Old Earth Creation Science

The Gap Theory

The Gap theory, also known as the Ruin-Restoration theory, is a form of Old Earth Creationism that accepts the creation days of Genesis as being literal 24-hour days. To account for the scientific record which shows the universe is billions of years old, the theory states that there is a gap of time in between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. This form of creationism gained widespread acceptance after it was included in the 1917 Scofield Reference Bible. By the 1950's, is was widely popular.

Gap creationists believe that science has proven beyond reasonable doubt

Amazon.com Widgets

that the Earth is far older than can be accounted for by the Biblical genealogies and recorded history. To maintain that the Genesis creation account is inerrant in matters of scientific fact, Gap creationists suppose that certain facts about the past and the age of the Earth have been omitted from the Genesis account; specifically that there was a gap of time in the Biblical account that lasted an unknown number of years between a first creation in Genesis 1:1 and a second creation in Genesis 1:2-31. By positing such an event, various observations in a wide range of fields, including the age of the Earth, the age of the universe, dinosaurs, fossils, ice cores, ice ages, and geological formations are allowed by adherents to have occurred as outlined by science without contradicting their literal belief in Genesis.

The following articles provide more information on the Gap Theory.

(Article Submission Policy)

Gap Theory Interpretation of Genesis – Explanation of the Gap Theory (Offsite - Opens a New Window)
To Gap or Not to Gap - A study of Genesis 1:1-2. Opens a new window
CreationDays.dk - The Gap Theory Page - Opens a new window

If you are curious about other forms of old earth belief, feel free to check out Theistic Evolution and Progressive Creationism.

Share This Page

To learn more about old earth creationism, see Old Earth Belief, or check out the article Can You Be A Christian and Believe in an Old Earth?

Feel free to check out more of this website. Our goal is to provide rebuttals to the bad science behind young earth creationism, and honor God by properly presenting His creation.