6 Days Are 6 Days

GPTS Faculty Statement on Creation

We the faculty of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary wish to acknowledge publicly our view on creation so that the churches and individuals supporting the Seminary may know what to expect from classroom instruction and faculty writing. In so doing, we note the following as preliminaries: (1) the issue of creation has long been considered a fundamental Christian belief, one that distinguishes Christianity from other religions; (2) this particular doctrine has been subject to prolonged attack since the mid-19th century, but continues to be critical for orthodoxy; (3) although the history of belief on this subject is clear, some fine and notable theologians from our communions have held differing views on this subject; and (4) that as a Seminary we are obligated not to teach contrary to the Westminster Standards. The Westminster Standards may be changed by the church courts, but, in our view, the seminaries ought not to be teaching contrary to those Standards, so that when there are changes they will occur as a result of the church's mature deliberation and not in a de facto manner.

Thus, we offer our view on the subject of creation as a school that serves a number of Reformed denominations, especially the PCA and the OPC.

The magisterial Reformers (Luther, Calvin, Beza) adopted a uniform view, that of 24 hours, and overtly repudiated the Augustinian view.

Prior to the Westminster Assembly, the leading Puritans (Ainsworth, Ames, Perkins) and others repudiated the Augustinian view and taught a sequential, normal day view.

Even the secular confidence in earlier cosmologies is declining in some areas.

Therefore, we declare our view shares the exegesis of the Westminster divines that led them to affirm that God created all things "in the space of six days" by the word of his power. We also believe that this clear meaning of confessional language should be taught in our churches and pulpits, and that departures from it should be properly safeguarded.

(5) that Scripture is unclear in its use of "evening and morning" attached to the days of creation.

We admit that some Christians have been too lax on this subject, and others have been too narrow. Hence, we hope to enunciate in this statement a moderate, historic, and biblical position. Even should other fine men differ with us on this subject, we hereby announce our intent to remain faithful to the teaching of the Westminster Standards and other Reformed confessions of faith on this subject.

To God alone be glory.

Note from G.I. Williamson

"I just read - for the first time - the superb statement of the GPTS faculty on six-day creation. I find in it, at last, my own honest evaluation, including reference to the unwise and unnecessary concession made by the great Princeton Divines. I've long concluded that we will never recover a reformational hermeneutic until this sad fact is faced up to. I cannot tell you how heartening it is to me that you men have had the integrity and courage to say what you have said. As I see it the doctrine of six-day creation is as clearly foundational and essential as any article of our faith. If the current state of things (in which several contradictory views are equally tolerated) continues, I do not see how we can keep the church from the same kind of manipulation of other (even essential) doctrines.

"Anyway, Dr. Pipa, I heartily thank you for taking this firm stand. I WISH IT WERE BETTER KNOWN THROUGHOUT REFORMED CHURCHES.

"In Christ,

"G.I. Williamson"

NOTE: G. I. Williamson is a semi-retired minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and editor of Ordained Servant. He has written several books, including The Westminster Confession of Faith: For Study Classes and The Heidelberg Catechism: A Study Guide.

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