There is a word missing both in the English and Hebrew:
Perfect.
The translation of perfect is not present in any of the uses of towb and m’od. Some interpreters would call the creation perfect because of other Scripture passages that describe God’s work. However, we have to look at what the Hebrew words actually mean here.
We have to note that there is a moral component to “good” based on the fact that there was no moral evil present in the created order. There is also an aesthetic aspect to “good” in that creation was functionally beautiful in God’s sight.
But, was the natural world perfect at its creation? The original language doesn’t allow us to make that conclusion.
There is something that we can say about God’s creation.
Next Week: Purpose
Mark Riser - Apologist 