LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Cosmic Temple Theory
Submitted to Dr. Chris Osborne
Fall 2020 CRST 290-D02 LUO
Creation Studies
by
Jamie Lockwood-Price
December 13, 2020
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This paper will look at the Cosmic Temple theory as proposed by John Walton in regards
to the interpretation of Genesis 1. Specifically, the paper will address the history behind Walton’s
theory, the view and understanding of the Hebrew word “day, the view of the creation narrative,
and opinion on the age of the Earth. Additionally, this paper will evaluate the Cosmic Temple
theory through the view of Young Earth creationism. Finally, this paper will problematic areas in
Walton’s notion of a non-literal view of the creation week, meaning of the Hebrew word “day”,
unspecified age of the Earth, and the unconventional methods in which Walton looks at Scripture
through culture and historical context.
Cosmic Temple Theory
Cosmic Temple theory begins with the premise Genesis 1 is ancient cosmology. Ancient
cosmology dictates how the ancients viewed creation through the understanding they were given.
As the cultures understanding grows, such as discovering the Earth is indeed not flat, the
cosmology shifts forward. However, the latter cosmology cannot change to incorporate the
knowledge of a round Earth and must be seen though vision of the flat Earth. John Walton
introduced Cosmic Temple in a 2009 publication of The Lost World of Genesis One. To begin
with, Walton contends biblical interpretation requires the knowledge of Hebrew language and
Israelite culture, “They must understand Hebrew as Hebrew text. This is the same with culture…
leave our cultural ideas behind, and try our best to understand the material in its cultural context
without translating it”. 1 Walton suggests in the translation of the Old Testament from the original
Hebrew resulted in misunderstanding of specific meanings of words.
Further Walton proposes ancient cosmology must be the lens in which one understands
the text, “Though our understanding of ancient culture will always be limited, ancient literature
1 Walton, John. The Lost World of Genesis one, 9
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is the key to a proper interpretation, and sufficient amounts of it are available to allow us
progress in our understanding”2 Walton stresses the Genesis 1 creation narrative is akin to some
Ancient Near Eastern thought evidenced by a multitude of texts from Egyptians, Sumerians, and
Babylonians offering creation stories.3 While many of these ancient texts differ in ontology, there
appears to be a common thread of functionality when it comes to creation. This is Walton’s crux,
that Ancient Israelites, and their Near East neighbors, viewed creation through the same
conceptual knowledge existing in ancient times.4 This conceptual knowledge was rooted in the
shared cultural environment and Israel cannot be culturally isolated from the same knowledge. In
almost all instances the cultures thought in terms of functions rather than material objects.5
Taking a look at creation week according to the Cosmic Temple perspective, the seven
days do not constitute literal manifesting of created material. Instead, the seven day period
represents the ceremonial presentation of the cosmic temple functions. 6 Specifically speaking,
temple inauguration. Walton’s theory does not account for creation in the sense of actual raw
materials, as going back to the emphasis on correct translation, the word used for creation leans
towards the functional process, not the material object.7 Walton does not deny God’s hand in
material creation, but that God only gave these materials functions in Genesis 1 as an account of
the work God did prior to day one.8 Thus leading Walton to suggest the Earth was already set up,
fully ready to operate, only waiting on God to declare the systems separate functions in six days,
2 Ibid, 20
3 Ibid
4 Walton, John. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament
5 Rata, Tiberius. Genesis 1 as Ancient Cosmology. 2011
6 Hanna, Martin. It takes a Miracle: An Analysis of John H. Walton’s View Of Cosmic Temple Inauguration
7 Walton, John. The Lost World of Genesis One.
8 Ibid
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with a seventh day of rest.9 Walton emphasizes the ancient worlds regard for the dwelling places
for gods. Surrounded by polytheistic religions it would be common knowledge gods took up
residency in temples built, as it was required. Again, the temple was only given acknowledgment
when the god was able to enter and have divine rest, typically happing on day seven of a temple
inauguration. The number seven is significant in ancient temple accounts, as well as the Bible10
Walton’s theory suggests God’s temple is all of his creation, “This represents a change that has
taken place over the seven days. Prior to day one, God’s spirit was active over the nonfunctional
cosmos; God was involved but had not taken up his residence. The establishment of the
functional cosmic temple is effectuated by God taking up his residence on day seven.”11 The
Cosmic Temple requires Genesis 1 to be viewed as a temple text and not a literal seven days of
material creation.
With Genesis 1 referring to the seven days as temple (cosmos) inauguration one must
consider all the material of the Earth to have happened prior to day one. Walton asserts this view
point does not attempt to answer the question of the age of the Earth, nor does the Genesis 1
account, nor does the Bible.12 The information is just not there. However, Walton’s interpretation
of the Hebrew word “day”, does have a literal 24-hour meaning although the seven days are not
literal, “it is evident that the nature of the days takes on much less significant role that has
normally been the case in views that focus on material creation, in that they no longer have any
connection to the material age of the earth. These are seven twenty-four-hour days.”13 This view
point does not content to argue with theories on the age of the earth.
9 Ibid
10 Ibid
11 Ibid 84
12 Ibid
13 Ibid 90
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Response to Cosmic Temple Theory
Young Earth Creation (YEC) adheres to a literal reading of Genesis 1, viewing the seven
days as seven twenty-four-hour days. In contradiction to the Cosmic Temple theory, YEC asserts
that Genesis 1 speaks explicitly of a physical world that can be studied so that all people could
come to know him through it.14 Walton contends that the age of the earth does not matter because
the Bible does not need to be read scientifically, as that pulls ancient cosmology into modern
thinking.15 However, if the age of the earth is inconsequential then this disrupts the historical
timeline and truthfulness of the Bible. If the truthfulness of the Bible fails then the whole of
Christianity is based on deceit. Wise asserts, “If taken at face value, the Bible seems to contain
all the information necessary to determine the age of things− as well as the information
necessary to fairly accurately locate all the important events of Scripture on a time line from the
beginning of time through the earliest history of the church.”16 Walton appears to dismiss this
glaring issue to adhere to a controversial view of an apparent reinterpretation of scripture through
the framework of polytheistic cultures.
Walton cites similarities found in ancient texts of Israel’s Near East neighbors concerning
conceptual knowledge of the natural world, even in the men God inspired to pen the Old
Testament. Walton, for lack of better words, asserts the old cliché “you can take the girl out of
the country, but you can’t take the country of the girl”, when he maintains that Israel may
thought of themselves as distinct from their pagan counterparts, but could not think outside of the
cultural river they all lived in.17 This leaves Walton to suggest Genesis 1, like other texts in the
ancient Near East, cannot reflect a literal history but only provide insight to cultural function.
14 Wise, Kurt. Faith, Form, and Time: What the Bible Teaches and Science Confirms about Creation and
Age of the Earth. 2002
15 Walton, John The Lost World of Genesis one
16 Wise 47
17 Walton, John. Ancient Near Eastern Thought
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Walton’s Cosmic Temple inauguration also reflects pagan ideals in ancient times by surmising
that God, like multitude of pagan gods, only took residency of His cosmic temple after an
unknown time of work building it. This begs the question that if the Bible teaches God’s word is
true, inspired, and holy, then why does Genesis 1 ready like a myth to Walton? YEC cannot
accept Genesis 1 as only a temple account because it deviates from truth and discounts the
historical relevancy of the entire Bible. Walton falls short when he asserts God did not reveal
knowledge concerning a creation timeline because God did not think it relevant for people to
know. God thought it important enough to provide genealogies with incredible accuracy to
maintain a historical timeline for His people. In the New Testament Jesus affirmed Old
Testament Scripture as history, “Jesus revealed His complete trust in Scriptures by treating as
historical fact the accounts in the OT which most contemporary people think are unbelievable
mythology. Those historical accounts include Adam and Eve, Abel as the first prophet martyred,
Noah and the flood…”18
Walton’s explanation is that Christians are not equipped to understand and cautions the
modern reader of dangers of reading the Bible without a significant understanding of Hebrew
language and ancient culture, to such ends of declaring that the Old Testament was not written to
any other population than Israel.19 It feels almost presumptions to think God did not know His
word would be translated into over 700 languages worldwide! If this claim were true it would
require that God only imparted special knowledge to a select group of people who could interpret
the Bible for those who weren’t educated. This did not end well for the Catholic Church, and
does not work in the framework of Bible.
Conclusion
18 Mortenson, Terry. “Jesus, Evangelical Scholars, and the Age of the Earth”. 2007
19 Walton, John. The Lost World
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John Walton’s Cosmic Temple theory is most certainly interesting, and in certain areas
compelling. Diving into the ancient culture of the Israelites holds ones attention to say the least.
However, buying into the concept that the biblical account of creation is not an actual historical
event thus calling all other historical biblical accounts into question just does not work.
Christianity is only to be believed by the faithful if the Creator is too believed. If one part of the
Bible is wrong, then all of it is. The Cosmic Temple theory does not measure up to God’s
standard of truthfulness and therefore holds no credibility.
Te
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Bibliography
