Dr. John Stahl wrote
>Now David Campbell's recent post reminds us that "many new species and even a few higher taxa have been produced during human history." I won't dispute the claim, since this analytical chemist knows little zoology and less paleontology. I do wonder about the difficulties in defining a "species" and also note the uncertainty of the period of human history (i.e. when did Adam live). However, if good science indicates new species, then I am forced to consider anew what Gen. 1:31-2:2 is indicating.<
Many new species and at least one new genus have been created during the past century, so the dating of Adam need not concern us much with regard to the present issue.
The framework of Genesis 1 suggests that, if no new kinds are being created after day 6, then the kinds are at a much higher level-plants, animals, stars, etc. rather than species, families, or phyla. (My use of kind here differs from "reproduce after their kind"). Humans, as animals with a unique relationship to God, represent the final category of creation at this level. Perhaps this fits in as well with the idea in the commentary on Genesis in the Tyndale series (forgetting the author at the moment). He suggested that the one-week framework highlights the significance of humans despite the tiny proportion of the universe's area and age that we occupy (though not absolutely rejecting the possibility of the ICR being correct, he expressed his views as accepting evolution as a possibility). Our unique nature also sets us apart, and the rest from creation could in part indicate that we will not be superceded.
Discrepancies between Old Testament classification and modern classification also suggest that we should not take kinds as equivalent to any modern biological category. Examples include lizards and insects being creeping things, bats being birds, and hyraxes (KJV coneys) being ruminants.
>Maybe I make too much of this, but the principle of the sabbath runs throughout scripture, and it seems to me that there are some rich insights to be gained here that others are missing. In what sense did (does?) God rest from His creative work after the dawn of covenant history with Adam and Eve? How do we understand this?<
Hebrews 4:1-11 indicates that does is an appropriate verb to refer to God's resting.
Dr. David Campbell
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