“…when [Moses] says morning or day or evening, his meaning is the same as ours when we use those terms, without any allegory whatever…But if we cannot fully comprehend the days here mentioned nor understand why God chose to use these intervals of time, let us rather confess our ignorance in the matter than wrest the words of Moses from the circumstances which he is recording, to a meaning which has nothing to do with those circumstances.
“With respect therefore to this opinion of Augustine, we conclude that Moses spoke literally and plainly and neither allegorically nor figuratively; that is, he means that the world with all creatures was created in six days as he himself expresses it. If we cannot attain unto a comprehension of the reason why it was so, let us still remain scholars and leave all the preceptorship to the Holy Spirit!
“…let us come at once to Moses as a far better teacher, whom we may more safely follow than we may philosophers, who dispute without the word about things they do not understand.”
Martin Luther, A Critical and Devotional Commentary on Genesis (translated by John Nicholas Lenker)
Notes: 1. The opinion of Augustine was that he considered the days of creation to be “mystical days” rather than natural days. “With respect to” the opinion of Augustine here simply means “in reference to.” Luther did not hold in esteem the opinion of Augustine on this matter. 2. Scholar here does not mean “a learned or erudite person,” but rather a student. 3. Preceptorship means the position of teacher.
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