Includes bibliographical references and index.

Front Matter -- Copyright page -- Dedication -- Scripture and Science -- Origen, Basil, and Secular Education -- The Interpretation of Scripture -- “The earth was invisible and unformed”: Prime Matter and Creatio ex Nihilo -- “A separator between water and water”: Cosmology and Water above the Sky -- “Let them be for signs”: Astrology -- Basil and the Legacy of Origen -- Back Matter -- Bibliography -- Index.

In Genesis and Cosmos Adam Rasmussen examines how Basil and Origen addressed scientific problems in their interpretations of Genesis 1. For the first time, he offers an in-depth analysis of Basil’s thinking on three problems in Scripture-and-science: the nature of matter, the super-heavenly water, and astrology. Both theologians worked from the same fundamental perspective that science is the “servant” of Christianity, useful yet subordinate. Rasmussen convincingly shows how Basil used Origen’s writings to construct his own solutions. Only on the question of the water does Basil break with Origen, who allegorized the water. Rasmussen demonstrates how they sought to integrate science and Scripture and thus remain instructive for those engaged in the dialogue between religion and science today.