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The Big Bang is the most widely accepted explanation for the origin of the universe among scientists today. According to this theory, the universe began approximately 13.8 billion years ago from what some researchers speculate was a singularity—an unimaginably tiny speck with immeasurable density and temperature. Some argue that this initial singularity triggered the Big Bang, yet this proposal poses challenges to most traditional interpretations of the creation account in the book of Genesis.
In 1927 cosmologist Georges Lemaitre first proposed what would later be called the “Big Bang theory,” based on Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Later in the twentieth century, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and mathematical physicist Roger Penrose expanded on Lemaitre’s ideas, providing mathematical explanations for singularities. It was theoretical physicist John Archibald Wheeler who first coined the term singularity to describe this state of nearly infinite density and temperature.
To assess the concept of the initial singularity from a biblical worldview, understanding key terms is essential. Contrary to what the term Big Bang implies, there wasn’t a loud explosion. Rather, the theory suggests that the universe started in a state of high density and temperature and has been expanding ever since. The term initial singularity refers to the supposed state of the universe before the expansion, where properties like density and temperature reached unfathomable levels.
Next, it’s important to consider the theological implications of the initial singularity, which stands in contrast to the most commonly held interpretations of the creation account in Genesis 1—2. One such view is young earth creationism: between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, God created the world in seven consecutive 24-hour days. Advocates of YEC believe that God spoke each day of creation into existence, as a straightforward reading of the text indicates. For example: “And God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.’ And it was so” (Genesis 1:11, ESV, emphasis added). The initial singularity doesn’t align with the young earth interpretation of Scripture.
The initial singularity also presents challenges for old earth creationism, often referred to as “progressive creationism” or “day-age creationism.” According to OEC, the “days” in Genesis 1 refer to seven epochs of time, each consisting of billions of years. Accordingly, the “days” in the passage are symbolic summaries of changes that occurred over billions of years. While old earth creationists generally accept the scientific consensus for the age of the universe, they reject purely natural explanations for its existence, believing that God was directly involved in the process.
Like old earth creationism, the interpretation known as the “gap theory” accepts the scientific consensus on the age of the universe but rejects purely natural explanations for its origin. The gap theory argues that billions of years exist between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. According to this view, the first verse of Genesis describes the original creation. That was followed by a cataclysmic event—not mentioned in Scripture—possibly linked to Satan’s downfall, that rendered the earth “formless and void” (Genesis 1:2, LSB). The remainder of the account then describes a six-day re-creation that took place approximately 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Although the gap theory allows for the concept of the initial singularity, that idea is not central to its position.
The framework view interprets the creation account as exclusively literary and theological, rather than scientific or historical. This perspective doesn’t make arguments concerning the origin of the universe, the validity of the Big Bang theory, or the initial singularity. Instead, it emphasizes what it sees as the symbolic and orderly presentation of God’s creation process, organized to explain theological truths rather than record scientific details.
Proponents of Intelligent Design generally accept the scientific consensus on the age of the universe but reject Darwinian explanations for the origin of life and the universe. Their acceptance of an ancient universe allows for the possibility of the initial singularity, though they broadly maintain that there is evidence of a Creator’s involvement.
Theistic evolution—the belief that God guided Big Bang cosmology and Darwinian evolution—closely aligns with contemporary scientific explanations like the initial singularity. Rather than basing its views on the creation account or any other passage of Scripture, theistic evolution adheres to the prevailing scientific consensus. Thus, if the scientific community accepts the initial singularity as part of the Big Bang model, theistic evolution readily incorporates that concept into its teaching.
The origin of the universe has fascinated both Christians and non-Christians for centuries. When scientists propose new theories, Christians should evaluate them in light of Scripture, as God’s Word is true in all it affirms (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).
