Douglas F. Kelly, Ph.D (University of Edinburgh, Scotland) is a world class scholar, a brilliant theological mind, a skilled editor, and an excellent communicator. He is the former Richard Jordan Professor of Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary where he served honorably for thirty-three years between 1982-2016, during which time he also published numerous books and articles. He is also known for his work also as a senior minister of First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, South Carolina. He worked closely with David F. Wright at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) as the Editor-in-Chief of Calvin’s Old Testament Commentaries. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Reformed Theological Seminary.
In his book, Creation and Change, the seasoned Reformed theologian demonstrates a well-researched contribution that interacts with science, theology, and philosophy. Kelly tells us that he “attempts to think through the relationship of the first two chapters of Genesis” along with the witness of various disciplines of contemporary science. He provides us with a refreshing and masterful exposition and defense of a literal six day creation and young earth from a distinctively Biblically derived perspective. Both academics and laymen will find his writing style warm, clear, sophisticated, and persuasive.
Kelly begins the book with an explanation of why creation matters and how it is scientifically viable in the light of the “empirical science paradigm” that illustrates a dependence upon an outside Source (but cannot take us any further than the empirical universe) rather than the governing faith-biased perspective of “naturalistic science paradigm” that axiomatically leaves out any references to this Transcendent Source. He reasons that the role of faith within the scientific enterprise is very important.
Kelly then dives in and gives us an exposition of the first chapters of the Book of Genesis, explaining it as an absolute beginning—“In the beginning, God created…” His exposition explains the formative process of the six days of creation by interacting with theological perspectives such as absolute creation, creation out of nothing, the creation of angels, and alternative creation hypotheses, and how the Lord made an environment suitable for mankind by separation of air and land and sea, luminaries in the sky, fish and fowl and animals, culminating with man created in God’s image as the crown of the creation.
Kelly’s exposition of the six days of creation is further enriched by his interaction with the witnesses of contemporary science, including the laws of thermodynamics, the speed of light, physical chronometers, vapor canopy, biological structures, tectonic shifts, the flood, the geological column, fossils, human genome, as well as discussing the controversy of microevolution and macroevolution, and more. Kelly’s own exposition is enriched with the scholarship of well-credentialed scientists who’s works have skillfully guided him.
Kelly maintains that the order of the creation is oriented towards and culminates in the worship of the Biblical God, including the setting aside of a day of patterned rest as a remembrance and observance of the Sabbath day on the seventh day of creation. Kelly further explains that a change of day for the sabbath observance occurs upon the resurrection day of the Lord Jesus Christ, called the Lord’s Day—the first day, although maintaining there is no change in the observance and remembrance principle.
Douglas F. Kelly is a remarkable communicator and skilled scholar able to break down into bite sized clarity the complexities of theology, philosophy, and science in a sound and sophisticated manner. His book is an important contribution to the field. It is written primarily with the high school, university, seminary students, and perhaps Bible study groups in mind. Ministers and Elders will find it a very helpful tool to use along with Scripture. The laymen will find it accessible and easy to read, while theological students will discover the argument of the text persuasive, as Kelly employs Scripture to interpret Scripture, along with the supporting witness of the light from empirical scientific paradigms.
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About the author
Excellent primer on creation
This is an excellent primer of the Genesis creation account from a young earth creationist perspective. Kelly is particularly interested in three things: exegesis of the text, introducing the reader to scientific defenses of a young earth, and pointing out the flaws of the gap theory.Kelly is not a scientist, and admits to that fact, but he does provide very helpful summaries of the scientific literature and points the reader to resources for further study.At times I did wish Kelly would have gone into further detail of the exegesis, but I realize there is only so much he could pack into this book. Will this book convince a hardcore skeptic of YEC to change their mind? Probably not. However, for those who are open to considering different opinions this will at least give the non-YEC some things to think about. As a YEC myself I found the book interesting and informative.
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