Abstract
This paper examines the Ancient Science/Mythology view of the days of Genesis 1 as
understood by some Evangelicals, contrasting it with the traditional 24-hour day, young-Earth
perspective. The Ancient Greek Mythology view in comparison to young-Earth creationism is
one that is filled with a compelling fairy-tale like storyline that is made up of characters that
brings about the formation of how the Earth came to be. Whereas young-Earth creationism is
founded upon God’s word and his creation of everything came to be within 6 literal days.
This analysis explores the origins, implications, and interpretations of the Genesis days from
both the Greek mythology and young-Earth creationism. The findings highlight significant
differences in interpretation, theological implications, and views on the compatibility of
scripture with scientific understanding, concluding with reflections on the importance of
these discussions for faith and understanding of the Bible.
Overview of Greek Mythology Creationism
The Ancient Science/Mythology view, while gaining prominence in the 20th century,
is rooted in a long-standing tradition of biblical interpretation that seeks to understand the
Genesis creation narrative within its ancient Near Eastern context. The ancient Greeks had
numerous mythology about the history of creation. Despite the fact that they all spoke the
same language and shared a culture, each group of people had their own set of how the world
came to be. The first to combine these traditions was Hesiod’s Thegony, a poem which dated
around 8th-7th BC1. The work starts with Chaos, a formless and chasmic void from which
everything emerged. The only thing in the abyss was Nyx, a bird with black wings. With the
1. Jean-Pierre Luminet, Creation, Chaos, Time : From Myth to Modern Cosmology,
(Marseilles, France: Aix-Marseille Université, 2016).
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wind, she deposited a golden egg, which she sat on for ages. Finally, life began to stir within
the egg, and Eros, the god of love, emerged. One half of the shell rose into the air, becoming
the sky, while the other became the Earth. Eros gave the sky the name Uranus, and the Earth
the name Gaia. Then Eros caused them to fall in love2. This was the start of the many
generations to come that lead to some of the most well-known gods and goddesses, such as
Zeus and his 2 sons, Prometheus and Epimetheus. They were told to create the living beings
on earth and to give them gifts. Though there are many more details, these are the major
events of how Greek mythology takes on the creation of the universe.
The interpretation of the word “yom” has been debated greatly by many individuals,
especially in its use in Genesis and young-earth creationism. "Yom" is a Hebrew term, and
the concept and meaning of "yom" are primarily concerned with Hebrew and biblical
literature, particularly the Book of Genesis3. According to Greg Neyman, there can be a
multitude of ways that the use of “yom” can be interpreted into different time periods if
examined in the Old Testament. In Greek mythology, as a different cultural and theological
tradition, does not provide an explanation of "yom" because the term does not appear in
Greek literature or mythological accounts. Greek mythology has its own theories for the
beginnings of the cosmos and the gods, and any investigation into "yom" would fall outside
the realm of that mythological tradition.
Response to Ancient Science/Mythology View
2. Lindsey Murtagh, Creation Myths-Greek Creation Myth. (Williams.edu, 2019).
3. Greg Neyman, Word Study – Yom. (AnswersInCreation.org, 2005).
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Critics from the young-Earth perspective challenges the Ancient Science/Mythology
view on the grounds of interpretive methodology and biblical authority. They argue that
allowing for a non-literal interpretation of "day" opens the door to undermining the historical
narrative of Genesis, which is foundational for understanding sin, redemption, and the
historical Adam. Young-Earth proponents further argue that the Ancient Science/Mythology
view conflicts with the clear teaching of Scripture regarding the timeline of creation and the
introduction of sin and death into the world. They maintain that any death before the fall
contradicts the teaching of Romans 5:12 and 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, which link death to
Adam's sin and Christ's redemption. As said before, Greek mythology comprises its own set
of creation myths, involving a variety of gods and primordial beings. For example, in
Hesiod's "Theogony," the universe begins from Chaos, and through a series of generations
involving gods like Gaia (Earth), Uranus (Sky), Cronus, and eventually Zeus, the cosmos and
its divine hierarchy are established. These narratives focus on the interrelationships and
conflicts among gods and primordial entities, rather than a structured creation week.
Therefore, when discussing how Greek mythology views or interprets "day" in the context of
Genesis 1, it's essential to clarify that there is no direct interaction between these two
traditions on this matter. Not only that, but a notable point of similarity between Greek
mythology and the Bible is that both accounts, as well as the scientific view agree that the
universe began, also known as cosmic beginning. Genesis recounts God creating the heavens
and the Earth, while Greek mythology begins with Chaos and science refers to the Big Bang.
Though this is a similarity, the most notable difference is in the timeframe. YEC proposes a
six-day creation, which contradicts ancient Greek myths that do not give timeframes for the
gods' emergence, battles, or world-shaping. Scientifically, the universe's formation lasted
around 13.8 billion years, with Earth originating around 4.5 billion years ago. The Bible
claims that there was no death before Adam and Eve’s fall. Thus, the geological record of
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rock layers and fossils could not have existed millions of years before the Fall. This can be
proven with the flood that occurred in Genesis 7. Scientific evidence suggests that the global
Flood of Noah is responsible for the majority of rock layers and fossils that was not only
found in Mesopotamia but all over. The widespread evidence of sedimentary rock layers
containing land and marine fossils is consistent with Noah's Flood theory. If the majority of
the rock record is evidence of the Flood, then there is no geological evidence for millions of
years4.
Conclusion
The discussion between the Ancient Science/Mythology and young-Earth views of
Genesis 1 reflects deeper questions about the nature of biblical authority, the interpretation of
ancient texts, and the relationship between faith and science. Another interesting fact is that in
both Greek mythology and YEC, the subject of giants is recorded. According to Genesis 6:4,
giants were on earth before and after the Flood—whenever the sons of God (bene ha 'elohim)
sired children with women. The "sons of God" are viewed as heavenly or divine beings in the
Old Testament. Greek mythology also mentions a number of ancient powerful men. The
Olympian gods often had affairs with women5. Though there are similarities between the 2
accounts, the Bible records the true history of our world through Genesis and it can be said
that Greek mythology is based on biblical ideas obscured by mythical tales. This debate
encourages Christians to engage deeply with both the biblical text and the world around
them, seeking to understand how ancient truths speak to contemporary questions. As
believers navigate these complex issues, the ultimate goal remains to glorify God through a
faithful reading of His Word and a thoughtful engagement with His creation.
4. Terry Mortenson, Young-Earth Creationist View Summarized And Defeated,
(AnswersInGenesis.org, 2011).
5. Tim Chaffey, Giant Speculation: The Bible and Greek Mythology,
(midwestapologetics.org, 2013).
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Chaffey, Tim. 2013. “Giant Speculations: The Bible and Greek Mythology.” Tim
Chaffey. November 11, 2013.
Luminet, Jean-Pierre. n.d. “Creation, Chaos, Time : From Myth to Modern
Cosmology.”
Mortenson, Terry. 2011. “Young-Earth Creationist View Summarized and Defended.”
Answers in Genesis. February 16, 2011.
Murtagh, Lindsey. 2019. “Creation Myths -- Greek Creation Myth.” Williams.edu.
2019.
Word, Study -Yom, Greg By, and Neyman. n.d.
“WWW.ANSWERSINCREATION.ORG.” Accessed February 12, 2024.
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