The Gap Theory

Do you agree with the gap theory?

Genesis 1:1 - 1:2

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

First, let’s explain the Gap Theory. There are many details that scholars disagree about when it comes to the fact of creation. The Gap Theory is not the predominant view among scholars, but it is present. 

The Gap Theory says that there is a large gap of time in between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. According to the Gap Theory, during that gap of time a lot happened: A cataclysmic event took place, God judged the earth, destroyed what He had done, and started creation over again. Why? Because there were pre-human-like creatures living here before us. They sinned and God punished the earth. Gap Theorists believe all of that happened in between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. Then, He reformed the earth that was already here and put Adam and Eve on it, etc. They also believe that gap of time is when Satan became who he is now. Basically, that is the Gap Theory.

I would like to ask a question that the Apostle Paul asked: “What does it say?” In other words, what does the Bible tell us or not tell us? Does it tell us that God destroyed or judged the earth early on after Genesis 1:1? No. That didn’t happen until years later in Genesis 6. Does the Bible describe what the Gap Theory teaches (early humans living on earth and falling into sin, God’s punishment and destruction, and then re-creation)? No, it doesn’t. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but the Bible doesn’t spell that out. I can’t hang my hat on a theory the Bible doesn’t spell out for me.

The Gap Theory is guesswork by some scholars to try to explain certain things to a lost world. Those scholars had to come up with that on their own. The Bible doesn’t describe any of that in between the first two verses of Genesis. If it did, I would buy into it, but it doesn’t. People that push the Gap Theory have to impose that idea onto the Scripture. The Bible doesn't give them that information. They have to force it in. That is actually called eisegesis. Exegesis is when you pull out what the Bible gives you. Eisegesis is when you have a preconceived idea to start with, sit down to read the Bible, and fit your idea into what you read. Obviously, that is not a sound technique when interpreting the Bible.

So no, I do not align myself with the Gap Theory. That does not mean that Gap Theorists are not Christians. Young-earth vs old-earth, Day-Age Theory vs Gap Theory matters. The more important fact is that if a person has received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, that is what matters. The topic we discussed today is important, but let’s make sure we don’t break fellowship with others over it. Christians can disagree on these things, as long as they agree on the essentials.

Exodus 20:11

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.