Why did you edit the title like that? Isn't the conflict you are asking about much more with 2 Peter than Genesis 1? And changing "Christians through history" to "theologians" is a poor change - you are explicitly asking about theologians throughout church history. Putting theologians in the title is basically meaningless because almost every question on this site is about what theologians think. Christians through history is much more specific.

This needs a doctrinal framework to be answered. As worded it is asking for opinions/speculation.

@curiousdannii Regarding the "conflict", no. I don't think so. The " out of water" creation is based on the exegesis of Gen. 1. Peter was just doing the same thing. I edited back in "throughout history", but I want to know how theologians have handled it, not just "Christians" in general.

@Flimzy Did you read the question? I am asking for the exact opposite of opinions and speculations.

@Jas3.1: You are asking for "well-referenced" opinions of "respected theologians." That's not the opposite of opinions. To not be opinion-based (by our site guidelines) you must specify a specific faith tradition/denomination.

@Flimzy I am not asking for opinions! Read the question please! I am asking for an overview of how orthodox Christian theologians have handled this question throughout history. It's an Historical Theology question. How are you reading that as a call for opinions?! I even explicitly said I have no interest in opinions!

What does 'no cults' mean? Every religion is a cult to someone.

@Flimzy That is an inaccurate statement. Mormonism, JW's, etc. have always been objectively defined as cults. I have never heard (e.g.) a Protestant dictionary define Catholicism as a cult (or vice versa, etc.)

cult /kəlt/ noun a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object

Mormonism, JW's, etc. have always been objectively defined as cults. I have never heard (e.g.) a Protestant dictionary define Catholicism as a cult (or vice versa, etc.) Wrong on all counts. Mormons don't consider themselves to be a cult. Nor do JWs self-identify as a cult. And Catholics are often referred to as a cult by certain protestants, and I have met many Catholics who believe Protestantism is a cult (or a collection of cults).

@Flimzy This was already handled in another post on this site. I don't have the ability to search for it at the moment but I can later if you're truly confused about what I meant (which I doubt.)

@Jas3.1: Well, what you mean is completely unclear. I can make certain guesses about what you mean. They may or may not be accurate. My bigger concern is that you're (possibly unintentionally) insulting a large portion of our users, by denigrating their beliefs. That's not appropriate here.

@Flimzy Well if we go with your definition of a cult, I'm not sure how anyone could be offended by that label. I was going with the academic usage, but if that's faux-pas on this site now I'll change it. I'd like to have more to go on than your complaint though.

@Jas3.1: If we go with my definition, then you're looking for an atheistic answer, which would make it off-topic. If we go with some other definition, it's not objective (as you claim).

@Flimzy Like I said, it's not my definition. This has already been handled elsewhere on this site.

@Jas3.1: When you can search for it, I'd love to see that discussion.

@Flimzy I think it's pretty obvious, vernacularly speaking, that Jas means only major denominations.

@fredsbend: Mormonism is a major denomination by practically any definition.

Judaism answered the question long ago, basically because they understand the language. Easy enough to do the research if you are really interested but to ask the question of Christians, with their reluctance to do research, only, is shortsighted.

Not sure my +1 is going to help you any but it is a reasonable question if you cast your net on the other side of the boat.