Welcome to Defenders, the teaching class of Dr. William Lane Craig.

Today, excurses on creation of life and biological diversity.

Part 2.

For more information and resources from Dr. Craig, go to reasonable faith.org.

Last time we began our excurses on the doctrine of creation and the origin of life and biological

diversity. And we are looking at Genesis chapter 1 with a view toward understanding the various

interpretations of Genesis 1 that have been offered.

The first interpretation that we want to consider is the most straightforward interpretation

of Genesis 1, what we could call the literal interpretation, sometimes called the 24-hour-day interpretation.

For example, my doctoral mentor, the great systematic theologian, Wolfhard Pannenberg,

cites the eminent German Old Testament scholar Gerhard von Ratt in support of the scientific

character of Genesis chapter 1.

Pollenberg argues that primitive as it might be, nevertheless the intention of Genesis 1 is to give a scientific account

of the origins of the world, end of life.

And this is what von Ratt has to say in his Old Testament theology.

Before I read the quotation from von Ratt, a word of background will be helpful in understanding

what he has to say. Old Testament scholars have identified a number of hypothetical sources

behind the Pentateuch, and one of these is the so-called P document, a hypothetical written source

that is supposed to have been written from a priestly perspective. That is to say, the perspective

of someone involved in the Levitical sacrifices that are described

in the book of Leviticus.

And Genesis 1 to chapter 2 verse 3 is usually identified as based upon this hypothetical P source.

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