SOUTH ASIA INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED CHRISTIAN STUDIES

MINI-RESEARCH PAPER

Submitted to

Mr.Mammen Samuel

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements of the
Introduction to the Old Testament

Due Date: 14-Jul-2025 Date Submitted: 13-Jul-

2025 Expected Time: 12am Actual Time: 10pm
Expected Word count: 1500 words Actual Word
Count:1500

I declare that this assignment is my own unaided work. I have not copied it from any person,
article, book, website or other form of storage. Every idea or phrase that is not my own has
been duly acknowledged.

Signature: SAM STEWARD NATHANIEL

By
Sam Steward Nathaniel
Admission #20349
13-Jul- 2025
Introduction:
Dear Anil,

Thank you for asking your question. I really appreciate that you try to understand the Bible. This
topic is not easy and many people including me, have struggled with it. Like you, I also learned
about science — the Big Bang theory, evolution, and how the universe is billions of years old.
But when I read Genesis 1, I saw that the Bible says God made the world in six days just by
speaking. This made me confused too. How do we understand both science and the Bible? Can
we believe both?

In this essay, I want to help you understand what Genesis 1 is really trying to say. I believe that
when we read it the way it was first meant to be read, we see that it’s not trying to fight with
science. Instead, it gives us a deep and beautiful truth about who God is and why we exist. I will
also show how science and faith can go together instead of being enemies.

What Kind of Writing is Genesis 1?

To understand Genesis 1, we first need to ask: What kind of writing is this? Many people find it
hard to understand because they think Genesis 1 is like a modern science book. But Genesis was
written a long time ago, in a very different time and culture. So, we must read it the way it was
meant to be read back then.

Bible scholar John Walton says that Genesis 1 comes from the Ancient Near Eastern (ANE)
world, but it gives a very different message about God. In other creation stories from places like
Mesopotamia or Egypt, gods fight and kill to create the world. But in Genesis, one true God
speaks, and creation happens peacefully. According to Walton, the focus of Genesis is not about
how physical things were made, but about what things are for — their purpose and meaning, and
how they relate to God.

Genesis 1 uses a kind of poetic language. It repeats phrases like “And God said…,” “And it was
so…,” and “And God saw that it was good….” This style makes the chapter sound like a song or
prayer. That doesn’t mean it’s not true — it just means it’s written in a way that helps people
reflect and worship, not like a science report.

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So, instead of thinking Genesis 1 is a history of six 24-hour days, it’s better to see it as a
beautiful and thoughtful message about God. It tells us that God is the Creator, that He brings
order out of chaos, and that everything in creation is under His power and care.

What Is Genesis 1 Really Saying?

If Genesis 1 is not a science lesson, then what is it trying to teach us?

The first verse — “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) —
clearly says that God is the one who made everything. The rest of the chapter follows a beautiful
pattern: God speaks, something is made, it is given a purpose, and then God calls it good. This
continues for six days. On the sixth day, God makes humans, and on the seventh day, He rests.

One of the most important parts is when God makes people in His image (Genesis 1:26–27). At
that time, other cultures believed humans were just made to serve the gods like slaves. But
Genesis teaches something very different — that humans are special. We are made to reflect
God’s image, and we are given the job of taking care of the earth.

This is what makes Genesis 1 unique and it shows that the six days are arranged in a thoughtful
way:
• Days 1–3: God makes the places — light and dark, sky and sea, land.
• Days 4–6: God fills those places — with the sun and moon, birds and fish, animals
and people.

This shows that God is a wise and organized Creator.

So, Genesis 1 doesn’t explain how tiny atoms came together or when stars began to shine.
Instead, it teaches who made the world, why it was made, and what it means. It tells us that:
• God made everything good.
• God is in control.
• People have a special place in His creation.

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But What About Science?
Now let’s talk about your main question: How can we believe Genesis 1 when science says
something different?

First, we need to understand that science and faith ask different questions. Science looks at how
the world works — things we can see, test, and measure. Faith, especially the Bible, tells us why
we are here, what our purpose is, and who God is. The problem comes when we try to make the
Bible do what science does, or expect science to answer questions only the Bible can.

In Romans 1:20, Paul says that God’s power and nature can be clearly seen in creation. This
means that science can help us see the beauty and greatness of God. In Hebrews 11:3, we read that
“by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.” So, faith and science
are not enemies — faith helps us see that God is behind all of creation.

Many Christian scientists believe in both science and the Bible. Believes in evolution but also
believes that God is the one who planned and guides it all. He says science explains how things
happened, but the Bible tells us why.

Some Christian believe that God made the world in six 24-hour days. We should respect their
view. But I believe that this reading doesn’t consider the style and meaning of Genesis 1. The
power of Genesis 1 is not in giving us science facts, but in showing the deep truth about God and
His creation.

So, we don’t have to choose between science and Genesis. Genesis 1 tells us that God made
everything, and science helps us discover how amazing that creation is.

Final Thoughts for You

Anil, You can believe the Bible and still respect science. Genesis 1 was not written to argue
against things like evolution or the Big Bang. It was written to tell us that God is the one who
made life, that the world is not an accident and that you were made for a reason.

When we read Genesis 1 the way it was meant to be read — as a way to worship and learn about
God — we stop trying to make it fight with science. Instead, we begin to see the deep truths it
gives us. As you keep reading the Bible, remember that God’s truth isn’t only about facts — it’s
also about meaning and purpose.

In the end, creation is not just about how the world came to be. It’s really about who made it —
and why. And that answer is simple and powerful:
God made the world, and He made you — with purpose and with love.

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Conclusion
To sum it up, Genesis 1 is not a science book. It is a beautiful message about God and His
creation. It tells us that:
• God created the world on purpose and with great wisdom.
• People are made in God's image, and that gives us value and purpose.
• Everything God made is good, and He is in charge of it all.
Genesis 1 is not fighting with science. It speaks about things that science cannot explain — like
the meaning of life, the goodness of creation, and the love of God.
You don't need to choose between faith and science.
Genesis 1 calls you to trust in the God who made everything and wants a relationship with you.
That relationship brings true meaning — not only to creation but also to your life.

With love and prayers,

Your friend in Christ

Declaration of Academic Honesty

I declare that this assignment is my own unaided work. I have not copied it from any person,
article, book, website or other form of storage. Every idea or phrase that is not my own has
been duly acknowledged.
Sam Steward Nathaniel,13/Jul/2025

Bibliography

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Crossway, 2016.

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