Updated October 5, 2004 (first published October 8, 2003) (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

DESCRIPTION OF THE GAP THEORY
According to the “gap theory,” God created the universe in Genesis 1:1 and between then and the event described in verse 2, a great catastrophe occurred. The Scofield Reference Bible presents this theory as follows: “The face of the earth bears everywhere the marks of such a catastrophe. There are not wanting intimations which connect it with a previous testing and fall of angels.” Another example of this is found in J. Sidlow Baxter’s Explore the Book: “The second verse, which says that the earth was ‘waste and void,’ does not, as the many think, describe the first condition of the earth after its creation. It alludes to a cataclysm which desolated the earth later. Verses 1 and 2 have no logical connection. There is a break between them, the duration of which is not known. ... Modern geology furnishes dates proving the immense age of our globe. ... Between the first two verses of Genesis there is ample scope for all the geologic eras.”

ORIGIN OF AND REASON FOR THE GAP THEORY
“Although hints of this theory can be traced back in Christian writings as early as the fourth century A.D., it was not until the ministries of Thomas Chalmers, Scottish scholar, and George H. Pember (1876) that the theory really caught on. In 1917 C.I. Scofield included it in his notes and its popularity was assured. These last two dates are significant, for by 1880 Darwin’s theory of evolution, as propounded in his book The Origin of the Species, was universally accepted by the scientific world. This theory taught that the world was many millions of years old, as indicated by the vast fossil record and the claims of uniformitarian geology. The Christian theologian was then confronted with a serious problem. How could all this be reconciled with Genesis 1? An answer was found--uncounted millions of years could be conveniently tucked into that bottomless hole which was thought to exist between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. Thus the gap theory may be viewed in part as an attempt by the Christian theologian to appease the non-Christian evolutionist” (Willmington’s Guide to the Bible). We see this clearly in J. Sidlow Baxter’s comments as quoted above.

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE GAP THEORY ANSWERED (some of this is from Willmington's Guide to the Bible):

(1) Supporters of the gap theory say the phrase in Gen. 1:2, ‘without form and void’ (Hebrew: ‘tohu wa-bohu”), appears elsewhere in Isaiah 34:11; 45:18 and speaks of judgment. However, in other passages it simply means space. See Job 26:7; Deut. 32:10; Job 6:18; 12:24; Ps. 107:40.

(2) Supporters of the gap theory say the verb translated “was” in Genesis 1:2 (Hebrew: “hayetha”) should be translated “became.” Scriptural evidence, however, would deny this. The Hebrew verb “hayetha” is found 264 times in the Pentateuch, and of these, in 258 instances the word is correctly translated “was.” See, for example, Jonah 3:3.

(3) Supporters of the gap theory say there is a difference between the verbs “bara” (“created,” Gen. 1:1) and “asah” (“made,” Gen. 1:7). But to the contrary, these verbs are used synonymously. In Gen. 1:26, the word “asah” is used for man’s creation, whereas in v. 27, the word “bara” is used.

(4) According to supporters of the gap theory, the “darkness” in Genesis 1:2 is symbolic of evil. This is not always the case, though, as seen in Psalm 104:20, 24: “Thou makest darkness, and it is night, wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth...”

(5) According to supporters of the gap theory, God’s command to Adam and Eve in Gen. 1:28 to “replenish” the earth shows that the earth had formerly been inhabited and now had to be re-inhabited. But the word “replenish” in Gen. 1:28 simply means “to fill.” It is the same Hebrew word (male’), which is translated “fill” in v. 22. This Hebrew word is translated “fill,” “fulfill,” and “be full” 246 times. In modern English, the word “replenish” has lost its earlier meaning of “fill” and has come to mean more strictly “re-fill.” This reflects in the common usage of the word from 1611 to present. Merriam-Webster has this definition: “1 a : to fill with persons or animals : to STOCK b archaic : to supply fully : to PERFECT. c : to fill with inspiration or power : to NOURISH. 2 a : to fill or build up again <replenished his glass> b : to make good : to REPLACE.”

(6) Supporters of the gap theory use Jer. 4:23 and Isaiah 24:1 to support their position, but these verses refer to the great Tribulation prior to Christ’s return and not to creation.

A SUMMARY OF WHY WE REJECT THE GAP THEORY (from Willmington's Guide to the Bible):

(1) It is UNSCIENTIFIC. The gap theory was (in part) an attempt to reconcile the creation account with the long periods of time in the theory of evolution. But evolution itself as a theory is totally unscientific, defying the second law of thermodynamics [that the universe is in the process of decay and decline rather than in a process of evolving upwardly].

(2) It is UNSCRIPTURAL. Paul states in Romans 5:12 and 8:20-22 that man’s sin brought about death, even of animals. But the gap theory would have Adam walking on top of a gigantic fossilized animal graveyard!

(3) It is UNNECESSARY. The most natural interpretation of Gen. 1 and 2 is taking it at face value, without addition or subtraction. Gen. 1:1 thus becomes a summary statement of creation. In the first verse God tells us what he did. In the remaining verses He tells us how He did it.