By Chuck Richardson, August 11, 2026
Seven Days that Divide the World by John C. Lennox explores the meaning of creation week described in Genesis 1. The book presents the varied views of philosophers, scientists, skeptics, as well as Jewish and Christian Bible believers of all types from ancient times until today. A key idea of this book is that the current debate over the actual length of the creation week, seven twenty-four hour days or billions of years is a controversy that should not serve as a marker of the faith of believing Christians. Lennox argues faithful Christians can take one of several opposing views and still hold to the authority of Scripture.
Lennox does seem to arrive at the conclusion that creation of the entire universe in seven consecutive twenty-four-hour days is not the most likely possibility. He does this in at least two ways. First, he points out that Genesis 1:1-2 can be read as separate from the seven days of creation. This means the age of the universe is indeterminate and separate from the age of Earth. Second, Lennox says the Hebrew word for day has three different meanings in Genesis 1:1-2:4. In Genesis 1:5 day refers to daylight hours as distinct from the darkness, about twelve hours. In the rest of Genesis 1 day refers to morning and evening. In Genesis 2:4, day must be read as an age.
Lennox makes his arguments in a kind way. He encourages unity and humility among Christians with differing views. He writes, “We all must face the fact that this is a complex and sophisticated text open to multiple interpretations. I, therefore, reiterate the fact that Jewish commentators, the early church fathers, and all other serious interpreters have difficulties with the text should give us some comfort and make us humbler” (p 84).
To help put the current modern debate over the age of the Earth in perspective the book describes how scientific and religious beliefs about the movement of the Earth and other celestial bodies have changed over time. The Bible says, “He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved” (Psalm 104:5 NIV). So, for thousands of years Bible believers held that the Scriptures prove that the Earth is fixed and for thousands of years science agreed. They were both wrong.
In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus published a paper claiming the Earth and other planets revolved around the sun and the controversy between believers and science began. Lennox’s point is that although the Bible could be read to state that the Earth is fixed, it didn’t have to be read that way. Likewise, the Bible could be read to state that the Earth is only a few thousand years old; it doesn’t have to be read that way. Today we would be hard pressed to find any Christian that doesn’t believe that the Earth moves.
I enjoyed Seven Days that Divide the World. My only complaint is that the book is too short. The text is only 155 pages with an additional 53 pages of appendices. Lennox touches briefly on many important topics including God as creator, the nature of humanity, movement of the Earth, the days of creation week, the sabbath, and entry of death into the world. I would have preferred that he spend more time analyzing the different arguments on the length of the days of creation, including his own perspective in greater detail. The book only has five chapters and only one chapter is devoted to the controversy of how long creation week took. The book is easy to understand and provides a good introduction to anyone interested in learning more about the meaning of Genesis 1 and the age of the Earth controversy.
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