The BioLogos Forum: John Walton
John Walton is a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College in Illinois and an editor and writer of Old Testament comparative studies and commentaries. Throughout his research, Walton has focused his attention on comparing the culture and literature of the Bible and the ancient Near East. He has published dozens of books, articles and translations, both as writer and editor, including his latest book The Lost World of Genesis One.
Posts by Walton
Defending the Authority of Scripture
November 10, 2010
In this video “Conversation” John Walton, professor of Old Testament History at Wheaton College, discusses the content of Genesis 1 and how it should be read. The account in Genesis is not intended to be an account of material origins, says Walton. Therefore, if that is so, the Bible has no narrative of material origins—and if that is so, we don’t need to defend the Bible’s narrative of material origins against science.
Comments (39)
Science, Scripture, and the Creation Narrative
May 26, 2010
In these two brief video Conversations, John Walton emphasizes the importance of adopting the mindset of the ancient world in order to read Genesis more faithfully.
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On Myth and Meaning
May 19, 2010
In this video, John Walton talks about ancient myth and how we might better understand it if we think about its intended functionality—that is, myths were a way to explain a culture’s origin and universal significance though they lacked the advances of scientific discovery.
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Rejoinder to Vern Poythress
February 11, 2010
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John Walton Responds to Vern Poythress’s Review of “The Lost World of Genesis One”
February 4, 2010
Though numerous theologians have found my arguments sound, Poythress does not share that opinion and expressed his questions and reservations in his review [of my book] in World Magazine, August 29, 2009. Normally I do not find responses and counter-responses to be fruitful, but Poythress’s review of my book is particularly problematic, and I feel it is important to set the record straight for the interested reader.
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Understanding Genesis
February 3, 2010
John Walton offers some important reminders in this video with regard to how we should approach a reading of the book of Genesis. Walton says that first and foremost, we have to approach Genesis for what it is, which is an ancient text. While it is a text that is written for us—in the sense that it was written for all people in all times and places—it was not written to us.
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Reconciling Science With Scripture
September 18, 2009
If empirical science is perceived as offering an understanding that would mitigate or deny the truth of Scripture, an impasse is created that leads people to believe they have to choose between the two. [...] It is preferable to understand that the Bible does not offer a science.
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