Posted on 02/07/2014 3:11:21 PM PST by fwdude
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Just when was the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, as spoken of in Genesis 1:1? In these days when scientists talk about billions of years, the question of what the Bible says on the matter of origins becomes even more important.
Few people doubt that the Bible intends to teach that the creation is young. The genealogies of the Old Testament are actual reproductions of the calendar system used in most ancient times.
While the subject is very complicated, we can share with you the calculations done by some well-known Christians. You are probably familiar with Bishop Usshers calculation that creation took place in 4004 B.C. But did you know that no less than the great scientist Kepler calculated that creation took place in 3877? Martin Luther calculated that creation took place in 3961 B.C. The very oldest ages arrived at through calculations based on Scripture say the creation is about 7,500 years old.
For the Christian, the question of the age of the creation can only be answered on the basis of Scripture. There is no question that Scripture gives us more than enough information to conclude that the creation is young and that God wants us to know it. After that, it is simply a matter of whether we accept Scriptures authority.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, help my thinking not to be conformed to this world, but help me to be transformed by Your renewing of my mind so that my faith in Your clear Word is unshakable. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Notes:
Painting: Archbishop James Ussher, painted by Peter Lely (16181680).
And you are being ambiguous and unclear about what you are talking about.
Funny how this the article following yours on Freerepublic.
Scientists Find 800,000-Year-Old Footprints In UK
I take it your point is that if Adam was created as a fully mature man (or looked like one) then why couldn't the Universe have been created as a fully mature one with a 15 billion years worth of wear on the tires. (the "world in motion" theory). On the other hand, if Adam was born an infant who knows how long it took Man to mature in the pre-curse world. It could have been eons before he grew up and Woman was created. Interesting. Actually, this is a better place to put "the long pause" than proponents of the long pause theory put it.
I am sorry but there is not one single statement in the Bible regarding the age of the earth. Calculations on the age of the earth are based upson conjecture and assumptions. We do not know the mind of God so we do not know that He wants us to know that the earth is young.
A lot of evil has come about in this world due to people knowing that they truly understand and know the mind of God, thus allowing them to make interpretations as to what is really meant in the scriptures.
I am a Christian and have read the Bible several times. Please keep in mind that the Bible was never intended to be a scientific document
Do you believe in the Firmament? The invisible dome that separates the Earth and the heavenly ocean? If you take the Bible literally on the Creation story you must also believe in this.
There was a heckuva lot of rain one day...you may have heard about it...
Excellent point.
Although you would have to disbelieve the Bible to believe that (which is what this piece argues):
Genesis 5:3-5 (NIV):
"When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam live 930 years, and then he died."
Yes but I wasn’t there so it must not have happened. This is a popular “argument” on these threads lately.
God was gonna make rain a thousand days and drown ‘em right out...but Noah convinced him to let it rain just 40 days and wait for the sewers to back up.(from Bill Cosby’s “Noah”...(ding!)
Riiiiiiiiight.
Cosby’s wonderful.
Yes, but when Christ said, "This is My Body" many don't believe the clear words of Scripture.
Was God there?
Did God inspire Scripture?
Does Scripture make unambiguous statements on the time line of creation (geneologies, statements, etc?)
Only those knuckle-dragging, embarrassing, fanatics in fly-over country believe in a young earth. Karl Sagan, Darwin, and Algore say the earth is billions and billions of years old. We who are enlightened, who grew up in the age of post-modernism, throw in our lot with the aforementioned luminaries.
When Christ described himself as a door, did he mean that he was made of wood and had hinges?
The accepted age of the Earth of 4.5 billion years according to science, and the Young Earth Creationist view of 6,000 years represents an order of magnitude difference of 750,000.
The question for the conspiracy theorists would be: Why 750,000? Why not fool mankind by a factor of 75,000, or 750, or 75?
And only the Leftist Loonies think they know about a time they didn’t inhabit.
150 years ago you would have just taken the Bible at face value.
“position of the Bible on the age of the Earth”
The Bible doesn’t take such a position. The 6,000 year figure was guessed at by a human.
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When Christ said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12) many don't believe the clear words of Scripture.
When Christ said, "I am the door of the sheep"(John 10:7,9) many don't believe the clear words of Scripture.
When Christ said, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11,14) many don't believe the clear words of Scripture.
When Christ said, "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25) many don't believe the clear words of Scripture.
When Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) many don't believe the clear words of Scripture.
When Christ said, "I am the true vine" (John 15:1,5) many don't believe the clear words of Scripture.
Hohn3:4 How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked. Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mothers womb to be born!
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