(SIS S2 E1) Is Genesis Historical? Interview with Dr. Todd Wood and Paul Garner (Part 1)

By: Brian Chilton and Curtis Evelo | August 19, 2022

In recent times, the issue of creation studies has become a hot-button topic even among biblically conservative Evangelicals. Many have chosen to adopt a form of theistic evolution as part of their theology, even if it means tossing aside important doctrines and beliefs. For those who adopt this form of thinking, it is far easier to view Genesis 1-11 as mythological, metaphorical, or even fictional. But does one need to sacrifice creationism in light of the science? Is there not another way? On this first of a two-part series on the historicity of Genesis, Dr. Todd Wood and Paul Garner join Brian Chilton and Curtis Evelo to discuss the cumulative case that can be given for the historicity of Genesis. This discussion covers the following questions:

What reasons do we have to believe that God created the universe as we know it?
What are the latest findings that give weight to creationism?
Do we have reasons to believe that Adam and Eve were historical people?
What do you think about the mytho-historical tag that is often associated with Genesis 1-11 by some scholars?
What does the fossil record tell us about the flood? Global or regional?
In what areas does the human body show evidence of design?
What are the biological differences between Homo sapiens and other hominids?
What position do you hold concerning the age of the universe, and why?
How does a person navigate being in the minority of consensus when it comes to certain issues of creationism?

Meet Our Guests

Todd Charles Wood (PhD in biochemistry, University of Virginia) is the founder and president of the Core Academy of Science (coresci.org), a research and educational organization devoted to nurturing the next generation of faithful, Christ-like creation researchers to explore the hardest problems in creation. He is the author of The Quest: Exploring Creation’s Hardest Problems, and maintains a popular blog Todd’s Blog. He is a Co-host of the Podcast Let’s Talk Creation.

Paul Garner MSc, FGS is a full-time Researcher and Lecturer for Biblical Creation Trust (biblicalcreationtrust.org). He has an MSc in Geoscience from University College London, where he specialised in palaeobiology. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and a member of several other scientific societies. His first book, The New Creationism: Building Scientific Theories on a Biblical Foundation, and the new book Fossils and the Flood. He is a Co-host of the Podcast Let’s Talk Creation.

Meet Our Hosts

Brian G. Chilton is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Theology and Apologetics program at Liberty University. He is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast and the founder of Bellator Christi. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and plans to purse philosophical studies in the near future. He is also enrolled in Clinical Pastoral Education to better learn how to empower those around him. Brian is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.

Brian has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years and currently serves as a clinical hospice chaplain and interim pastoral work. Additionally, he serves as an editor for the Eleutheria Journal. At the prompting of the Lord, Brian established Bellator Christi Ministries in 2012. The ministry is aimed to provide readily available resources in theology, apologetics, biblical studies, and philosophy to those who want to know what Christianity teaches and why it should be believed. In 2019, Brian published his first book entitled the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. After finishing his Ph.D., Brian intends to publish more books. His areas of expertise include early Christology, early NT creeds, near-death experiences, biblical reliability, the blend of divine sovereignty and human freedom, and the need for empathy.

https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104

Curtis Evelo is a cattle rancher at the E6 Hereford Ranch in St. Ignatius, Montana. Curtis is the Co-Host and Producer of the Bellator Christi Podcast. He often teaches and speaks at his church Cornerstone Faith Center in St. Ignatius. Curtis provides a common-sense approach to Christianity as he contemplates the wonders of God’s creation in Big Sky Country. Curtis serves as the Vice-President of Bellator Christi Ministries, a contributor, and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. His research interests include Jewish studies in the New Testament, Old Testament typologies, and studies on free will.