A Conversation with Dr. John Walton - Genesis 1 and the Origins Debate

In this conversation, we discuss Dr. Walton's influential book, "The Lost World of Genesis One." In the book, he argues that Genesis 1, read in its Ancient Near Eastern Context, is not about material origins (how did everyone come to exist from nothing?) but functional origins. Genesis 1 is the story of God's ordering of creation as his temple where, on the seventh day, God comes to rest.

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Also, check out Dr. Walton's updated edition of the book, "New Exploration in the Lost World of Genesis," https://amzn.to/4k4zu56

0:00 Introductions
04:16 How did you get into Old Testament studies?
0:5:49 What do you enjoy doing when you’re not teaching or writing?
07:44 Why is it important to reject “concordism” and attempts to read modern science back into the Old Testament?
12:12 Explain what you mean by “functional” rather than “material” origins.
19:22 Talk about the use of the word “created” (Gen 1:1) throughout the Old Testament.
23:50 Days 1-3 God created a functional cosmos. Days 4-6 he created “functionaries.”
25:26 Day 7 as the inauguration of a temple
37:46 Speak about the theological implications of seeing God’s construction of the cosmos as a temple.
46:00 Faith and Science

Music:
"Kid Kodi"
Blue Dot Sessions
www.sessions.blue