Evangelicals & Genesis 1–11 Historicity: Why the First Eleven Chapters Decide Everything

An excised Albert Mohler

Dr. Albert Mohler is one of the most reserved and reticent figures in the Evangelical community, but even the most reserved person can reach a boiling point.

In recent days, I have witnessed Dr. Mohler refer to Dr. Nisha Verma, an OB-GYN who testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) on January 14.2026 for declining to answer "yes" or "no to the question, "Can a man get pregnant?”with the strongest of stern rebuke.

Dr. Mohler, without any apology, called Dr. Verma an idiot TWICE. Now, a count bumpkin like myself will easily resort to such name-calling, but never from someone as refined and reserved as good ole Dr. Mohler. But as I said, we all have our breaking points.

In recent days I was truly pleasantly surprised to witness Dr. Mohler deliver another strong rebuke of a public figure. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear chose to appear on the ABC morning talk show The View to address and promote his veto of a bill in Kentucky that would have outlawed gender-affirming care for young adults. Dr. Mohler classified Governor Breshar's action as "top of stupid," and I commend Dr. Mohler for his very strong public stance.

Why Genesis 1–11 Historicity Is Essential to the Gospel

Genesis 1–11 is not a theological appetizer. It is the foundation of the entire biblical worldview.

• Creation.

• Image of God

• Marriage

• Sin

• Death

• Judgment

• Nations

• Redemption

  
  

Remove the historicity of these chapters, and you do not merely adjust your interpretation—you destabilize the Gospel itself.

Two Conservative scholars have spoken clearly on this issue: Dr. Albert Mohler and the late Dr. John MacArthur.

Albert Mohler: “If Adam Is Not Historical, the Gospel Is Not Coherent”

Image of Dr. Albert Mohler

Mohler has repeatedly argued that the historicity of Adam is not a side issue.

He writes:

“The denial of a historical Adam undermines the authority of Scripture and the coherence of the Gospel.”

He has further warned:

“The structure of Paul’s argument in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 depends entirely upon the existence of a real, historical Adam.”

This is not alarmism. It is biblical logic.

Romans 5:12 teaches that sin entered the world through one man.1 Corinthians 15:22 declares, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

If Adam is symbolic, what becomes of Christ as the Second Adam?

John MacArthur: “Undermining Genesis Undermines Everything”

Image of Dr. John MacArthur

MacArthur has been equally direct.

He has stated:

“If you tamper with Genesis, you tamper with the authority of the entire Bible.”

And elsewhere:

“You cannot deny the historicity of Genesis 1–11 without unraveling the rest of Scripture.”

MacArthur points out that:

• Jesus referenced Genesis as history (Matthew 19:4–5)

• Paul grounded the doctrine of sin in a literal Fall

• The doctrine of marriage rests on Genesis 2

• Death as judgment begins in Genesis 3

This is not about science vs. faith.

This is about authority vs. accommodation.

Why Genesis 1–11 Matters Theologically

Image of Genesis 1-11

Genesis 1–11 establishes:

• God as Creator

• Humanity as image bearers

• Male and female distinction

• The sanctity of marriage

• The entrance of sin

• The origin of death

• The justice of divine judgment (Flood)

• The formation of nations (Babel)

If these become metaphors, then:

• Original sin becomes unclear

• Human nature becomes flexible

• Marriage becomes negotiable

• Redemption becomes therapeutic instead of substitutionary

And once redemption becomes therapeutic, Christianity becomes moral improvement instead of blood-bought salvation.

The Evangelical Temptation

This image depicts a scene titled "The Temptation of Jesus," showcasing a significant narrative from Christian theology.

The pressure today is not coming from atheists alone.

It is coming from within evangelical institutions—seminaries, Christian colleges, and pulpits—where Genesis 1–11 is increasingly reinterpreted as:

• Mythic framework

• Ancient Near Eastern cosmology

• Theological poetry detached from history

But Scripture itself does not treat Genesis that way.

Jesus Chris Himself did not.

The Apostle Paul did not. 

The other Apostles did not as well.

The early chapters of Genesis are not optional scaffolding. They are load-bearing walls.

So despite the non-biblical musings of the Governor Beshears of the world those who bend the knee to Holy Scripture understand the issues that a non-orthodox belief of Genesis 1-11 has on the day-to-day management of the daily societal issues our ever-increasing post-Christian world takes.

Those faithful to the Holy Writ will continue to fight the good fight until Christ returns for His Bride, the Church.

May we be found faithful and manning our post.

If you find my content God-glorifying and Man-edifying, the best way you can bless me as I humbly seek to bless you is to be an active participant.

Active participants comment on the blog post (personal notes to me, while nice and encouraging, do not help my blog post grow) and share my content with people in my sphere of influence and on various social media platforms like X and Facebook.

Thanks in advance to those who bless my ministry by doing so, and make no mistake, I see what I do as ministry. It is how and why I spend considerable time and energy producing blogs and YouTube videos.

As always, keep your hands to the plow and seek to serve for an Audience of One.

With fear & trembling,

Ricky V Kyles Sr. DEd.Min