Does the scientific theory of evolution disprove the existence of God?
When we read the book of Genesis, the phrase “God created” rings through those early chapters.
But to truly understand what is happening, we need to look closely at the original language. There are actually two distinct words in biblical Hebrew used to describe God’s creative power: bara and asar.
Bara vs. Asar: Making and Fashioning
First, we have the word bara, which exclusively describes God’s creative action of making something entirely out of nothing.
By contrast, the Hebrew word asar means to make or fashion something. It carries the specific sense of a creative action using the existing “stuff of the universe”. God does both: He makes from nothing (bara), and He also fashions from the stuff of the universe (asar).
Fascinatingly, human beings—who are made in His image—only do the second. We cannot make something out of nothing; we simply make or fashion things out of that which has already been made.
How “Asar” Connects to Evolution
Understanding the asar Hebrew meaning is incredibly helpful when we think about science. The word “evolution” describes the mutation and change of that which already exists; it is a mechanism, not an agent or a force making something from nothing.
The creative process through which God providentially brings about the diversity of life involves both creation ex nihilo (out of nothing) and the changing of the stuff of the universe. Therefore, evolution could simply be this idea of fashioning—of making something out of something that already existed.
A Deeper Awe of God’s Design
When we understand that asar refers to fashioning existing matter, we see that there is absolutely no conflict between God and scientific mechanisms.
Scientific theories like evolution encapsulate the patterns and regularities that we observe in nature, whereas theology speaks about meaning and purpose.
Rather than diminishing God’s role, studying how He fashions the universe can actually deepen our awe for the breathtaking intricacy and beauty of His creation.
