As It Is Written: The Genesis Account Literal or Literary?

by Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.

Readers come away with a better understanding of the six-day creation argument!

The framework hypothesis or literary framework view has grown in acceptance as more readers of Scripture place "science" as the authority over the interpretation of God's Word. By re-interpreting Genesis, this view encourages Christians to disregard the plainly shared timeline of creation and instead consider it as merely figurative or poetic rather than historical and accurate. Kenneth Gentry carefully defines the framework hypothesis, while tracing its historical origins and purpose. This provides a helpful introduction both for those who know the framework hypothesis as well as any hearing the term for the first time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology

240 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2016

About the author

Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. is a Reformed theologian, and an ordained minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly (RPCGA). He is particularly known for his support for and publication on the topics of orthodox preterism and postmillennialism in Christian eschatology, as well as for theonomy and six day creation. He holds that each of these theological distinctives are logical and theological extensions of his foundational theology, which is Calvinistic and Reformed.

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Reviews

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful read, exposing the errors of the framework hypothesis and arguing for reading the creational account as literal 24-hour days. I wish I had read through it much quicker, but alas, it's taken me almost four years, not because the work was long but because the subject became less pressing to me than it was initially. I underlined several parts in this book, so it was easy to plug back in. Regardless, I found Gentry's arguments compelling. For instance, he challenges the notion that the seventh day’s rest is ongoing (held by the framework view), posing a pointed question: if that were true, how long did Adam live? He also underscores that Jewish tradition—both Midrash and Josephus—considers “yom” to mean literal 24-hour periods and that the evening-morning pattern presupposes actual days, not figurative constructs.

[William Schrecengost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good examination of the Framework hypothesis and defense of the traditional view of Genesis 1. I think he thoroughly dismantles the position and shows just how poorly argued the position really is.

[Eric Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really easy read and formidable critique of the Framework hypothesis. Gentry does a great job of not just critiquing, but also giving the positive teaching of the traditional 6-day creation view.

[Wade Stotts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Gentry is a first rate scholar and his treatment is required reading for all who want to engage these issues.

[A.J. Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenneth Gentry does the church a great service by authoring this book. It's a must read for anyone interested in the Genesis account of Creation.

[Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book. I say this, though I didn’t read the thing cover to cover. However, I read a bunch, I skimmed a bunch, and I am fairly confident that I can give this book such a high rating. The reason I didn’t read the whole thing is because I already agree with everything Dr. Gentry says. Thus, it wasn’t necessary for me to read it all to see what he was saying and where he was going.

I recommend this book to you if you are asking the question, “How do I interpret Genesis 1 properly, and in a God-honouring way?” In that case, this book will be very good to help you navigate some of the issues that arise with other interpretations than the literal 6 days that God took to create the world.

I will be keeping this book in my library so that I can give it to someone who is asking these questions, and wants some more depth than I can give in a conversation.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a polemic work reacting against the framework hypothesis. Worth reading for anyone who wants to understand more about the debate especially from a literal view.
It is thorough and may seem somewhat repetitive (in some of the quotes) but I understand why that is necessary for such a response and book.

[Dillon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a book for the layman. It's very heavy-going and more suited to students of theology. Although it had some good things to say in defense of a literal interpretation of the Creation account, there are other books which say similar things in much simpler ways.

[Will Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful and clear book defending the biblical position.

[Peter Kiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic destruction of the framework hypothesis and a defense of the historical reading. 6 days means 6 days :)

[Nile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with how to rate the book. I landed on three stars because I don't feel it is very easily understood or gripping and I found myself really struggling to pick it up and push through to the end. I felt like reading the first few chapters told me all I needed but kept going through the rest of the book hoping to find something new and only found deeper and deeper sub arguments.

The good of this book is that it is very difficult to walk away with a view that Moses intended anything other than a literal six day creation. The Genesis account is historic rather than poetic and "yom" clearly refers to a single day. I think this is the author's intent and he did achieve it so maybe I should rate it higher.

The downside is I picked up this book coming from a literal six day background and struggling with correlating that with natural revelation and what I see in scientific literature. This book did not address this tension at all but rather dismissed popular natural observance since it does support what Moses presents.

I am still left with this tension and have to simply say that scripture is my authority so I believe God created the earth in six days and yet see evidence that the earth seems to be very old, there seem to be many other humans in the world when Adam and Eve leave the garden, and welcome any suggestions for other books written to address this.