How could there be evening and morning the first three days of Creation?

Question

The Bible says that light was created on the first day (Gen. 1:3-5). But the sun, moon, and stars weren't created until day four (Gen. 1:14-19). So, how could there be "evening and morning" on days 1 (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13)? Day 2-3 too.

Answer

Thanks for your question.

God created "darkness" (Gen. 1:2) and "light" (Gen. 1:3; cf. 2 Cor. 4:6). He also separated the light from the darkness (Gen. 1:4) and he "called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night" (Gen. 1:5). So, upon the very First Day of Creation there was Day and Night and therefore, "there was evening and there was morning, the first day" (Gen. 1:5).

Since the Trinity (Gen. 1:2 Acts 17:24 Heb. 1:2 = Let "us" make man in "our" image, after "our" likeness [Gen. 1:26; cf. Gen. 3:22]) is Creator God (Gen. 1:1; Psa. 104:24; Isa. 40:28; Jer. 10:16; Rev. 10:6), they own "darkness" and "light" (Exod. 19:5; Psa. 50:12) and know where they reside (Job 38:19-20) and, so they can command the morning and the dawn (Job 38:12; Amos 5:8) without the sun, moon, and stars (which they also own).

While it is true that God did not create the sun, moon, and stars until Day Four of Creation (Gen. 1:14-19), the Trinity being omnipotent (all-powerful) did not require light-bearing bodies (sun, moon, stars) to give light to the earth. Though there will be no darkness in Heaven at all, God also produces light there without a sun, moon, or stars. As John writes, "And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever" (Rev. 22:5; cf. Isa. 60:19). "God is light" (1 John 1:5; cf. John 8:12).

So, since God created the world in six literal Days (Exod. 20:11), the fact that there were "evening and morning" during each Day of Creation is actually an expected pattern (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31).

Various Creation Positions

What is the Big Bang Theory?
What is the Day Age Theory?
What is Ex-nihilo?
The Framework Theory
What is the Gap Theory?
What About Hebrews 11:3?
What is the Intelligent Design Theory?
What is the Mature Universe Theory?
What is Old Earth Creationism (OEC)?
What is Progressive Creationism?
What is Theistic Evolution?
What is Young Earth Creationism (YEC)?

Related Topics

What is the meaning of Day in Genesis 1?
Are there two different accounts of Creation?
What is BioLogos?
Did man eat meat before the Fall and the Flood?
A Universal or Regional Flood?
What about the evidence of Carbon-14 dating?
What About Dinosaurs?
Scientific Evidence for YEC?
Extraterrestrials and the Bible?
What was the Scopes Monkey Trial?
Can a person be born an atheist?

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).