The "Two Books" of the Reformation: The Belgic Confession and Old Earth Creationism

In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation sought to reclaim the authority of Scripture, but it also solidified a profound theological framework for understanding the physical world. A cornerstone of this thought is found in the Belgic Confession (1561), specifically in Article 2, which describes how God makes Himself known to humanity. 

The Belgic Confession: Article 2

The Belgic Confession was written by Guido de Brès, a Reformer who was eventually martyred for his faith. Article 2, titled "The Means by Which We Know God," famously uses the metaphor of "two books" to describe divine revelation: "We know Him by two means: First, by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to see clearly His invisible attributes. Second, He makes Himself more clearly and fully known to us by His holy and divine Word."

This confession establishes that both nature and Scripture are legitimate, though distinct, sources of truth originating from the same Author.

Harmony and Integration

Old Earth Creationists utilize this "Two Books" doctrine to argue that the study of the Earth’s history is a religious duty as much as a scientific one. From an OEC viewpoint, the "Book of Nature" (General Revelation) and the "Book of Scripture" (Special Revelation) cannot ultimately contradict one another because God is the author of both.

1. General Revelation as the "Elder Book"

OEC proponents argue that the "characters" written in the Book of Nature—such as the sedimentary layers of the Grand Canyon or the light from distant galaxies—are not meant to deceive us. If the physical evidence clearly points to an ancient universe, OEC advocates believe we should respect that data as God’s own "handwriting" in creation. They suggest that when science and Scripture seem to conflict, it is often due to a faulty human interpretation of one of the books.

2. Special Revelation as the "Clearer Book"

While OEC respects science, it adheres to the Belgic Confession’s hierarchy: the Book of Scripture is the "clearer and fuller" revelation. Science (the study of nature) can reveal the how and when of creation, but only the Bible can reveal the Who and why. Scripture provides the redemptive context that nature lacks. For instance, while Taughannock Falls shows us God's power through erosion and time, only Scripture tells us of God’s holiness and the salvation offered in Christ.

The Reformation Legacy

By leaning on the Belgic Confession, Old Earth Creationists argue they are not "bowing to secular science," but rather following the Reformers' lead in taking God's works seriously. They believe that God's "eternal power and divine nature" (Romans 1:20) are visible in the billions of years of geological history, which display a Creator who is patient, orderly, and unimaginably vast in His planning.

For the OEC advocate, the Belgic Confession provides a "theological permit" to explore the depths of time. It allows the believer to look at a 380-million-year-old fossil not as a challenge to the Bible, but as a "letter" in God's elegant book of creation that testifies to His long-standing "preservation and government of the universe."


References

 * Heidelberg Theological Seminary. The Belgic Confession: Article 2 and the Two Books. (An analysis of the historical Reformed view on General vs. Special revelation).

 * Ross, H. (2004). A Matter of Days: Resolving a Creation Controversy. NavPress. (Discusses the "Two Books" metaphor in the context of modern OEC).



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