Episode 18: The Bible and Science: How Should We Read the Creation Account in Genesis? (w/ Dr. John Hilber)

Dr. Botner sits down with Dr. John Hilber (Professor of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity School) to discuss the relationship of the Bible and science. Dr. Hilber is an expert in the area of ancient Near East cosmology and has been involved in scholarly conversations on the relationship between Genesis and science for decades. Topics covered: how ancient Jews and Christians interpreted Genesis 1-2 (includes discussions on Philo, Origen, Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and some of the early reformers); how modern science impacted biblical studies and theology, and the responses of leading American evangelicals (Old Princeton: Hodge and Warfield); different approaches to Genesis 1 (old-earth creationism, gap-theory, day-age theory, young earth creationism, theistic evolution / evolutionary creationism); inspiration, inerrancy, linguistic theory, relevance theory; literal vs. metaphorical reading; ancient Near Eastern cosmology and the context of Genesis 1; Enuma Elish; St. Augustine on divine accommodation; apologetics; Reasons to Believe; cosmic temple; differences between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2; Adam and Eve; the historical Adam; original sin; the fall; death and decay; evolutionary theory; faith and science Here are Dr. Hilber's Recommendations for further study:- Johnny V. Miller and John M. Soden. In the Beginning . . . We Misunderstood: Interpreting Genesis 1 in Its Original Context. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2012.- J. Daryl Charles, ed. Reading Genesis 1–2: An Evangelical Conversation. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2013.- Kenneth Keathley, J. B. Stump, and Joe Aguirre, eds. Old Earth or Evolutionary Creationism: Discussing Origins with Reasons to Believe and Biologos. Downers Grove: IVP, 2017.- C. John Collins. Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Poetry, Science, and Truth in Genesis 1–11. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018.- John W. Hilber. Old Testament Cosmology and Divine Accommodation: A Relevance Theory Approach. Eugene: Cascade, 2020.- Denis O. Lamoureux, John H. Walton, C. John Collins, and William D. Barrick. Four Views on the Historical Adam. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.- William Lane Craig. In Quest of the Historical Adam: A Biblical and Scientific Exploration. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2021.