpretation of the first and fourth days, framework advocates argue the similarities between the days indicates the days progress in topical rather than chronological order. It appears parallelism
is the method the author of the creation account used in order to describe God's work, not in a way that was intended to be read literally. In this sense, the creation account serves a greater role in purpose as revelation
rather than simply to give a historical account of the events of creation.
Differences exist on how to classify the two triads, but Meredith G. Kline
's analysis is suggestive: the first triad (days 1–3) narrate the establishment of the creation kingdoms, and the second triad (days 4–6), the production of the creature kings. Furthermore this structure is not without theological significance, for all the created realms and regents of the six days are subordinate vassals of God who takes His royal Sabbath rest as the Creator King on the seventh day. Thus the seventh day marks the climax of the creation week.
. Historians now know that this setting was characterized by a milieu of competing world-views, deities and theories about creation. Framework advocates argue that the author of Genesis constructed his creation account with the intention of combating these various animistic
, pantheistic
and polytheistic
ideas. For example, the sun and the moon are deliberately not mentioned by their names because, in Old Testament times, some people worshipped the sun and the moon as gods . The author thus portrays the one true Elohim
(the God of Israel) as supremely transcendent
and sovereign over creation. The details of the account serve this end, rather than to satisfy the scientific curiosity of the modern era. Accordingly, it is argued that literalists
who wish to derive scientific
data from Genesis are committing the hermeneutic error of interpreting the text outside of its original context.
which differs significantly from the later, straightforward narrative sections of Genesis. The text has been described as being "full of repetitive formulae and quasi-poetic language". Suggested designations for the genre include "mytho-historical", "proto-historical" and "theological history". The semi-poetic nature of the text is used as an argument against taking it literally and in favour of the framework view.
in reference to God, places the creation of man and woman on the sixth day, at the very end of creation. In contrast, the second ("Yahwist") account (which begins in chapter 2 verse 4) has plants, animals and birds created after the man.
ists and some progressive creationists
. While it had a precedent in the writings of the early church father St. Augustine
, it has gained acceptance in modern times through the work of such theologians and scholars as Meredith G. Kline
, Henri Blocher
, and Bruce Waltke
. Old Testament and Pentateuch scholar Gordon Wenham
supports a schematic interpretation of Genesis 1 in his two volume, scholarly commentary on Genesis.
The framework view has been successful in the modern era because it resolves the traditional conflict between the Genesis creation narrative and science. It presents a scholarly alternative to literalistic
interpretations of the Genesis narratives, which are advocated by some conservative Christians and Creationists at a popular level. Creationists
who take a literalist approach have laid the charge that Christians who interpret Genesis symbolically or allegorically are assigning science an authority over that of Scripture. Advocates of the framework view respond by noting that Scripture affirms God's general revelation
in nature , and therefore in our search for the truth about the origins of the universe we must be sensitive to both the "book of words" (Scripture) and the "book of works" (nature). Since God is the author of both "books", we should expect that they do not conflict with each other when properly interpreted.
Despite enjoying the support of many biblical scholars, the framework interpretation is rejected by several widely read systematic theologians
, including Wayne Grudem
and Millard Erickson
, who deem it an unsuitable reading of the Genesis text.
Biblical hermeneutics
Biblical hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation concerning the books of the Bible. It is part of the broader field of hermeneutics which involves the study of principles for the text and includes all forms of communication: verbal and nonverbal.While Jewish and Christian...
of the first chapter of the Book of Genesis which holds that the seven-day creation account found therein is not a literal
Biblical literalism
Biblical literalism is the interpretation or translation of the explicit and primary sense of words in the Bible. A literal Biblical interpretation is associated with the fundamentalist and evangelical hermeneutical approach to Scripture, and is used almost exclusively by conservative Christians...
or scientific
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
description of the origins of the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
; rather, it is an ancient religious text which outlines a theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
of creation. The seven day "framework" is therefore not meant to be chronological but is a literary or symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ic structure designed to reinforce the purposefulness of God in creation and the Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
commandment
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
.
While based primarily on exegetical
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
considerations, the framework interpretation also attempts to synthesize knowledge of historical and cultural conditions out of which the text arose, as well as a theology of general revelation
General revelation
General revelation is a term used by theologians which refers to a universal aspect of God, of God's knowledge and of spiritual matters, discovered through natural means, such as observation of nature , philosophy and reasoning, human conscience or providence or providential history...
. It has been advanced in modern times by scholars such as Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline was an American theologian and Old Testament scholar advance in Archeology, both Assyriology and Egyptology.-Academic career:...
and Henri Blocher
Henri Blocher
Henri A. G. Blocher, a French evangelical theologian, is Gunther Knoedler Professor of Systematic Theology at Wheaton College Graduate School and is Professor of Systematic Theology, Faculte Libre de Theologie Evangelique, Vaux-sur-Seine, France....
and has the support of commentators including Gordon Wenham
Gordon Wenham
Gordon Wenham is an Old Testament scholar and author of several books about the Bible. Tremper Longman has called him "one of the finest evangelical commentators today."...
. It stands in contrast to more literalist
Biblical literalism
Biblical literalism is the interpretation or translation of the explicit and primary sense of words in the Bible. A literal Biblical interpretation is associated with the fundamentalist and evangelical hermeneutical approach to Scripture, and is used almost exclusively by conservative Christians...
approaches to the Genesis text.
Two triads and three kingdoms
Genesis 1 divides its six days of Creation into two groups of three ("triads"). The introduction, Genesis 1:1-2, "In the beginning ... the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep...", describes the primal universe containing darkness, a watery "deep", and a formless earth, over which hovers the spirit of God. The following three days describe the first triad: the creation of light and its separation from the primal darkness (Gen.1:3-5); the creation of the "firmament" within the primal waters so that the heavens (space between the firmament and the surface of the seas) and the "waters under the firmament" can appear (Gen. 1:6-8); and the separation of the waters under the firmament into seas and dry land with its plants and trees. The second triad describes the peopling of the three elements of the first: sun, moon, and stars for the day and night (Gen. 1:14-19), fish and birds for the heavens and seas (Gen. 1:20-23), and finally animals and man for the vegetated land (24-31).| First triad | Second triad | ||
| Day 1 | Let there be light (1:3). | Let there be lights (1:14). | Day 4 |
| Day 2 | Let there be an expanse to separate water from water (1:6). | Let the water teem with creatures and let birds fly above the earth (1:20). | Day 5 |
| Day 3 | Let dry land appear (1:9). Let the land produce vegetation (1:11). |
Let the land produce living creatures (1:24). Let us make man (1:26). I give you every seed bearing plant...and every tree that has fruit with seed in it...for food (1:29). |
Day 6 |
Framework theologians observe that the first and fourth day of creation appear to have many similarities which leads them to conclude that these are two descriptions of one single event: the creation of "light and darkness" and "day and night". A critical analysis of the passage reveals that on the first day God "separated the light from the darkness" and "called the light day, and the darkness He called night" , which is repeated again on the fourth day when God created the two great lights in order "to separate the light from the darkness" and "to separate the day from the night" .
| CREATION KINGDOMS | CREATURE KINGS |
|---|---|
| Day 1: Light | Day 4: Luminaries |
| Day 2: Sky/Water | Day 5: Birds/Fish |
| Day 3: Land/Vegetation | Day 6: Land animals/Man |
| THE CREATOR KING | |
| Day 7: Sabbath | |
Using the interpretation of the first and fourth days, framework advocates argue the similarities between the days indicates the days progress in topical rather than chronological order. It appears parallelism
Parallelism (grammar)
In grammar, parallelism is a balance of two or more similar words, phrases, or clauses. The application of parallelism in sentence construction can sometimes improve writing style clearness and readability. Parallelism may also be known as parallel structure or parallel construction...
is the method the author of the creation account used in order to describe God's work, not in a way that was intended to be read literally. In this sense, the creation account serves a greater role in purpose as revelation
Revelation
In religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing, through active or passive communication with a supernatural or a divine entity...
rather than simply to give a historical account of the events of creation.
Differences exist on how to classify the two triads, but Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline was an American theologian and Old Testament scholar advance in Archeology, both Assyriology and Egyptology.-Academic career:...
's analysis is suggestive: the first triad (days 1–3) narrate the establishment of the creation kingdoms, and the second triad (days 4–6), the production of the creature kings. Furthermore this structure is not without theological significance, for all the created realms and regents of the six days are subordinate vassals of God who takes His royal Sabbath rest as the Creator King on the seventh day. Thus the seventh day marks the climax of the creation week.
Historical and cultural
The text of Genesis was written in the historical and cultural context of the Ancient Near EastAncient Near East
The ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia , ancient Egypt, ancient Iran The ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia...
. Historians now know that this setting was characterized by a milieu of competing world-views, deities and theories about creation. Framework advocates argue that the author of Genesis constructed his creation account with the intention of combating these various animistic
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
, pantheistic
Pantheism
Pantheism is the view that the Universe and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek meaning "all" and the Greek meaning "God". As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of...
and polytheistic
Polytheism
Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals....
ideas. For example, the sun and the moon are deliberately not mentioned by their names because, in Old Testament times, some people worshipped the sun and the moon as gods . The author thus portrays the one true Elohim
Elohim
Elohim is a grammatically singular or plural noun for "god" or "gods" in both modern and ancient Hebrew language. When used with singular verbs and adjectives elohim is usually singular, "god" or especially, the God. When used with plural verbs and adjectives elohim is usually plural, "gods" or...
(the God of Israel) as supremely transcendent
Transcendence (religion)
In religion transcendence refers to the aspect of God's nature which is wholly independent of the physical universe. This is contrasted with immanence where God is fully present in the physical world and thus accessible to creatures in various ways...
and sovereign over creation. The details of the account serve this end, rather than to satisfy the scientific curiosity of the modern era. Accordingly, it is argued that literalists
Biblical literalism
Biblical literalism is the interpretation or translation of the explicit and primary sense of words in the Bible. A literal Biblical interpretation is associated with the fundamentalist and evangelical hermeneutical approach to Scripture, and is used almost exclusively by conservative Christians...
who wish to derive scientific
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
data from Genesis are committing the hermeneutic error of interpreting the text outside of its original context.
Literary genre
Many theologians concur that Genesis 1 represents a unique literary genreGenre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
which differs significantly from the later, straightforward narrative sections of Genesis. The text has been described as being "full of repetitive formulae and quasi-poetic language". Suggested designations for the genre include "mytho-historical", "proto-historical" and "theological history". The semi-poetic nature of the text is used as an argument against taking it literally and in favour of the framework view.
Differences between Genesis 1 and 2
An exegesis of the first two chapters of Genesis reveals two distinct creation accounts with conflicting chronologies.The first account, which uses the Hebrew word ElohimElohim
Elohim is a grammatically singular or plural noun for "god" or "gods" in both modern and ancient Hebrew language. When used with singular verbs and adjectives elohim is usually singular, "god" or especially, the God. When used with plural verbs and adjectives elohim is usually plural, "gods" or...
in reference to God, places the creation of man and woman on the sixth day, at the very end of creation. In contrast, the second ("Yahwist") account (which begins in chapter 2 verse 4) has plants, animals and birds created after the man.
Supporters and critics
The framework interpretation is held by many theistic evolutionTheistic evolution
Theistic evolution or evolutionary creation is a concept that asserts that classical religious teachings about God are compatible with the modern scientific understanding about biological evolution...
ists and some progressive creationists
Progressive creationism
Progressive creationism is the religious belief that God created new forms of life gradually, over a period of hundreds of millions of years. As a form of Old Earth creationism, it accepts mainstream geological and cosmological estimates for the age of the Earth, but posits that the new "kinds" of...
. While it had a precedent in the writings of the early church father St. Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
, it has gained acceptance in modern times through the work of such theologians and scholars as Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline
Meredith G. Kline was an American theologian and Old Testament scholar advance in Archeology, both Assyriology and Egyptology.-Academic career:...
, Henri Blocher
Henri Blocher
Henri A. G. Blocher, a French evangelical theologian, is Gunther Knoedler Professor of Systematic Theology at Wheaton College Graduate School and is Professor of Systematic Theology, Faculte Libre de Theologie Evangelique, Vaux-sur-Seine, France....
, and Bruce Waltke
Bruce Waltke
Bruce K. Waltke is a Reformed evangelical professor of Old Testament and Hebrew. He has held professorships in the Old Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Reformed Theological...
. Old Testament and Pentateuch scholar Gordon Wenham
Gordon Wenham
Gordon Wenham is an Old Testament scholar and author of several books about the Bible. Tremper Longman has called him "one of the finest evangelical commentators today."...
supports a schematic interpretation of Genesis 1 in his two volume, scholarly commentary on Genesis.
The framework view has been successful in the modern era because it resolves the traditional conflict between the Genesis creation narrative and science. It presents a scholarly alternative to literalistic
Biblical literalism
Biblical literalism is the interpretation or translation of the explicit and primary sense of words in the Bible. A literal Biblical interpretation is associated with the fundamentalist and evangelical hermeneutical approach to Scripture, and is used almost exclusively by conservative Christians...
interpretations of the Genesis narratives, which are advocated by some conservative Christians and Creationists at a popular level. Creationists
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
who take a literalist approach have laid the charge that Christians who interpret Genesis symbolically or allegorically are assigning science an authority over that of Scripture. Advocates of the framework view respond by noting that Scripture affirms God's general revelation
General revelation
General revelation is a term used by theologians which refers to a universal aspect of God, of God's knowledge and of spiritual matters, discovered through natural means, such as observation of nature , philosophy and reasoning, human conscience or providence or providential history...
in nature , and therefore in our search for the truth about the origins of the universe we must be sensitive to both the "book of words" (Scripture) and the "book of works" (nature). Since God is the author of both "books", we should expect that they do not conflict with each other when properly interpreted.
Despite enjoying the support of many biblical scholars, the framework interpretation is rejected by several widely read systematic theologians
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
, including Wayne Grudem
Wayne Grudem
Wayne A. Grudem is a Protestant theologian and author. He was born in 1948 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and married Margaret White on June 6, 1969 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin...
and Millard Erickson
Millard Erickson
Millard J. Erickson is a Christian theologian, professor of theology, and author. He has written the widely acclaimed systematics work Christian Theology as well as over 20 other books....
, who deem it an unsuitable reading of the Genesis text.
See also
- Allegorical interpretations of GenesisAllegorical interpretations of GenesisAn allegorical interpretation of Genesis is a reading of the biblical Book of Genesis that treats elements of the narrative as symbols or types. For example, Genesis 3 introduces a talking serpent, which many Christians understand to be Satan in disguise. This symbolism is accepted even by...
- Theistic evolutionTheistic evolutionTheistic evolution or evolutionary creation is a concept that asserts that classical religious teachings about God are compatible with the modern scientific understanding about biological evolution...
- Creation-evolution controversyCreation-evolution controversyThe creation–evolution controversy is a recurring cultural, political, and theological dispute about the origins of the Earth, humanity, life, and the universe....
External links
- "The Logical Framework in Genesis 1" from the American Scientific Affiliation (advocating the framework view)
- "The Six Days of Creation" by Jimmy Akin (describing the framework view and its general agreement with CatholicCatholicismCatholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
teaching)