The Order of Creation

In Philosophy, arguments are derived by comprising a series of propositions that are then reasoned in order to come to appropriate conclusions. For example, suppose that I said that "My son has a trainset". We might label this proposition "P". Suppose that I also said that "My son loves trainsets" and labeled it proposition "Q". It follows then that if my son has a trainset that my son will love his trainset or "P -> Q". Through a formulation of more complicated arguments, we can derive certain truths.

In the Scriptures, arguments carry certain weight. For example, arguments raised from the New Testament will carry more weight than some raised from the Old Testament. Why? Because Jesus fulfilled many of the Old Testament ceremonial laws. Moreover, arguments from creation carry even more weight because they have been divinely established from the beginning of creation.

In 1 Timothy 2:8-15, Paul argues that women should not teach or exercise authority in the church because it was not so from the beginning. He states in verses 12-14 that "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." (NASB)

There is a lot in these verses but Paul argues his position from the Order of Creation. Why? Because arguments brought up that are after Genesis 2 are arguments based upon events after the Fall of mankind. Arguments formulated prior to Genesis 3 are arguments from the creation order and therefore hold more weight. God created things in a very specific way and He expected that they would remain that way. It was not until the Fall that this changed. Therefore, in order to understand the "way it was supposed to be" we must understand how it was in Genesis 1 and 2.

As a sidenote, this is also important when we talk about the problem of evil. We know that evil exists because we first knew what it meant to be good. Not the reversal. We know what darkness is because we first knew what light was. We know what it means to be cold because we first understood heat. We know bad things only because we first know the good.

Continuing on, Jesus used this argument as well in Matthew 19. In response to a question about the lawfulness of divorce, he stated in verses 4-6 "And he answered them and said, 'Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female', and said, 'for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." (NASB)

Jesus argued from the Order of Creation. He based His argument from Genesis 2:24. As Christians, we serve a God who has revealed to us His original plan of perfection. We can look back and see how things are supposed to be. John C. Rankin names 10 unique positives that make the Genesis account unique from all other religious origin texts: (http://www.teinetwork.com/ab_biblical.html)

1. Only Genesis has a positive view of God’s nature.
2. Only Genesis has a positive view of communication.
3. Only Genesis has a positive view of human nature.
4. Only Genesis has a positive view of human freedom.
5. Only Genesis has a positive view of hard questions.
6. Only Genesis has a positive view of human sexuality.
7. Only Genesis has a positive view of science and the scientific method.
8. Only Genesis has a positive view of verifiable history.
9. Only Genesis has a positive view of covenantal law.
10. Only Genesis has a positive view of unalienable rights and the First Amendment.

Thus, it is important to remember as Christians that our Scriptures stand alone. They are able to withstand difficult questions. They are able to handle today's modern assault. God defined humanity to live and behave in a very special way. He created things with order. He created things in perfection.

Remember this the next time that you are confronted with difficult questions. Paul and Jesus both appealed to the Order of Creation. We need to learn to do the same.