Now let’s go back to the beginning of Genesis, and apply a combined literal and figurative approach to some of the stories that preceded the great Flood event. The seven days of Creation are often portrayed as offering only two possible interpretations: entirely literal or almost entirely figurative. I say “almost entirely figurative” because we are obliged by faith to believe that God did in fact create all that exists, other than the only uncreated thing: God himself.

[Genesis 1]
{1:1} In the beginning, God created heaven and earth.

It would be utter heresy for any Christian to accept any scientific or religious theory claiming that the universe (Creation) has always existed. However, a scientific theory such as the Big Bang, would be acceptable, as long as the believer holds that an act of God began the process, and that the providence of God guided all that followed.

The approach that I propose combines faith and reason in order to interpret Sacred Scripture. But any conflict between faith and reason, between doctrine and scientific theory, must place faith above reason, and doctrines of the faith above scientific theories and hypotheses. The use of a figurative interpretation to resolve conflicts in Biblical exegesis between faith and reason is only tenable as long as the interpretation does not contradict a teaching of the Faith.

Given that an act of God brought the universe (in whatever initial form) into existence, and that the providence of God guided all that followed, one can interpret the seven days of Creation in Genesis as having both literal and figurative elements. My interpretation is that the seven days represent, not seven lengths of time of approximately one day, but seven stages or categories within the one plan of God for Creation.

{1:1} In the beginning, God created heaven and earth.
{1:2} But the earth was empty and unoccupied, and darknesses were over the face of the abyss; and so the Spirit of God was brought over the waters.

More on this topic in my book:
Noah’s Flood: Literal or Figurative?

by
Ronald L. Conte Jr.
Roman Catholic theologian and
translator of the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible.