John H. Walton | |
---|---|
Born | 1952 (age 72–73) |
Nationality | American |
Known for | Lost World of… books |
Title | Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College |
Academic background | |
Education | M.A. Biblical Studies: Old Testament, Wheaton Graduate School |
Alma mater | Ph.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion |
Academic work | |
Discipline | Biblical studies |
Sub-discipline | Old Testament studies |
Institutions | Moody Bible Institute Wheaton College |
John H. Walton (born 1952) is an Old Testament scholar. He is Professor Emeritus at Wheaton College and was a Moody Bible Institute professor previously. [1] He specializes in the relationship between religion and science,and the Ancient Near Eastern backgrounds of the Old Testament, [1] [2] especially Genesis and its creation account,as well as interpretation of Job and Daniel. [1]
Walton espouses a view of Genesis creation narrative that resonates with ancient Near Eastern mindsets,much like a temple dedication ceremony,and not a strictly material account of cosmological origins. He uses a restaurant as an analogy,arguing that a restaurant does not begin to exist when the material building is completed,but when the owner declares the restaurant open for business. [3] Through his book The Lost World of Genesis One he presents the Genesis creation as being functional; [4] according to Walton,the creation narrative is not intended to answer questions about the material origin of the universe,and therefore does not contradict scientific views on it. [5] [6] This view is opposed by some theologians such as Vern Poythress [7] [8] and young earth creationist Ken Ham. [9] [10]