I am surprised how much of an issue this topic has become. Whether god created the earth in 6 literal days or in 6000 years (1000 days to man is 1 day to God) why is this a problem?  The Bible is interpreted in many different ways - this I find makes it all the more interesting

We know scientists make mistakes all the time, their dating methods are based on theories that may or may not be accurate, a simple error could change everything (not that they would ever admit it).
I do not pretend to understand it all but I do know I am thankful for this wonderful planet we live on. I give thanks every day regardless of how old she is.

I must be honest, I take every bit of scientific evidence presented to us with a pinch of salt since the new atheists have got involved. I can see how biased scientists are these days leaving me wondering how objectionable they are. Clearly there are hidden agendas at play here.

Many will put their faith in man, I put mine in God.

What a relief to come across a webpage with an intellectual discussion on the subject

Considering the audience at the time Genesis is a good description of the history of the earth. In stating that humans are made from the dust of the earth, it identifies the biological life to be made from the elements within.
The big question is why they state that the trees existed before the sun was in the sky, questioning whether in human memory there was some knowledge of the time were the sun was obscured from view and light was diffused for a prolonged period (as otherwise that statement would not make sense).

The writers of the OT (highly trained scribes) utilized an oral tradition and earlier written records and would have therefore reflected the notions of such in latter writings.  Therefore the premise ‘six days’ rests not on interpretation but literary practice and methodology.  In the light of this using a later reference to justify an interpretation of Hebrew Scripture is simply not valid.
For in so doing the assumption is made that an interpretation is authenticated due to the evidence of the same words being used at a later dated, albeit centuries later’ record. Interpretation is just that an interpretation, expressed point of view, or theological perception unified by evidence that may support such view. The essence therefore is the Hebrews World-view at the time, coupled with God-Truth, and God-Revelation.

Terry
Cambridge, New Zealand

When the LORD God created a tree were the growth circles already there? If you agree that all trees, even the ones that the LORD God created are the same, then maybe the argument of ‘apparent age’ is an explanation for the apparent age of the earth. If on the other hand you are aware of the depth of moon dust on the moon, the strength of magnetic fields among the planets, and other cosmic indices, maybe the +/- 6,500 years holds water. On the other hand, what was the point of reference for a ‘day’ (yom) in Gen 1? Twenty-four hours if you were standing on the earth, but what if you were standing on the perimeter of the universe? “Can you bind the cluster of Pleiades or loosen the cords of Orion?” So how did the writer of Job know that these two constellations are the only two visible by the naked eye in which the stars have gravitational influence on each other?  Ps 118:8 is most appropriate.

I know I will not be the first one to bring this up but I wonder why it makes any difference what our humanistic evidence points to in this age. If we rely solely on the investigative skills of a mortal man, and stray from what God has already said in his word how can we take anything for fact? If it is possible that our God created light before the luminaries, or that he created the plants and animals in their mature form why is it not possible that He created the universe and the earth in it’s mature state and form? Is anything impossible for God? You surely do not believe that Adam was created as an infant and than grew up in the garden, do you? He was created mature in the likeness of God. So why not the stage that God created for Him? I do not see the problem in this thought especially considering the above mentioned scripture. The early Jews and church seemed to believe that the earth was created in literal days.

“there was morning and evening the FIRST DAY”

How do you get around this tag line after every day of creation? If it were billions of years or even one year between each “day” this would not make sense and would discredit the whole of the book. I am all for a scientific explanation in so much as it does not go against the written word of God which has been proven accurate in so many ways. If this were true of science maybe we could argue differently, but as far as I know The Bible has always said the world was round but science believed otherwise… Wisdom is from God not man.

I’m still personally working through things to find how I should interpret the first 5 books of the old testament. And as far as Genesis goes, I will concede that I believe that because God is God, it is possible that God could have created everything in a literal 6 days. I am of the belief that whether it was 6, 24 hour days, or 6,000 years or whatever, that God created the earth with age. He didn’t create only seedlings and baby animals nor were Adam and Eve children. So it is possible that the earth can be seen and read as much older than it actually is because God created it with maturity and age. Why this argument doesn’t seem to be used very often amongst apologetics is a little surprising to me since it seems so logical in my opinion. But I’m also of the belief that God has guided evolution and used the natural laws of life to keep things within our understanding. I don’t know, Just saying. That’s my take on those controversial 7 days.... for now. And I truly enjoy reading others takes and perspectives to challenge my thinking. Keep them coming.

I would like the opportunity to respond to Mr. Hoffman;

Marc;

Your scriptural references are excellent. I too, (a current university student), am plagued everyday with this apparent problem.  However, if I may?

The late Dr. Vernon McGee (Thru the Bible) writes that he doesn’t know how old the universe really is and neither does anyone else.  The question I’ve always had is that Genesis 1:2 speaks of the Spirit of God hovering above the deep waters.  This was before God spoke His first, “Let there be...”

Question:  How long had the deep waters been there?  There is no, “Let there be deep waters...” I am beginning to lean towards the idea that the Big Bang supplied all the matter required for God to create, to form, but it may be that after the Big Bang, God allowed so much time to pass until the matter used to create earth, etc… reached a precise point in which all other conditions necessary for life was reached.  Then, God said…

If this time of waiting was 10 or 15 billion years, I don’t have a problem with that.  What is a billion years to God?

If further, God then took the matter at the precise time and point of His choosing and used six days to put it all together, then I don’t have a problem with that either.  It makes sense to me.  We are told what happened, but now how long except for the six day organization of available matter for such to have occurred.

Just thinking.

The main issue for me is not the earth being created in 6 days but the actual age of the earth. Putting together all the ages people lived to are listed in the Old and New Testaments, the age of the earth comes out at around 6500 years. Yet geology is concluding its significantly older than that (and as Professor Lennox points out in his book, this is independent to biology). The Bible may say the earth was created in 6 days but it says nothing about the age of the earth.

So either geology is wrong or our interpretation of the Bible as a whole is wrong. I suspect the answer is somewhere in the middle.

Science was invented to prove the wisdom of God, and it is happening every day.

Dear Mr. Lennox:

I just listened to your podcast on IDthefuture.com regarding your new book. While I agree whole-heartedly with you there is a Creator God, I have a couple of problems with your logic with the age of the earth.

1a): Is there a very long time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 and on?

This is a rather over used argument to “square” an old earth with the Genesis account of Creation. This leaves the door open for the “billions of years” in Genesis 1:1, followed by the standard Creation account.

1b): How long is a day? Are we looking at a literally 24 hour day?

I would have you check out the following:

Exodus 6:20: - “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

Exodus 23:12 - “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.”

Exodus 31:17 - “It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”

Genesis 1:1 states that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”. The above passages from Exodus clearly state that “in six days” the Lord created the “heavens and the earth”. There is no wiggle room here. God even based a Commandment in the Law on the six day Creation, mandating a seventh day of rest. Trying to crowbar a different interpretation into something as clear as Genesis 1:1 is intellectually dishonest. When unsure about certain Scripture, we must use other points of Scripture to clarify. God certainly does this regarding the Creation account.

I guess my conclusion here is to state that if we start to “reinterpret” the Bible according to what man has apparently found though his own wisdom, then we are lost. For the Word of God is our One Foundation. Reinterpreting Scripture to fit man is counter to God. I end with the following:

Psalm 118:8 - “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.”

Please see an evaluation of Dr. John Lennox’s latest book ‘Seven Days that Divide the World,’ in Dr. George Grebens’ latest 653-page ebook (KINDLE) entitled ‘DEBATE RESOLVED: Evolution, Creation, Intelligent Design and Hybrids.’