Page 18 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook
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E. Origin of life
The question of how living systems could come into existence from nonliving chemicals has always and
will always be a mystery to materialistic philosophers, and modern evolutionary scientists. However, the
book of Genesis explains that all matter living and nonliving sprang into existence at the Word of the
eternally existing God of creation. The marvel of reproductive process, and the almost-infinite
complexity programmed into the genetic systems of plants and animals are inexplicably complex except
by special creation especially when the laws of thermodynamics and probability mean anything at all.
The account of creation in Genesis is the only rational explanation.
F. Origin of man
Man is the most highly developed and organized entity in the known universe. He is complex and
capable of very difficult and complex activities, thoughts, behaviors, and interrelations. To suggest that
man is nothing more than the random act of time and chance as organisms evolved through billions of
years of mutations and random occurrence is absurd.
Even more illusionary given the mathematics of probability. The true record of man’s creation is
recorded in Genesis.
G. Origin of marriage
When you think about it, the idea that marriage as it universally exists today (or until recently) evolved is
preposterous. Marriage finds its roots in Genesis as monogamous, patriarchal, social stabilizing, and
procreative. Only after the fall do polygamy, infanticide, matriarchy, homosexuality, and promiscuity.
H. Origin of evil
The concepts of goodness, truth, beauty, love, etc. find their origin not in society but ultimately in the
Creator Himself. They are characteristics fundamental to His very nature and He has expressed them in
His creation. The presence of physical and moral evil in the universe is explained in Genesis. However,
evil is explained as temporary and a deviation from the perfect, as an intruder into God’s design. It is the
absence of the nature and character of God. God explains in Genesis that evil will exist for a season but
will ultimately be crushed through our kinsman redeemer.
I. Origin of language
Not only does Genesis describe the variety of languages that we hear, but also explains the difference
between the chattering of animals and the symbols, and specificity of human language. To think that
language could have developed by random chance from the grunting of animals to modern language is
absurd and the only logical account of language development is recorded in Genesis.
J. Origin of government
The development of organized government is recorded in Genesis with man not only responsible for his
actions but also for the maintenance of orderly social structures through systems of laws and
punishments.
K. Origin of culture
The book of Genesis tells of the origins of the characteristics that we would think of as necessary for
modern cultures to arise. Skills such as metallurgy, music, agriculture, animal husbandry, writing,
education, navigation, textiles, and ceramics are described along with the development of urbanization.
L. Origin of nations
Today almost all scholars universally accept the concept of one race. However, conventional wisdom
told mankind for hundreds of years that there were many races and some were superior to others.
However, Genesis clearly teaches that we all descend from 2 common ancestors therefore we are all of
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