Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Gavin Ortlund explores how the Church Fathers interpreted the days of creation in Genesis 1, revealing both diversity and depth in early Christian thought.
New Evidence for Jesus OUTSIDE the Bible (With Tom Schmidt): youtu.be/fLiGJVreGqM?si=Za6MSQn1OUBIgX9F
Books I Mentioned:
The Gospel After Christendom: An Introduction to Cultural Apologetics: amazon.com/Gospel-After-Christendom-Introduction-Apologetics/dp/031017547X/truthunitesbo-20
On the Six Days of Creation (Fathers of the Church: Shorter Works): amazon.com/Six-Days-Creation-Fathers-Church/dp/0813233763/truthunitesbo-20
The Days of Creation: A History of Christian Interpretation of Genesis 1:1-2:3 (History of Biblical Interpretation): amazon.com/Days-Creation-Christian-Interpretation-Biblical/dp/1905679270/truthunitesbo-20
Early Christian Readings of Genesis One: Patristic Exegesis and Literal Interpretation: amazon.com/Early-Christian-Readings-Genesis-Interpretation/dp/0830852018/truthunitesbo-20
Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Poetry, Science, and Truth in Genesis 1-11: amazon.com/Reading-Genesis-Well-Navigating-History/dp/0310598575/truthunitesbo-20
Engaging the Doctrine of Creation: Cosmos, Creatures, and the Wise and Good Creator: amazon.com/Engaging-Doctrine-Creation-Creatures-Creator/dp/1540966267/truthunitesbo-20
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunitesbo-20
00:00 - Introduction
02:12 - Book Recommendation
03:41 - Chapter 1: Jewish Influences
07:12 - Chapter 2: Early Christian Views
14:15 - Chapter 3: Alexandrian Allegory
14:49 - Clement of Alexandria
16:11 - Origen
18:24 - Didymus the Blind
19:12 - Athanasius
20:21 - Chapter 4: Cappadocian Literalism
20:39 - Basil of Caesarea
29:12 - Gregory of Nyssa
30:59 - Gregory of Nazianzus
32:43 - Chapter 5: Other Patristic Testimonies
34:04 - Hilary of Poiters
35:01 - Ambrose of Milan
35:24 - Chapter 6: Augustine
35:37 - Augustine of Hippo
52:20 - Chapter 7: Late Patristic Synthesis
54:57 - 1) Humility
56:12 - 2) Lack of Anxiety
58:26 - Further Reading/Outro
Gavin Ortlund explores how the Church Fathers interpreted the days of creation in Genesis 1, revealing both diversity and depth in early Christian thought.
New Evidence for Jesus OUTSIDE the Bible (With Tom Schmidt): youtu.be/fLiGJVreGqM?si=Za6MSQn1OUBIgX9F
Books I Mentioned:
The Gospel After Christendom: An Introduction to Cultural Apologetics: amazon.com/Gospel-After-Christendom-Introduction-Apologetics/dp/031017547X/truthunitesbo-20
On the Six Days of Creation (Fathers of the Church: Shorter Works): amazon.com/Six-Days-Creation-Fathers-Church/dp/0813233763/truthunitesbo-20
The Days of Creation: A History of Christian Interpretation of Genesis 1:1-2:3 (History of Biblical Interpretation): amazon.com/Days-Creation-Christian-Interpretation-Biblical/dp/1905679270/truthunitesbo-20
Early Christian Readings of Genesis One: Patristic Exegesis and Literal Interpretation: amazon.com/Early-Christian-Readings-Genesis-Interpretation/dp/0830852018/truthunitesbo-20
Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Poetry, Science, and Truth in Genesis 1-11: amazon.com/Reading-Genesis-Well-Navigating-History/dp/0310598575/truthunitesbo-20
Engaging the Doctrine of Creation: Cosmos, Creatures, and the Wise and Good Creator: amazon.com/Engaging-Doctrine-Creation-Creatures-Creator/dp/1540966267/truthunitesbo-20
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunitesbo-20
00:00 - Introduction
02:12 - Book Recommendation
03:41 - Chapter 1: Jewish Influences
07:12 - Chapter 2: Early Christian Views
14:15 - Chapter 3: Alexandrian Allegory
14:49 - Clement of Alexandria
16:11 - Origen
18:24 - Didymus the Blind
19:12 - Athanasius
20:21 - Chapter 4: Cappadocian Literalism
20:39 - Basil of Caesarea
29:12 - Gregory of Nyssa
30:59 - Gregory of Nazianzus
32:43 - Chapter 5: Other Patristic Testimonies
34:04 - Hilary of Poiters
35:01 - Ambrose of Milan
35:24 - Chapter 6: Augustine
35:37 - Augustine of Hippo
52:20 - Chapter 7: Late Patristic Synthesis
54:57 - 1) Humility
56:12 - 2) Lack of Anxiety
58:26 - Further Reading/Outro
