Does Genesis 1 Teach There Was a “Pre-Adamic” Race Or “Gap Theory?

Some people believe there is a “gap” of time between Gen 1.1 and 1.2. They say that there was an original creation, ruled over by “Lucifer” and he fell, resulting in the earth becoming “formless and void.” This pre-Adamic earth was also inhabited by a race of people but they were all destroyed. That is the basis for this myth, and that is exactly what it is. This “theory” was an attempt to reconcile the creation account with long periods of time put forth in the theory of Evolution called “Theistic Evolution”, if you want an official name for it. Evolution itself is a totally unscientific theory that violates the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This gap theory would have us believe that Adam was walking around on top of a giant, fossilized graveyard.

This theory is also unscriptural because Paul said in Rom 5.12 and 8.20-22 that man’s sin brought about death in the world, even of animals (1 Cor 15.21). Over 800 billion skeletons exist in the Karroo formation in South Africa alone. This theory is also unnecessary because the most natural interpretation of Genesis 1.2 is to take it at face value, without adding to or subtracting from it. But proponents of this theory will say, “Formless and void speaks of judgment” and will quote Jer 4.23 and Isa 45.18. However, in other passages, “formless and void” just means unformed and unfilled and hasn’t been worked yet, and just means “space” (Job 28.7; Deut 32.10). They will also say “was” in Gen 1.2 should be translated “became.” However, the Hebrew verb “hayetha” is found 264 times in the Tanach, and 258 times it was translated as “was.” The Hebrew verb of being for “became” is “haphek.”

Proponents will then try to say that there is a difference between “bara” (created in 1.1), and “asah” (made in 1.7). However, these verbs are used synonymously: “God created (bara)” in 1.21, and “God made (asah)” in 1.25.” “Let us make man” (asah) in 1.26, and “so God created (bara)” in 1.27. IT will be pointed out by some that “darkness” indicates judgment in 1.2. However, darkness here is simply the absence of light and is sometimes spoken of as “good” (Psa 104.20, 24). Lastly, they will say that “fill” in 1.28 shoulod be “replenish” to inidicate that the world was once “filled.” The Hebrew word “male or mala” almost always means to simply to “fill” (Exo 40.34; 1 Kings 18.33; Psa 107.9).

So, there isn’t much to this theory and it isn’t even defensible. When Yeshua refers to “the beginning” in Matt 19.8, he means with the creation of Adam and Eve. The Torah means what it says, and there is no gap between Gen 1.1 and 1.2.

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord

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