Fill or “refill” the earth? What’s a man to do?

Genesis 1:29 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” KJV

There are many who question the use of “replenish” in Genesis 1:29, especially those who believe in a literal interpretation of the creation story and also believe in a young, approximately 6000 year old, earth.  Those in support are those who believe in the Gap Theory of creation.  That theory is one of many that supports an old earth.  An old earth which matches “scientific” dating of the earth.

Those who claim to have a knowledge of the original languages say that replenish simply means to fill and that this is a mistranslation of the word used for fill.  Simple enough.  If you want more explanation use a search engine on the internet.

But what if you really believe that the Bible is the Word of God and is without error as delivered to us in the English language?  Well, just go find an English version that uses the word fill instead of replenish.  Done.  Of course, other versions have their own issues.  So learn Greek and Hebrew.  But then which Greek/Hebrew version should be used?  And, if we can’t even understand classical English, what chance is there of being fluent in Greek and Hebrew?  Okay, use the earliest manuscripts.  But earliest doesn’t mean correct either, they are not written in English, and the “originals” do not exist.  One argument against the “earliest manuscripts” is that they were well preserved because no one used them due to errors or editing.  So, what’s a man to do?  Think...

Did the translators who wrote the KJV have the word “fill” at their disposal?  Obviously yes since it was used in Genesis 1:22.

Genesis 1:22 “And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.”

Why not use “replenish” here if this were a recreation?  Were there no fish in the sea?  Maybe that is why the first creation failed and God had to start over again?  Note also that the fowl were only to “multiply” and not “fill” the earth.

What is incredible is that the ocean is literally filled with life.  From the surface to the deepest depths, that can be explored with high tech equipment.  And from what we would consider “normal” temperatures at the surface to hydrothermal vents that can reach temperatures of over 300Degrees Centigrade (water boils at 100 Degrees Centigrade).  Consider the following example.

"This super-heated water then re-ascends to the center of the mid-ocean ridge and emerges as a fast jet at about 350°C.  As this hot jet mixes with cold (34–36°F [1–2°C]) ocean water, hydrogen sulfide conveyed in solution from the deep rocks precipitates instantly, often coloring the jet black. Such jets are termed "black smokers." Hydrogen sulfide is usually poisonous to life, but the specialized communities around black smokers could not live without it.  A vibrant community of bacteria, tubeworms that are unique to the geothermal vent environment, and other creatures exists around hydrothermal vents."
http://www.enotes.com/earth-science/geothermal-deep-ocean-vents

The seas are filled, not so much the earth.  Land creatures are much more temperamental.  So maybe multiply is the right word to use for the fowl.

But now the sixth day...
 

Not only was man created on this day, but also all the cattle, creeping things and beasts.  None of those were commanded to fill or multiply in the earth, but then comes man...

Genesis 1:26-28 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

Why not fill?  Maybe because man was never meant to fill the earth as fish fill the sea.  If you live in a city, it may seem like man has filled the earth, but there are many places that are not inhabited.  Why not refill?  I think that assumes that something was once filled.  I think the best definition for replenish is to restore to a previous state.  Maybe filled, but maybe not.  And that is why it may be the best word to use here.

But doesn’t that support a recreation or the Gap Theory of creation?  Not necessarily.  What is to be replenished?  God gave man dominion over all the earth.  Man is it tend to it, not just consume it or destroy it.  That’s why God gave some as farmers and some as hunters.  A good farmer and a good hunter manage their resources so that there will be a harvest in the future.  They act as if their resources are in fact limited and a blessing.  In this sense, replenish is the best word to use.  If a field is cleared for food, plant it again for another harvest. replenish it.  After the fall, if a beast is taken for food, make sure that there are enough left to reproduce so that they may be replenished.

I think the same principle applies after the flood.  Take care of what there is Noah.

Genesis 9:1 "And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth."

Replenish is not a mistranslation of the word for fill.  In fact, It seems to be the most appropriate word to use for the responsibility that God gave to man as one who has dominion over all the earth.

Does anyone use the word replenish in the sense described above as applying to resources rather than to man?

I found the following during an internet search for replenish.

"Replenishing the Earth LLC (RTE) helps corporations, schools, restaurants, and institutions save money, significantly reduce waste, and replenish the earth.  What’s good for the earth is virtually always good for people.  By thinking with the end in mind, a product's lifecycle "end" can be a "new beginning" . Applying cradle-to-cradle concepts to waste management and the product choices we make, enable our precious resources to live on for generations to come."
http://www.replenishingtheearth.com/home_page.html

Is the Bible really your authority?  Search for yourselves whether these things are so...

Beginning the year with end of the year tidbits...

Since this is the beginning of the year, here are some thoughts from the end of last year...

Many people know that the last thing recorded in the Bible that Jesus said before He died was, “It is finished.”  Do you know what was the first thing he said that was recorded?  And no, it was not, “Gentlemen, start your engines!”  It was, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”  He finished the work that He was do to on earth.  Of course that is not where the story ends, since He did rise again the third day according to the Scriptures and now sits at the right hand of the Father.  Yes, the story is still unfolding...

Christmas traditions.... 

First of all, Mary and Joseph were married, not just engaged, when Mary was found to be with child of the Holy Ghost.  Here is the passage from Matthew...

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”

“Joseph her husband” is a pretty clear statement.
“Put here away” is also clear for those who have read other portions of the Bible, like...

Matthew 1:19 “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”
Matthew 19:7 “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?”
Mark 10:4 “And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.”

“...before they came together...”

Yes, Mary was a virgin as prophesied.  A miracle!

There is no mention of three kings.  Yes, three gifts, but not three kings.  And why do people think that magi is a better/simpler term than “wise men?”  Isn’t an argument for newer versions of the Bible to get rid of archaic language that modern men cannot understand.  I don’t know, I think wise men is much clearer than magi.  I also think it is simply wise men who seek Jesus, not necessarily magi (magicians, astronomers, scientists, etc...)

The Star...

It was a star.  Not a comet, not a meteor, not an overlapping of celestial bodies.  And there is no mention that the star led the wise men to Jerusalem.  Here is something interesting though.  The wise men came from the east...

“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

Where was the star when the wise men saw it?  Could it have been in the east, as the wise men may have said?  What is the significance of that?  Revelation 22:16 reads...

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

Where would you expect a “bright and morning star to appear?”  In the east where the sun rises.  Back to the comment about the star not leading them to Jerusalem...

“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”

The star led the wise men from Jerusalem to the Bethlehem.  Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem.  The star went before them, or led them to where the young child was.  The star stopped over where the young child was.  This was not a normal star, or supernova, or conjunction.  It was a miraculous star.  And it did not stop over the manger...

“And when they were come into the house...”

This was a time later, not the night that Christ was born...

Miracles

Have they ceased?  I witnessed a miracle recently.  25 gallon sized bags of popcorn returned $500!  How is that for a return on investment?  But wait I can explain it...
The people buying the popcorn were just generous because it was going to a good cause.  Right, and the feeding of the five thousand or four thousand...  There were probably many in the crowd that had some food and just put some in rather than taking it out.  The crossing of the Red Sea on dry land, shallow water crossing on reeds... 

God is still at work... Watch and Pray

Happy New Year!