are fundamentally misguided, because scientific revelation is
simply not the aim of the Bible.
of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we
have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear
the image of the man of heaven” (1st Cor. 15:48-9). For this
Rather, the accounts of the creation of the universe found reason, we can say that inasmuch as Adam was formed from
in Genesis chapters 1-2 belong to the Ancient Near Eastern the dust, so are we, and as he returned it, so too shall we one
literary genre of Jewish meditation literature. 10,11 Relying day return to dust. The narrative of Adam’s creation is clearly,
heavily on symbolism and poetic imagery, their main intent at least to a degree, metaphorical. Nonetheless, by virtue of
was not give a scientific account of how the world came to his inclusion in Jewish genealogies, we know that Adam was
be, but rather to invite the reader to grapple with the nature also held in Jewish tradition as a historical figure. 12 Ultimately,
of evil and the lived experience of human brokenness. Adam functions both as a symbolic archetype of humanity
Through intentionally vague and surrealist imagery, the and a historical figure in ancient history as one of the first
authors illuminate the tragic irony that humanity was humans to live in covenant relationship with God. The story
intended for paradise—harmony with each other, with of Adam and Eve in the Bible is not scientific. But in the same
nature, and with God—but instead creates for itself a world way that scientific inquiry exists to uncover the patterns that
where the environment is consumed and widows, orphans, underlie the workings of biology and physics and anatomy, so
and foreigners live in persecution. Thus we see that, viewed too do these narratives invite us, from the outset of the biblical
within their correct literary context, the
story, to dwell on the pattern of human
If we want to take
creation narrative cannot be appropriately
fallibility and its tragic consequences echoed
seriously the claims throughout human history.
understood along scientific lines. Instead, it
of our Christian faith,
is a statement of literature that offers less so
we must be willing to At this point we must return to the “middle
an explanation about the past as about the
sacrifice the idol of our ground” of the evolution-creationism debate:
present state of humanity.
perfect interpretations. Intelligent Design (ID). This view espouses
To examine the story of Adam and Eve in more detail, that a supernatural designer is the only explanation for
consider the claim that Adam is formed from dust (Gen 2:7), “gaps” in evolution theory. 13 On the surface, this may appear
and not clay, whereas biblical protagonists often refer to God a palatable alternative to the hardline positions of six-day
as the Potter and humanity His clay (Isaiah 45:9, 64:8, Jer Creationism or New Atheism, seemingly allowing for both
18:2-6, Job 10:9). This linguistic contrast strongly suggests that a natural and supernatural explanation of human origins.
neither material is meant to be taken literally—instead, what One major objection (which, while being rhetorically simple
is important about the fact that Adam is formed from dust enough remains tiringly controversial) is that ID is not a
is that it is to dust he is destined to return. The punishment viable scientific theory, as it claims, because it fails to meet the
Adam and Eve receive for breaking the terms of their covenant definitional requirements of observability and repeatability,
with God is not one of physical death, but one of spiritual unlike the theory of evolution, which has passed many
death. We see dust used in the metaphorical sense for physical litmus tests across multiple fields including paleontology,
death again in the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul biogeography, and molecular genetics. 14,15 Beyond this evident
contrasts our present earthly bodies with the transfigured ones 12
Walton, John H. Lecture On Human Origins, February 2,
2016. San Francisco, CA.
promised by the hope of resurrection: “As was the man of
“What Is Intelligent Design?” Intelligentdesign.org, https://
dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man 13
10
“Read the Opening to the Book of Genesis with Fresh
Eyes.” The Bible Project, thebibleproject.com/explore/genesis-1-11/.
11
Solomon, Marty, host. “1: Trust the Story.” Bema, 08
Sept. 2016. https://bemadiscipleship.com/session1
22 Fall 2019
intelligentdesign.org/whatisid/
14
Lynch, Michael. “Intelligent Design or Intellectual
Laziness?” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 18 May 2005,
www.nature.com/articles/435276b.
15
“What Is the Evidence for Evolution? - Common-