The Gap Theory, also known as the ruin-reconstruction theory, allows for a gap between Genesis verses 1 and 2 of the Creation process, in an effort to harmonize science with the Bible. It is basically an attempt to solve the geological evidence that science presents by making a place for the catastrophe and chaos developments that are seemingly witnessed in the earth's fossiliferous strata.
The theory has been advocated for centuries. The modern form originated with Thomas Chalmers of Edinburgh University in response to George Culver's scientific presentation of the evidence for these catastrophic changes. The wide circulation of the Gap Theory by George H. Pember in his book Earth's Earliest Ages, and by C.I. Scofield in the Scofield Reference Bible helped spread the ideas. Arthur C. Custance's Without Form and Void, was the most scholarly and lengthy defense of the gap theory, which was published in 1970.
http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/worldview/gap_theory.html
Before getting into the Scriptural aspect of this discussion, one needs to first understand the background and history of the gap theory. Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), a notable Scottish theologian and first moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, is credited with being the first proponent of the gap theory. His proposal of the theory was first recorded in 1814 in one of his lectures at Edinburgh University. Until 1814, no theologian had put forth the idea of a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. Chalmer’s teaching to a great extent reflected what was happening in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
In 1795, James Hutton (1726-1797) introduced the scientific doctrine of uniformitarianism in his book Theory of the Earth. Hutton believed that the processes of the past (e.g. climate, sedimentation, decay, etc.) occurred at the same rate as those of the present--a way of thinking that was prophesied in II Peter 3:4 as a sign of the last days. Uniformitarianism is now summarized in the phrase, "the present is the key to the past." His questionable logic became the foundation for many of the "scientific" discoveries in the early 19th century. Hutton’s teachings most affected the field of geology, then in its infant stages.
Following in the footsteps of Hutton, Charles Lyell (1797-1875) became known as the"high priest of uniformitarianism "and "the father of modern geology." Lyell’s famous three-volume work, Principles of Geology, quickly became the catalyst for the geologic movement’s move to uniformitarian principles. Many early geologists, after studying the numerous layers of sediment existing in the earth’s crust, assumed the layers were a result of the flood of Noah, knowing that moving water causes many layers to be deposited. Others claimed they had no idea as to how they were deposited. A few thought the layers were deposited slowly over millions of years at the same rate layers are deposited today. This slow but steady accumulation was thought to be an example of uniformitarianism. For hundreds of years, scientists in all fields of study had worked within a 6,000-year time frame for the age of the earth, primarily drawn from the chronology of the Bible. With the introduction of uniformitarian principles into science, geologists felt they finally had the answer to the mystery.
Shortly after the publication of Hutton’s and Lyell’s books, Christians began to feel that they were under a scientific attack for their belief that the earth was only a few thousand years old. One has only to read the writings of Thomas Chalmers to understand how sharply he felt the attacks of science upon the Scriptures. Some geologists and theologians, knowing that the uniformitarian deposit of sediment layers would require millions of years, quickly rejected the Biblical age of the earth and moved to adjust the Bible’s time frame to coincide with their new theory. Chalmers, like many other Christians at this time, began to seek a way to harmonize the Genesis account of creation with the newly accepted teachings of geology. He attempted to do this with the gap theory.
Since 1814, many theologians have followed Chalmers’ example and attempted to accommodate both Scripture and the new supposed science. In 1859, Charles Darwin’s book The Orgin of Species introduced scientists and theologians to the possibility of an even longer time frame for the age of the earth. For example, G.H. Pember stated in his book Earth's Earliest Ages, "There is room for any length of time between the first and second verse of the Bible. "Statements such as these pressured many Christians to accept other dangerous theories under the guise of "science. "Theologians struggled to remain current with popular scientific findings.
The gap theory trend gained its greatest support in 1909 when C.I. Scofield first published his Scofield Study Bible. Dr. Scofield supported the gap theory in his explanation that "the first creative act refers to the dateless past, and gives scope for all the geologic ages." He commented that "no conflict of science with the Genesis cosmogony remains." Dr. Scofield also advocated the "Day-Age "theory--another "time-allowing" theory teaching that the six days of creation were not literal 24-hour days but actually long periods of time. The Scofield Study Bible, believed to be the most widely used study Bible of its kind, resulted in a widespread acceptance of the gap theory, which continues today.
About the same time the Scofield Study Bible began its circulation, another very popular theological work was published, Dispensational Truth by Clarence Larkin. In his book, Dr. Larkin detailed the existence of a "chaotic earth "between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. His willingness to"fall back then upon Science "allowed science to greatly infiltrate his theology [Note his capitalization of the word Science]. This influence can be seen in the way Dr. Larkin embraced the "Nebular Hypothesis, "a predecessor of the "Big Bang" theory.
Regardless of the reason, the gap theory has gained considerable support from several modern theologians. These theologians, such as Arthur C. Custance, author of Without Form and Void (1970), and well known preachers Billy Graham and John Hagee, have adopted the gap theory, in one form or another. For some, the gap theory is the only explanation they have to make the Bible fit their preconceived idea for the age of the earth. For others, it is the only way they can explain certain passages in Scripture.
http://www.beaconmbc.com/articles/thegaptheory.htm
The theory has been advocated for centuries. The modern form originated with Thomas Chalmers of Edinburgh University in response to George Culver's scientific presentation of the evidence for these catastrophic changes. The wide circulation of the Gap Theory by George H. Pember in his book Earth's Earliest Ages, and by C.I. Scofield in the Scofield Reference Bible helped spread the ideas. Arthur C. Custance's Without Form and Void, was the most scholarly and lengthy defense of the gap theory, which was published in 1970.
http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/worldview/gap_theory.html
Before getting into the Scriptural aspect of this discussion, one needs to first understand the background and history of the gap theory. Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), a notable Scottish theologian and first moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, is credited with being the first proponent of the gap theory. His proposal of the theory was first recorded in 1814 in one of his lectures at Edinburgh University. Until 1814, no theologian had put forth the idea of a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. Chalmer’s teaching to a great extent reflected what was happening in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
In 1795, James Hutton (1726-1797) introduced the scientific doctrine of uniformitarianism in his book Theory of the Earth. Hutton believed that the processes of the past (e.g. climate, sedimentation, decay, etc.) occurred at the same rate as those of the present--a way of thinking that was prophesied in II Peter 3:4 as a sign of the last days. Uniformitarianism is now summarized in the phrase, "the present is the key to the past." His questionable logic became the foundation for many of the "scientific" discoveries in the early 19th century. Hutton’s teachings most affected the field of geology, then in its infant stages.
Following in the footsteps of Hutton, Charles Lyell (1797-1875) became known as the"high priest of uniformitarianism "and "the father of modern geology." Lyell’s famous three-volume work, Principles of Geology, quickly became the catalyst for the geologic movement’s move to uniformitarian principles. Many early geologists, after studying the numerous layers of sediment existing in the earth’s crust, assumed the layers were a result of the flood of Noah, knowing that moving water causes many layers to be deposited. Others claimed they had no idea as to how they were deposited. A few thought the layers were deposited slowly over millions of years at the same rate layers are deposited today. This slow but steady accumulation was thought to be an example of uniformitarianism. For hundreds of years, scientists in all fields of study had worked within a 6,000-year time frame for the age of the earth, primarily drawn from the chronology of the Bible. With the introduction of uniformitarian principles into science, geologists felt they finally had the answer to the mystery.
Shortly after the publication of Hutton’s and Lyell’s books, Christians began to feel that they were under a scientific attack for their belief that the earth was only a few thousand years old. One has only to read the writings of Thomas Chalmers to understand how sharply he felt the attacks of science upon the Scriptures. Some geologists and theologians, knowing that the uniformitarian deposit of sediment layers would require millions of years, quickly rejected the Biblical age of the earth and moved to adjust the Bible’s time frame to coincide with their new theory. Chalmers, like many other Christians at this time, began to seek a way to harmonize the Genesis account of creation with the newly accepted teachings of geology. He attempted to do this with the gap theory.
Since 1814, many theologians have followed Chalmers’ example and attempted to accommodate both Scripture and the new supposed science. In 1859, Charles Darwin’s book The Orgin of Species introduced scientists and theologians to the possibility of an even longer time frame for the age of the earth. For example, G.H. Pember stated in his book Earth's Earliest Ages, "There is room for any length of time between the first and second verse of the Bible. "Statements such as these pressured many Christians to accept other dangerous theories under the guise of "science. "Theologians struggled to remain current with popular scientific findings.
The gap theory trend gained its greatest support in 1909 when C.I. Scofield first published his Scofield Study Bible. Dr. Scofield supported the gap theory in his explanation that "the first creative act refers to the dateless past, and gives scope for all the geologic ages." He commented that "no conflict of science with the Genesis cosmogony remains." Dr. Scofield also advocated the "Day-Age "theory--another "time-allowing" theory teaching that the six days of creation were not literal 24-hour days but actually long periods of time. The Scofield Study Bible, believed to be the most widely used study Bible of its kind, resulted in a widespread acceptance of the gap theory, which continues today.
About the same time the Scofield Study Bible began its circulation, another very popular theological work was published, Dispensational Truth by Clarence Larkin. In his book, Dr. Larkin detailed the existence of a "chaotic earth "between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. His willingness to"fall back then upon Science "allowed science to greatly infiltrate his theology [Note his capitalization of the word Science]. This influence can be seen in the way Dr. Larkin embraced the "Nebular Hypothesis, "a predecessor of the "Big Bang" theory.
Regardless of the reason, the gap theory has gained considerable support from several modern theologians. These theologians, such as Arthur C. Custance, author of Without Form and Void (1970), and well known preachers Billy Graham and John Hagee, have adopted the gap theory, in one form or another. For some, the gap theory is the only explanation they have to make the Bible fit their preconceived idea for the age of the earth. For others, it is the only way they can explain certain passages in Scripture.
http://www.beaconmbc.com/articles/thegaptheory.htm
A long explained definition of the Gap Theory and its marriage to evolution:
http://ncse.com/cej/8/3/formless-void-gap-theory-creationism
