Videocast: Genesis Through Ancient Eyes

One of the highlights of our October President’s Circle meeting was a special talk given by Dr. John Walton, author of The Lost World of Genesis One and a leading thinker in the modern dialogue about Genesis and origins, titled “Genesis Through Ancient Eyes.” Thankfully, we were given permission to record his presentation and share it on The BioLogos Forum, thereby allowing readers all around the world to hear his wise words about the Genesis creation account.

Over four parts, Dr. Walton discusses the authority of Scripture and how we should both honor and understand the text as being written “for us” but not “to us.” He highlights the lack of scientific revelation in the Genesis account and why the account deals with the origins of our home (our personal, spiritual place), not our house (the physical place where we reside). He also notes that the ancient Israelites were concerned with function, not material beginnings, and he highlights the importance of the Hebrew word bara (which means “create”) and the seventh day of rest. He concludes with a look at Genesis 2–3, arguing that Genesis 2 has an archetypal focus and is therefore not a biblical account of material human origins.

The talk is bolstered by the beautiful illustrations of John’s son, Jonathan, as well as a detailed slide presentation by Scott Karow of ReI Media.