Creation & age of the World

[LenMcM]

As an ex Atheist I have a strong interest in the Genesis creation account, but it upsets me when I hear Christians arguing about whether the Earth is Millions of years old or was just created about BC. 4.000 to 5,500. - I have to ask, does it really matter?

The Scriptures tell us quite clearly that Adam was created between BC 4,000 and 5,500 but nowhere does the Bible tell us when the Earth was created. Genesis 1:1,2. tells us that In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. God tells us that it happened “In the beginning”. We have not been informed as to when it happened; it could have been seconds or days or millions of years before the events of verse 3. All things are possible with God, so we need to keep an open mind on this subject.

Verse 3 commences with the words “Then God said” or equivalent in other translations.

We find that every time God commences one of His six creative acts to prepare the earth for human habitation then place mankind upon it, He commences that creative act with the words “Then God said”. Verses one & two do not start with those words. So we see God does not give us any indication as to how old the earth is. God does not tell us everything but has told us sufficient for us to know that He is the creator of all. God wants us to simply accept this fact by faith. For faith is much more important than knowledge. As God does not see fit to tell us the age of the earth, why oh why do Christians argue about it. In fact it is very displeasing to God that we argue. As pointed out in the following verses.


Matt 23:24
Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
Rom. 14:1
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
1 Timothy 1:4
nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1 Timothy 6:4
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
2 Timothy 2:23
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
God does not want us to be squabbling. We should study what has been revealed, but in the realisation that God has revealed only enough for us to grasp that He is the creator of all things and that He made mankind in His image and base our faith on that. (Faith is more important than knowledge) - If only Christians in the multitude of denominations and sects today would take to heart the above verses and concentrate on preaching the salvation available through the grace of Jesus Christ alone. By doing so, many more souls could be saved quickly. God wants us to be constructive, concentrating on the more important issues of redemption & salvation.

 

[Artios1]

As an ex Atheist I have a strong interest in the Genesis creation account, but it upsets me when I hear Christians arguing about whether the Earth is Millions of years old or was just created about BC. 4.000 to 5,500. - I have to ask, does it really matter?

The Scriptures tell us quite clearly that Adam was created between BC 4,000 and 5,500 but nowhere does the Bible tell us when the Earth was created. Genesis 1:1,2. tells us that In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. God tells us that it happened “In the beginning”. We have not been informed as to when it happened; it could have been seconds or days or millions of years before the events of verse 3. All things are possible with God, so we need to keep an open mind on this subject.

Verse 3 commences with the words “Then God said” or equivalent in other translations.

We find that every time God commences one of His six creative acts to prepare the earth for human habitation then place mankind upon it, He commences that creative act with the words “Then God said”. Verses one & two do not start with those words. So we see God does not give us any indication as to how old the earth is. God does not tell us everything but has told us sufficient for us to know that He is the creator of all. God wants us to simply accept this fact by faith. For faith is much more important than knowledge. As God does not see fit to tell us the age of the earth, why oh why do Christians argue about it. In fact it is very displeasing to God that we argue. As pointed out in the following verses.


Matt 23:24
Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
Rom. 14:1
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
1 Timothy 1:4
nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1 Timothy 6:4
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
2 Timothy 2:23
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
God does not want us to be squabbling. We should study what has been revealed, but in the realisation that God has revealed only enough for us to grasp that He is the creator of all things and that He made mankind in His image and base our faith on that. (Faith is more important than knowledge) - If only Christians in the multitude of denominations and sects today would take to heart the above verses and concentrate on preaching the salvation available through the grace of Jesus Christ alone. By doing so, many more souls could be saved quickly. God wants us to be constructive, concentrating on the more important issues of redemption & salvation.

Thank you!

It doesn’t make any difference ….God said in the beginning... and that is good enough for me!

And I am pretty sure He wasn’t referring to baseball when he said in the big-inning.

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

It makes a difference in the sense that the whole reason for a "Billions & Billions" of years narrative is to replace the study
of a created universe with the study of a universe evolved out of nothing.

To replace The Creator one needs an alternative explanation for our origin. Hence mllions-of-years become necessary.
Is there a creator? If not there is no need for the seemingly more important issues of redemption & salvation.

 

[Magenta]

It m akes a difference in the sense that the whole reason for a "Billions & Billions" of years narrative
is to replace the study of a created universe with the study of a universe evolved out of nothing.

The whole "evolved out of nothing" argument is completely irrational to begin with .

To replace The Creator one needs an alternative explanation for our origin. Hence mllions-of-years become necessary.
Is there a creator? If not there is no need for the seemingly more important issues of redemption & salvation.

But, yes, it is about origins for the nay-sayer, who wishes to negate/deny the Primal Cause.

 

[Cameron143]

Thank you!

It doesn’t make any difference ….God said in the beginning... and that is good enough for me!

And I am pretty sure He wasn’t referring to baseball when he said in the big-inning.

Perhaps not. But God's people have long enjoyed sports. Moses himself was fond of tennis as he served in Pharaoh's court.

 

[Artios1]

Perhaps not. But God's people have long enjoyed sports. Moses himself was fond of tennis as he served in Pharaoh's court.

I should be slapped for this but ....

It sounds like Pharaoh had quit the racket...

 

[Cameron143]

I should be slapped for this but ....

It sounds like Pharaoh had quit the racket...

There are those who thought he was strung a little too tight, no doubt.

 

[Nehemiah6]

The Scriptures tell us quite clearly that Adam was created between BC 4,000 and 5,500 but nowhere does the Bible tell us when the Earth was created.

Here's your answer: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:11).

According to this -- which was written with "the finger of God" -- the earth was created within those six days. So if Adam was created in 4004 BC, the earth is a little over 6,000 years old.

"The half-life of radiocarbon (14C) is 5700 ± 30 yr, which makes it particularly useful for dating in archaeology. However, only an exceptional hindrance of the beta decay from 14C to 14N—a so-called Gamow-Teller ß-decay—makes this half-life so long."
https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour...s-it-so-long/40C969D635697E923338763B56402862

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

I should be slapped for this but ....

It sounds like Pharaoh had quit the racket...

He traded it up for a cricket bat but the Egyptian team still couldn't beat Israel.

 

[Cameron143]

He traded it up for a cricket bat but the Egyptian team still couldn't beat Israel.

I always wondered where John the Baptist developed his penchant for cricket.

 

[Magenta]

I always wondered where John the Baptist developed his penchant for cricket.

Maybe it was volleyball serves and not tennis at all .

Although tennis can have a lot of love in it .

 

[Grace911]

No more guessing to what year Adam was created. You can know!! We are not in the 7th Millennium, yet!!

Starting from the creation of Adam on the 6th day, that year was 3836 BC (Year 0) 3788 BC (50 years later Year 1) A Millennial is 20 Jubilee cycles and man is allotted 120 cycles (Genesis 6:3 - And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. <-- Years is shanah - a revolution). Adam died at the age of 930. The first Millennial Day ended on 2857 BC (980 years) and therefore Adam did die in the DAY he ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The End of the 6th Millennial Day (120th cycle = 6 x 20) is the year 2044 AD. (problem if you try to make a Jubilee 50 years and not also count it as the 1st year of the next cycle. A Jubilee is 49 years plus 1 = 50. The 50th year is also the 1st year of the next cycle.

Today, for those who follow the Barley and Sighted moon to begin the month of Avib is the 49th day of counting the Omer. 7 full weeks of 7 days. Tomorrow (Sunday) is the 50th day and is called in Christian language "Pentecost". Pentecost represents the Wheat Harvest and the Rapture of the Saints on a future Pentecost. If you do not know how to know this day, you may not be watching and waiting for the Rapture. It will not happen on just any old day. The LORD does everything on His Holy Days. Jesus does everything on His Holy Days. Jesus and Passover. Jesus and the Wave Sheath Day on the first day of the week. The counting of the Feast of Weeks (7 x 7).

Psalms 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in HIS WORD do I hope.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

45 Sabbatical PROOFS with Documentation

Will 2044 AD be the end of the 6th millennial day? Will 2045 AD be the beginning of the 7th Millennium? YES and Yes. However, from the words of Jesus we read "Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

 

[Karlon]

As an ex Atheist I have a strong interest in the Genesis creation account, but it upsets me when I hear Christians arguing about whether the Earth is Millions of years old or was just created about BC. 4.000 to 5,500. - I have to ask, does it really matter?

The Scriptures tell us quite clearly that Adam was created between BC 4,000 and 5,500 but nowhere does the Bible tell us when the Earth was created. Genesis 1:1,2. tells us that In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. God tells us that it happened “In the beginning”. We have not been informed as to when it happened; it could have been seconds or days or millions of years before the events of verse 3. All things are possible with God, so we need to keep an open mind on this subject.

Verse 3 commences with the words “Then God said” or equivalent in other translations.

We find that every time God commences one of His six creative acts to prepare the earth for human habitation then place mankind upon it, He commences that creative act with the words “Then God said”. Verses one & two do not start with those words. So we see God does not give us any indication as to how old the earth is. God does not tell us everything but has told us sufficient for us to know that He is the creator of all. God wants us to simply accept this fact by faith. For faith is much more important than knowledge. As God does not see fit to tell us the age of the earth, why oh why do Christians argue about it. In fact it is very displeasing to God that we argue. As pointed out in the following verses.


Matt 23:24
Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
Rom. 14:1
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
1 Timothy 1:4
nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1 Timothy 6:4
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
2 Timothy 2:23
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
God does not want us to be squabbling. We should study what has been revealed, but in the realisation that God has revealed only enough for us to grasp that He is the creator of all things and that He made mankind in His image and base our faith on that. (Faith is more important than knowledge) - If only Christians in the multitude of denominations and sects today would take to heart the above verses and concentrate on preaching the salvation available through the grace of Jesus Christ alone. By doing so, many more souls could be saved quickly. God wants us to be constructive, concentrating on the more important issues of redemption & salvation.

yes, it does matter! don't you want to believe in the correct info? look up Kenneth Hamm, his focus is on the age of the earth amongst other issues. if you say, "does it really matter" then you can apply that to anything in the Bible & get carried away in doubts. everyone doesn't argue, some people discuss things diplomatically

 

[Pilgrimshope]

God wants us to be constructive, concentrating on the more important issues of redemption & salvation.

i enjoyed the read and conclusion thanks for taking the time to post

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The realms of heaven and earth now exist but they have no order there’s no light or form to anything of the creation yet

“And the earth was without form, and void; ( it exists but there’s no form or order yet )

and darkness was upon the face of the deep. ( darkness and formlessness existing matter without purpose or shape or reason or form )


And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We then begin seeing How God have this creation shape form rhyme and reason purpose and order in the first seven days of this new creations existance.

after the seven day account of the sun , moon stars , atmosphere , division between earths atmosphere and space where there’s nothing man needs to breath and live we see the creation of animals and plants and finally man is created part in Gods image to rule over the earthly part of creation and everything God made in the beginning was finished and he blessed the seventh day because his work had been completed and it was a day for his rest fro his works

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.


And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My point is that chapter one should end here in genesis 2:3

And then from verse 4 to 25 is a retelling at a closer view of how he created things in those seven days we just heard about so what I mean is we’re bc soled back to the beginning but see different details

your taken back to the beginning again in chapter 2:4 to see more details

“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. ( we’re called back to before man is created here in chapter one before the plants appeared and then we’re shown more and bromate closer details of the creation of man )

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;

and man became a living soul.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:4-7‬ ‭

were seeing details of this in chapter one , now in chapter 2

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We also see details of the females creation in chapter 2 along with man’s innocent state of mind and conscience in Gods presence.

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet ( a mate ) for him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:18, 21-25‬ ‭

We see the true nature of man and woman in Gods order for creation there. The true law of marriage that Jesus taught (and Moses didn’t teach but taught divorce instead because of sin )

about back to the point I’m trying to make sloppily and not we’ll probably ,

awe can better understand what happened at creation if we look at chapter two and chapter one together as describing the same things that happened and not reading it as some do in a linear manner that’s two seperate events rather than two descriptions of the same events that add o formation for a more complete understanding of what happened at creation

a there’s also mentions of what happened elsewhere in prophecy , in job also Jesus says things about before creation ect we can learn a lot about it actually just from Strictly studying the subject in the Bible and praying for understanding then accepting what we learn

Then we also find new things God said he was going to create not from the beginning a whole new promised creation ahead

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare:

before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Sometimes we hear the creator speaking personally through prophets like this speaking of the future

“Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them. Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48:6-7, 12-13‬ ‭

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:

and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“but the heavens and the earth, which are now, ( created in genesis 1-2) by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:7, 13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

soften we forget the first one has a decelerating end and he’s promised another perfect world

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭66:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:


for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There’s alot of prophecy that tells us things about the creation we can’t know otherwise

 

[Beckie]

How does one believe John 3:16 then doubt Genesis ?

 

[Pilgrimshope]

How does one believe John 3:16 then doubt Genesis ?

I’m not sure it’s doubt but different interpretation

 

[Evmur]

As an ex Atheist I have a strong interest in the Genesis creation account, but it upsets me when I hear Christians arguing about whether the Earth is Millions of years old or was just created about BC. 4.000 to 5,500. - I have to ask, does it really matter?

The Scriptures tell us quite clearly that Adam was created between BC 4,000 and 5,500 but nowhere does the Bible tell us when the Earth was created. Genesis 1:1,2. tells us that In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. God tells us that it happened “In the beginning”. We have not been informed as to when it happened; it could have been seconds or days or millions of years before the events of verse 3. All things are possible with God, so we need to keep an open mind on this subject.

Verse 3 commences with the words “Then God said” or equivalent in other translations.

We find that every time God commences one of His six creative acts to prepare the earth for human habitation then place mankind upon it, He commences that creative act with the words “Then God said”. Verses one & two do not start with those words. So we see God does not give us any indication as to how old the earth is. God does not tell us everything but has told us sufficient for us to know that He is the creator of all. God wants us to simply accept this fact by faith. For faith is much more important than knowledge. As God does not see fit to tell us the age of the earth, why oh why do Christians argue about it. In fact it is very displeasing to God that we argue. As pointed out in the following verses.


Matt 23:24
Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
Rom. 14:1
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
1 Timothy 1:4
nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1 Timothy 6:4
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
2 Timothy 2:23
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
God does not want us to be squabbling. We should study what has been revealed, but in the realisation that God has revealed only enough for us to grasp that He is the creator of all things and that He made mankind in His image and base our faith on that. (Faith is more important than knowledge) - If only Christians in the multitude of denominations and sects today would take to heart the above verses and concentrate on preaching the salvation available through the grace of Jesus Christ alone. By doing so, many more souls could be saved quickly. God wants us to be constructive, concentrating on the more important issues of redemption & salvation.

if you think of God as a man like yourself then of course it is impossible that God could have created the universe in 6 days.

Understanding begins to dawn when you realise that God is not a man like yourself

 

[Omegatime]

Hi everyone, I left CC several years ago but I'm back. Creation and Time is one of my favorites. Even better starting place is what week of the year was creation?

 

[Flannery]

The dates in a Jerome translation or in the original King James English edition of the Bible were copied from scribal Hebrew sources and are there because the religious books were written by Israeli State agents. The last serious religious fight involving the age of the Earth as a major point of conflict was the English Civil War, and very sober King James Version people still stay with it for a number of reasons, including attachment to Newtonian science, the effects of the Protestant ascendency and Stewart Restoration on Colonial and American state history, and the location of the manuscript in modern Ireland. In other words, it's a state fight, but from a purely religious point of view, I also find the dates good to have, because it reminds us that not only is God a spiritual creator, but that the world, time, and Israel on Earth are among what He created.

 

[LenMcM]

Here's your answer: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:11).

According to this -- which was written with "the finger of God" -- the earth was created within those six days. So if Adam was created in 4004 BC, the earth is a little over 6,000 years old.

"The half-life of radiocarbon (14C) is 5700 ± 30 yr, which makes it particularly useful for dating in archaeology. However, only an exceptional hindrance of the beta decay from 14C to 14N—a so-called Gamow-Teller ß-decay—makes this half-life so long."
https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour...s-it-so-long/40C969D635697E923338763B56402862

Len's answer : - Thank you for your contribution. However in the ancient Greek (Bible Greek) the word used in Gen. 1:1 has been correctly translated as “created” but in Exod. 20:11 and 31:17 a different word was used and it has been apparently translated as “made” in all Bible versions. - As near as I am able to check on the Greek words original meaning, it appears to carry all the following meanings in English. - Made, Produced, Prepared. I am no expert in Ancient Greek but hopefully someone who is, and reads this may be able to throw more light on it. As it stands these verses do not appear to change anything I said, as the Exodus verses could possibly be simply referring to the bringing into being all of these things for mankind's benefit.