THE BIBLE ACCOUNT

The Bible, which had its origins several thousand years ago, does not set out to explain the universe in terms of 20 th century science. This would have been impossible and quite unintelligible to the people of that distant age.

This book sets out to teach a religious message –a message that shows man just where he stands in the universe, and just what is the meaning and purpose of his life. The Bible uses stories, illustrations, poetry and drama to teach its religious message. It leaves to scientists down through the ages with their efforts and research to uncover the wonders that lie hidden.

If we look for a religious message in the words of the Bible that follow, we shall not be disappointed, but shall find it a rich experience.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth: the earth was waste and empty: darkness covered the abyss, and the spirit of God hovered above the waters.

“God said, 'Let there be light’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good. God separated the light from the darkness calling the light day and the darkness night. And there was evening and morning, the first day.

“Then God said, 'Let there be sky in the midst of the waters to divide the waters’ and so it was. God made the skies, dividing the waters that were below the sky from those that were above it. God called the sky heaven. And there was evening and morning, the second day.

“Then God said, 'Let the waters below the heaven be gathered into one place and let the dry land appear.' And so it was. God called the dry land earth and the assembled waters seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and all kinds of fruit trees that bear fruit containing their seed.' And so it was. The Earth brought forth vegetation, every kind of trees that bear fruit containing their seed. God saw that it was good. And there was evening and morning, the third day.

“And God said, 'Let there be lights in the sky of the heavens to separate day from night: let them serve as signs for the fixing of the seasons, days and years: let them serve as lights in the sky to shed light upon the earth.’ And so it was, God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day and the smaller one to rule the night and then made the stars.

God set them in the sky to shed light upon the earth, to rule the day and night and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. And there was evening and morning, the fourth day.

“Then God said, 'Let the waters abound with life, and above the earth let winged creatures fly below the sky.' And so it was. God created the great sea monsters, all kinds of living, swimming creatures with which the waters abound and all kinds of winged birds. God saw that it was good and God blessed them saying, 'Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas: and let the birds multiply on the earth.' And there was evening and morning, the fifth day.

“God said, 'Let earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, crawling creatures and wild animals.’ And so it was. God made all kinds of wild beasts, every kind of cattle and every kind of creature crawling on the ground. And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1,1-25)