The Assumptions of Harmony

There are three reasonable assumptions that we should make in order to find the harmony between Genesis 1 and modern science. They are the following.

  • Meaning of "Day" in Genesis 1

    The Hebrew word “yôm” is translated in English with the word “day” in Genesis 1. But in other passages, this Hebrew word has been translated in different ways that would suggest a valid translation would be a long period of time.

  • Point of View

    The point of view of how Genesis 1 is being told from a scientific standpoint is critical for understanding certain events. This is especially true for the events described during Day 1 and Day 4. This point of view can be derived from Genesis 1:2 - "And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

  • Use of Metaphor

    We assume that phrases like “evening” and “morning” can be used as metaphors for the ending and the beginning of a “yôm” or period of time.