Does it Matter at all what the Age of the Earth is?

[WGS]

What if we determined with a high degree of certainty that the Earth was about 6,000 years old according to the Bible? Would it matter? Would you believe it?

 

[Silverhair]

What if we determined with a high degree of certainty that the Earth was about 6,000 years old according to the Bible? Would it matter? Would you believe it?

The bible say Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God created..."

Whether He created 6000 yrs ago or 6,000,000,000 yrs ago does not change that.

The fact is He created. When He created is just people fighting over minor issues.

 

[WGS]

The bible say Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God created..."

Whether He created 6000 yrs ago or 6,000,000,000 yrs ago does not change that.

The fact is He created. When He created is just people fighting over minor issues.

Thank you for your thoughts and I couldn't agree more that God created all things. I have wondered what the "fight" is often about. But recently I discovered it is easy to determine an age for Adam's creation of about 6,000 years ago, strictly using the Bible. So I have had to wonder, if God tells us, is it really a "minor" issue? I would like your feedback on that after you have some time to ponder it.

 

[MrW]

In Heaven, we may be told. For now, I’m much more looking forward to Christ’s return than looking back.

 

[JonC]

What if we determined with a high degree of certainty that the Earth was about 6,000 years old according to the Bible? Would it matter? Would you believe it?

I would not care (it would not matter to me). If asked I believe in a young Earth, but at the same time I cannot ignore the ambiguity of thd language used (I cannot ignore that a "day" can also mean an age).

The larger issue deals with death entering through Adam's sin.

 

[Salty]

Of course the date is very important - so we know when the warranty runs out!!!

 

[Silverhair]

Thank you for your thoughts and I couldn't agree more that God created all things. I have wondered what the "fight" is often about. But recently I discovered it is easy to determine an age for Adam's creation of about 6,000 years ago, strictly using the Bible. So I have had to wonder, if God tells us, is it really a "minor" issue? I would like your feedback on that after you have some time to ponder it.

If it were easy to determine the creation date then we would not be having this conversation.

I just do not think it is that important when you look at the big picture.

If something has to do with ones salvation then that I consider a major issue. IMO the creation date does not raise to that level.

 

[Ben1445]

If it were easy to determine the creation date then we would not be having this conversation.

I think the real problem is that people don’t believe that the timeline provided in Scripture is trustworthy.
From what I see, it is a matter of believing the Bible or not.

 

[Deacon]

What if we determined with a high degree of certainty that the Earth was about 6,000 years old according to the Bible? Would it matter? Would you believe it?

Would it matter? Yes, it would matter a lot!
(1) It requires a ultra literal hermeneutical system to believe a 6k creation, so it affects how we approach Scripture.
(2) If the earth were 6k old, then our basic understanding of physics, chemistry, geology, astronomy and biology would be proven to be in err. The very foundation of our modern scientific understanding would be shaken.

Rob

 

[Salty]

Genesis tells us that Adam was created 5786 years ago.
But is it possible that the earth - which became void was created previously,
even by thousands if not millions of years previously?
I believe that is very possible. AKA - gap theory.

 

[Ben1445]

Would it matter? Yes, it would matter a lot!
(1) It requires a ultra literal hermeneutical system to believe a 6k creation, so it affects how we approach Scripture.
(2) If the earth were 6k old, then our basic understanding of physics, chemistry, geology, astronomy and biology would be proven to be in err. The very foundation of our modern scientific understanding would be shaken.

Rob

The world could never make mistakes like that. It would appear that the holy men who were moved by the Holy Spirit are the ones who must be mistaken, right?
Well that seems to be the common consensus.
I tend to think that science makes the mistake of assuming constant, too many variables.

And even if our understanding is shaken, God is not shaken.

Hebrews 12:27
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

 

[Ben1445]

Genesis tells us that Adam was created 5786 years ago.
But is it possible that the earth - which became void was created previously,
even by thousands if not millions of years previously?
I believe that is very possible. AKA - gap theory.

I think you have to stretch it to say “became” void. What Genesis 1 does say is that God made it and it was void.

That sounds like God made the universe and the world was empty and shapeless, as in, all the things we look at and view as life and the conditions that differentiate earth from other planets were not yet structured.

Where do you read that they became/evolved/decayed or whatever the theory is?

 

[Deacon]

The world could never make mistakes like that. It would appear that the holy men who were moved by the Holy Spirit are the ones who must be mistaken, right?
Well that seems to be the common consensus. ….

When there is disagreement between what we observe in the world and what we read in Scripture, something is wrong.
The conflict lies not between nature and Scripture—both are God-given revelation—but between our interpretations of them, since any perceived conflicts result from misunderstandings of one or both sources.
Science is our explanation of what we observe. Caution regarding specific scientific results is warranted, since bias can skew data. But science is testable, repeatable, falsifiable.
But when they disagree, our interpretation of God’s Word also should be examined. Have we made assumptions about what the Scriptures say that are incorrect? …such as believing the genealogy record can determine the age of the earth.
The problem is not with science and Scripture, but with the way we understand and use them.

Rob

 

[Ben1445]

When there is disagreement between what we observe in the world and what we read in Scripture, something is wrong.
The conflict lies not between nature and Scripture—both are God-given revelation—but between our interpretations of them, since any perceived conflicts result from misunderstandings of one or both sources.
Science is our explanation of what we observe. Caution regarding specific scientific results is warranted, since bias can skew data. But science is testable, repeatable, falsifiable.
But when they disagree, our interpretation of God’s Word also should be examined. Have we made assumptions about what the Scriptures say that are incorrect? …such as believing the genealogy record can determine the age of the earth.

If the numbers are subjective and really don’t matter or they are inaccurate, why are they recorded?
The OP gave room for a margin of error.

The problem is not with science and Scripture, but with the way we understand and use them.

Rob

History is not observable, testable, repeatable. When science tries to show the origin of the universe, it is attempting to show without science and scientific method, a history for which it has no real evidence.
Evolution from one kind to the next, the big bang, a single meteor that hit the earth and killed all the dinosaurs (now there’s a hunting camp story if I ever heard one) or any variation of dinosaur extinction, these are all very unscientific stories that are an attempt at writing history and not recording scientific observations.

Noah’s flood is denied as being a worldwide flood. Would you think that Genesis has it wrong?

Adam was 130 years old when he begat Seth. That means that creation week began 5 days before that.


When Satan comes up with a lie, it always mirrors to an extent what God said.
There is a parallel between the two stories.
The deep vs primordial soup.
Continued things are improving and man is the best so far.

But Adam spoke with God. We have his example.
Moses spoke with God. We have the Books of Moses in which we are told the manner of which God handled the creation and recreation of our physical world. I find God more trustworthy than “science.”

 

[Silverhair]

I think the real problem is that people don’t believe that the timeline provided in Scripture is trustworthy.
From what I see, it is a matter of believing the Bible or not.

Verse 2 opens the possibility of a gap, verses 3-31 gives us six days. Thus we have this discussion.

For some they have to base there trust in God on which view they see in scripture, I do not.

I trust in God based on the totality of scripture starting with Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Whether He did it in six literal days or millions of years the fact remains that at one point there was nothing and then there was.

 

[Ben1445]

Verse 2 opens the possibility of a gap, verses 3-31 gives us six days. Thus we have this discussion.

For some they have to base there trust in God on which view they see in scripture, I do not.

I trust in God based on the totality of scripture starting with Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Whether He did it in six literal days or millions of years the fact remains that at one point there was nothing and then there was.

Whether or not you believe in a gap has little to do with whether or not the rest of chapter one is taken literally or, poetically? Figuratively? Prosaically? Or just plain fairytale!!

This is not only a two sided problem. There may be any number of variations that chapter one allows to be considered.

The real question is whether or not we believe in a literal interpretation or try to symbolize the record.

If you may make this symbolic, why couldn’t Jesus and His death be mere symbolism?
What makes resurrection a reality?

If it isn’t true, you have nothing more than arbitrary feelings. And I would have nothing more than that also. So you couldn’t tell me that I am wrong.

If God sent an inaccurate record, then who can tell anyone that they must be accurate?

Do you trust it or not?
There is not room for millions of years in creation week. Otherwise there is no pattern for rest. We can work for six million years before resting. Israel could never have been accountable for keeping the Sabbath.

Arguments could go on like this forever if you don’t believe the Bible is telling us in plain language what actually happened.
Creation week and Genesis one are not the original daVinci code.