Does CI Scofield's Gap Theory have any credibility?

[UnitedWithChrist]

I don't know how many dispensationalists are aware of the Gap Theory, popularized in the Scofield Study Bible.

This Gap theory proposes that God created the world for angels. This world was ruled by angels, and included dinosaur life. The angels rebelled, and a cosmic war against God ensued. The angels lost their dominion due to their rebellion.

This pre-Adamic creation lasted for millions of years.

This scenario makes it easier to defend the older earth dating that science claims. I believe it was some creative exegesis on the behalf of Scofield and others to accomodate science's claims with Christianity's claims.

I was amused this morning thinking about this. Dispensationalists are well-known for inserting gaps into Scripture. I had forgotten that Scofield promoted the Gap theory, too, in order to reconcile his ideas with Scripture.

For instance, they claim that the "prophetic clock" stopped ticking when Israel refused Jesus as Messiah, and as a result, Gentiles now have an opportunity for salvation during the "parenthesis period" between Jesus' resurrection and the alleged rapture of the Church seven years before Christ returns.

This causes a problem because Jesus and the apostles, in the Gospels and the epistles, do not seem to be aware of a long gap between the last day and the eternal state, like dispensationalism claims. Instead, when he returns, he ushers in the eternal state, and death is defeated (see 1 Cor 15).

The only basis for their claims is related to their reading of Revelation, and particularly Revelation 20.

However, I'd like to discuss this topic...does the Gap Theory have any validity? Was their a long, preAdamic gap between the creation of the earth and the heavens, and the creation of Adam? If so, do you think it is credible that the earth was built for angelic habitation, and that man was only plan B?

I don't think it is credible. The reason I don't think it is credible relates to God's foreknowledge. Surely God isn't a dolt that fails in his objectives, like open theists and process theology people teach.


Anyways, for some basic info on the Gap Theory, I will provide this:

https://www.gotquestions.org/gap-theory.html

I will also add that I don't think dispensationalism is credible due to their penchant for modifying Scripture by claiming gaps where they don't have a license to do so. While they accuse others of "spiritualizing" or "allegorizing" when they recognize typology within Scripture, they have a penchant for conjecturing about such things.

And, Scofield's promotion of the Gap Theory is only one example of this.

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

Here's a wikapedia article concerning this topic:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gap_creationism

 

[Dino246]

No.

Next question?

 

[TheDivineWatermark]

Here's what Scripture has to say about the subject (creation):


Genesis 2:3 -

"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created [H1254] and made [H6213]."


Exodus 20:11 -

"For in six days the LORD made [H6213] the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy."


Exodus 31:17 -

"It [the seventh day/Sabbath] is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made [H6213] the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”




[note: just because these Exodus verses use the H6213 word doesn't mean that Genesis 2:3 uses only that one ]


__________

On a slightly different note (but perhaps you'll see it somewhat relating to your topic overall):

Regarding the Isaiah 61:1-11 passage [comp also v.11 with Hos2:23a re: Israel], I believe His quoting of parts of it (in the passage quoted below) shows us there is some kind of "separation" between parts of that Isa61 passage (meaning, not all of the entire passage was being fulfilled in that day / time-frame when He read from parts of it):

Luke 4 -

The Rejection at Nazareth
(Isaiah 61:1-11; Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6)

16 Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, 17 the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
because He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, 21 and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”




This goes along with what my posts re: Acts 3 was saying.

["21 whom indeed it behooves heaven to receive until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from the age."]

 

[Nehemiah6]

I don't know how many dispensationalists are aware of the Gap Theory, popularized in the Scofield Study Bible.

Scofield did not invent the Gap Theory but his Reference Bible did promote. To be perfectly fair to him, his Reference Bible is GENERALLY sound, and Dispensationalism is also sound (as opposed to Hyper-Dispensationalism).

A 17th century Dutch theologian -- Simon Episcopius -- is credited with originating the Gap Theory. Thomas Chalmers in the 19th century then began to promote it. Then there were others at Oxford University until the Scofield Reference Bible.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

Not enough evidence in my opinion. But I suppose that is a theory. A weak theory. And theory that will be stuck in limbo because it states things beyond our capacity to even know. It's like the multiverse theory. Or the matrix simulator theory. We could never know if these are true. So essentially they are a waste of thought.

 

[TheDivineWatermark]

This causes a problem because Jesus and the apostles, in the Gospels and the epistles, do not seem to be aware of a long gap between the last day and the eternal state, like dispensationalism claims.

The way you're phrasing this sentence (the parts I've emphasized especially) indicates your misunderstanding (as I see it) of the phrase "IN the Last Day" as though you are interpreting that to be defined [merely] as [encompassing] "a singular 24-hr day"

(...rather than, as I see it, as comparable to Hosea 5:15-6:3's phrase ["after two days"] "IN the THIRD DAY"--not "a singular 24-hr day" but more like the 7th and last Millennium, aka the "sabbatismos" of Heb4:9. IOW, there is NO "BETWEEN" regarding this/these. Zip! Zero! Nada! None!)


I highly doubt that dispensationalism "claims" such an idea/expression as you are presenting.

 

[bojack]

I don't know how many dispensationalists are aware of the Gap Theory, popularized in the Scofield Study Bible.

This Gap theory proposes that God created the world for angels. This world was ruled by angels, and included dinosaur life. The angels rebelled, and a cosmic war against God ensued. The angels lost their dominion due to their rebellion.

This pre-Adamic creation lasted for millions of years.

This scenario makes it easier to defend the older earth dating that science claims. I believe it was some creative exegesis on the behalf of Scofield and others to accomodate science's claims with Christianity's claims.

I was amused this morning thinking about this. Dispensationalists are well-known for inserting gaps into Scripture. I had forgotten that Scofield promoted the Gap theory, too, in order to reconcile his ideas with Scripture.

For instance, they claim that the "prophetic clock" stopped ticking when Israel refused Jesus as Messiah, and as a result, Gentiles now have an opportunity for salvation during the "parenthesis period" between Jesus' resurrection and the alleged rapture of the Church seven years before Christ returns.

This causes a problem because Jesus and the apostles, in the Gospels and the epistles, do not seem to be aware of a long gap between the last day and the eternal state, like dispensationalism claims. Instead, when he returns, he ushers in the eternal state, and death is defeated (see 1 Cor 15).

The only basis for their claims is related to their reading of Revelation, and particularly Revelation 20.

However, I'd like to discuss this topic...does the Gap Theory have any validity? Was their a long, preAdamic gap between the creation of the earth and the heavens, and the creation of Adam? If so, do you think it is credible that the earth was built for angelic habitation, and that man was only plan B?

I don't think it is credible. The reason I don't think it is credible relates to God's foreknowledge. Surely God isn't a dolt that fails in his objectives, like open theists and process theology people teach.


Anyways, for some basic info on the Gap Theory, I will provide this:

https://www.gotquestions.org/gap-theory.html

I will also add that I don't think dispensationalism is credible due to their penchant for modifying Scripture by claiming gaps where they don't have a license to do so. While they accuse others of "spiritualizing" or "allegorizing" when they recognize typology within Scripture, they have a penchant for conjecturing about such things.

And, Scofield's promotion of the Gap Theory is only one example of this.

I've been itching to get in a discussion here about whether YEC according to the Bible is literal or not .. I don't start out the 1rst chapter of the first book calling God a liar or mistaken.. God says jump and I don't say ''how high'' ? I say ''this is high as I can jump, hope it's enough''

 

[Magenta]

Some think along lines like this.

 

[ProphetExcalibur]

I don't know how many dispensationalists are aware of the Gap Theory, popularized in the Scofield Study Bible.

This Gap theory proposes that God created the world for angels. This world was ruled by angels, and included dinosaur life. The angels rebelled, and a cosmic war against God ensued. The angels lost their dominion due to their rebellion.

This pre-Adamic creation lasted for millions of years.

This scenario makes it easier to defend the older earth dating that science claims. I believe it was some creative exegesis on the behalf of Scofield and others to accomodate science's claims with Christianity's claims.

I was amused this morning thinking about this. Dispensationalists are well-known for inserting gaps into Scripture. I had forgotten that Scofield promoted the Gap theory, too, in order to reconcile his ideas with Scripture.

For instance, they claim that the "prophetic clock" stopped ticking when Israel refused Jesus as Messiah, and as a result, Gentiles now have an opportunity for salvation during the "parenthesis period" between Jesus' resurrection and the alleged rapture of the Church seven years before Christ returns.

This causes a problem because Jesus and the apostles, in the Gospels and the epistles, do not seem to be aware of a long gap between the last day and the eternal state, like dispensationalism claims. Instead, when he returns, he ushers in the eternal state, and death is defeated (see 1 Cor 15).

The only basis for their claims is related to their reading of Revelation, and particularly Revelation 20.

However, I'd like to discuss this topic...does the Gap Theory have any validity? Was their a long, preAdamic gap between the creation of the earth and the heavens, and the creation of Adam? If so, do you think it is credible that the earth was built for angelic habitation, and that man was only plan B?

I don't think it is credible. The reason I don't think it is credible relates to God's foreknowledge. Surely God isn't a dolt that fails in his objectives, like open theists and process theology people teach.


Anyways, for some basic info on the Gap Theory, I will provide this:

https://www.gotquestions.org/gap-theory.html

I will also add that I don't think dispensationalism is credible due to their penchant for modifying Scripture by claiming gaps where they don't have a license to do so. While they accuse others of "spiritualizing" or "allegorizing" when they recognize typology within Scripture, they have a penchant for conjecturing about such things.

And, Scofield's promotion of the Gap Theory is only one example of this.

I'm not a dispensatioanalist, nor am I a fan of C I Scofield. But yes I do believe in the gap theory but not in the set up ways u propose. But I like the thread!

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

I'm not a dispensatioanalist, nor am I a fan of C I Scofield. But yes I do believe in the gap theory but not in the set up ways u propose. But I like the thread!

How would your view differ?

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

I've been itching to get in a discussion here about whether YEC according to the Bible is literal or not .. I don't start out the 1rst chapter of the first book calling God a liar or mistaken.. God says jump and I don't say ''how high'' ? I say ''this is high as I can jump, hope it's enough''

What problems do you see with Young Earth Creation?

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

Not enough evidence in my opinion. But I suppose that is a theory. A weak theory. And theory that will be stuck in limbo because it states things beyond our capacity to even know. It's like the multiverse theory. Or the matrix simulator theory. We could never know if these are true. So essentially they are a waste of thought.

I don't think they are a waste of thought. However, I will agree that there is room for difference of opinion.

Here's my minimal criteria for orthodoxy:

1. Adam and Eve were special creations...not evolved.
2. No macroevolution.
3. The Fall happened as recorded in Genesis 3.

 

[bojack]

What problems do you see with Young Earth Creation?

I don't see any problems with YEC .. At all ..

 

[TheDivineWatermark]

Some think along lines like this.

Just for clarity for the purposes re: this present thread, are you saying there were "dispensationalists" in that thread, who were presenting "the gap theory" in Genesis? (For example, was/is the OP, Calibob, a "dispensationalist"? Or other members and contributors to that thread?)



I had only popped into that thread toward the end of it (page 23 [of 25], at Post #442, only to engage with member "PS" for several posts only on that one page: Posts #442 thru about his Post #458), so I wasn't really involved in that thread very much, to know who was who and which held to what.

 

[UnitedWithChrist]

To be honest, I started the thread simply because I don't like dispensationalism.

However, I find it amusing that CI Scofield felt justified in proposing the Gap Theory, which has little support biblically, in his Scofield Bible.

Yet, dispensationalists continually harangue covenant theologians with charges of "spiritualizing" and "allegorizing" because they acknowledge the obvious shadows and types of the OT.

Their claims are much more exegetically dubious, proposing massive gaps in the biblical narrative where it suits their narrative.



To hear the dispensationalists talk, though, they are the theological Ninjas of Christianity

 

[TheDivineWatermark]

To be honest, I started the thread simply because I don't like dispensationalism.

We know (or should I say, we noticed. LOL)



But... what are your thoughts about the idea presented in the second half of my Post #4 of this present thread.

Do you believe there are any "separations" (in time) in passages such as I was pointing out, like in Isa61 / Lk4?

In your view, was Jesus saying the entirety of Isaiah 61 was being "fulfilled this day in your hearing"? Or just to the point where He "stopped" reading?

 

[Locoponydirtman]

I think that part of the Scofield design error is that it limited the cartridge length to 36.3 millimeters. Where as the single action army produced by colt was 40.6 mm. They were produced during the era of black powder and the load was fill the case with powder and press the round in on top compressing the powder. So the Colt single action army was more powerful, and with the rim spacing if a law man or military man run out of ammo and found Scofield ammo he could use it in a pinch where as the visa versa was not possible. It's kind of sad too because the break top action is much faster to reload than the loading gate design.

 

[Roughsoul1991]

I don't think they are a waste of thought. However, I will agree that there is room for difference of opinion.

Here's my minimal criteria for orthodoxy:

1. Adam and Eve were special creations...not evolved.
2. No macroevolution.
3. The Fall happened as recorded in Genesis 3.

If we cannot know it, then why waste too much thought on it? You either have what God has said in scripture or made evident in nature. And neither 1 of them is going to tell me if the gap theory is true, or that multiple universes exist, or evolution to be true, or that we are in some giant computer simulator.

 

[Guojing]

One can be a dispensationalist without even knowing who Scofield is