When did time start?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#1
Temporal time as we know it ... when did it start? Did time start at the creation of the heavens and earth? If so which day? Did time start with the creation of Adam and Eve? Or did it start when they fell?

My understanding is that prior to the fall, Adam and Eve inhabited an eternal creation. Thus temporal time as we know it did not start until they fell and were exiled from the eternal.

But I'm sure there's no shortage of those who are willing to show me how wrong I am ;)
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
932
113
#3
Time is a construct of the mind, outside a mind time doesn't exist. Now God being a mind that exists forever, i'd say time also existed within God forever and with this respect, God refers to Himself as ancient of days (because we can't imagine).
When man was created , time started a fresh (only with respect to human mind) on the 1st week of creation. Even though man was created on the 6th day, he knew what God had done for the previous 5 days.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,685
13,373
113
#5
Temporal time as we know it ... when did it start? Did time start at the creation of the heavens and earth? If so which day? Did time start with the creation of Adam and Eve? Or did it start when they fell?

My understanding is that prior to the fall, Adam and Eve inhabited an eternal creation. Thus temporal time as we know it did not start until they fell and were exiled from the eternal.

But I'm sure there's no shortage of those who are willing to show me how wrong I am ;)
Rather than telling you that you're wrong, I will invite you to support your assertion with evidence.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#6
Don't worry about when it started worry about when it ends.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#7
Rather than telling you that you're wrong, I will invite you to support your assertion with evidence.
Fair enough.

In Gen 1:27 it says Adam and Eve were created in God's likeness. God is eternal, so is it not reasonable to assume Adam and Eve were eternal as well?

Philippians 3:21 says Christ was raised in an immortal body and that we will be the same. Since it was the 'job' of the Messiah/Christ to restore what was lost in the fall, the restoration of the immortal body has to mean that man was originally immortal?

1 Cor 15:53 says somewhat the same thing.

So, if man was created to be eternal, would the loss of 'eternity' create the temporal time we now know?
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#8
Don't worry about when it started worry about when it ends.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
The only worry I have about it ending is that it won't be soon enough! :)
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,685
13,373
113
#9
Fair enough.

In Gen 1:27 it says Adam and Eve were created in God's likeness. God is eternal, so is it not reasonable to assume Adam and Eve were eternal as well?

Philippians 3:21 says Christ was raised in an immortal body and that we will be the same. Since it was the 'job' of the Messiah/Christ to restore what was lost in the fall, the restoration of the immortal body has to mean that man was originally immortal?

1 Cor 15:53 says somewhat the same thing.

So, if man was created to be eternal, would the loss of 'eternity' create the temporal time we now know?
Your evidence is somewhat speculative and ignores the plain context of "evening and morning" and "day one"; "the second day", and so on. Having a "potentially-eternal" physical body does not necessitate living in an eternal timeframe. :)
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#10
Because there is no space without time (its so interconnected that its actually called spacetime), then time has begun with the creation of space, i.e. in the very moment of the Big Bang.
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#11
Here's a sort-of answer I found on the internet (and we know all that stuff is true:) )
[h=3]Bible Question:[/h][FONT=&quot]Does time exist within the nature of God? If so, why do you believe it? If not, why do you believe it?[/FONT]
[h=3]Bible Answer:[/h][FONT=&quot]This is a fascinating question. It is clear that we are governed by time. We are born into this world and eventually we die. The human race says that time is what happens between birth and death. We cannot go backward to an event we call birth, nor can we go forward to the event we call death. Can God go back and forth between events?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]God has revealed a mysterious side of Himself to us when He tells us in scripture,[/FONT]
. . . Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. (NASB) Psalm 90:2
But Thou art the same, And Thy years will not come to an end. (NASB) Psalm 102:27
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever. (NASB) Hebrews 13:8
[FONT=&quot]These passages simply say that God will always exist and will never change. These passages give us clues which tell us that He is not subject to time. Scripture also reveals that He is from eternity past.[/FONT]
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. (NASB) Micah 5:2
[FONT=&quot]He is the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), having no beginning and no end. Exodus simply says that God is. He does not grow old. In the book of Revelation, we read,[/FONT]
And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever. (NASB) Revelation 4:9
[FONT=&quot]That is the meaning of eternity. This is our personal Creator. Yet, we cannot understand Him. It is amazing that He knows what will happen before it occurs (1 Peter 1:20). I sometimes think that time is like a ruler in God’s hand. He can instantly know what will happen – not just because He determines so much of what will happen, but because He can instantly see “time” all at once.[/FONT]
[h=3]Conclusion:[/h][FONT=&quot]If God has no beginning or end, this implies He is not governed by time as we know it. He is outsiide of time. I believe that is why scripture says,[/FONT]
. . . that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (NASB) 2 Peter 3:8
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#12
Temporal time as we know it ... when did it start? Did time start at the creation of the heavens and earth? If so which day? Did time start with the creation of Adam and Eve? Or did it start when they fell?

My understanding is that prior to the fall, Adam and Eve inhabited an eternal creation. Thus temporal time as we know it did not start until they fell and were exiled from the eternal.

But I'm sure there's no shortage of those who are willing to show me how wrong I am ;)
I think at God's first, "Let there be." He gave time words like, "and then there was darkness. And then there was light. The First Day."
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#14
Time is a construct of the mind, outside a mind time doesn't exist. Now God being a mind that exists forever, i'd say time also existed within God forever and with this respect, God refers to Himself as ancient of days (because we can't imagine).
When man was created , time started a fresh (only with respect to human mind) on the 1st week of creation. Even though man was created on the 6th day, he knew what God had done for the previous 5 days.
Whether I'm paying attention or not, leaves come out, grow, change colors, fall, and the tree repeats come next spring. I don't see myself in control of time. And, thank you, Lord, for that. Because I can be a complete ditz and forget time all together.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#15
Fair enough.

In Gen 1:27 it says Adam and Eve were created in God's likeness. God is eternal, so is it not reasonable to assume Adam and Eve were eternal as well?

Philippians 3:21 says Christ was raised in an immortal body and that we will be the same. Since it was the 'job' of the Messiah/Christ to restore what was lost in the fall, the restoration of the immortal body has to mean that man was originally immortal?

1 Cor 15:53 says somewhat the same thing.

So, if man was created to be eternal, would the loss of 'eternity' create the temporal time we now know?
Adam and Eve's potential eternalness had a beginning. God never did.
 
N

NoNameMcgee

Guest
#16
somewhere in between 6 and 7 thousand years ago i think.... in my opinion the first day was ... uhh

... the first day

1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

(i believe this is when it started .. before this vvvv)


1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,418
12,903
113
#17
Temporal time as we know it ... when did it start? Did time start at the creation of the heavens and earth? If so which day? Did time start with the creation of Adam and Eve? Or did it start when they fell?

My understanding is that prior to the fall, Adam and Eve inhabited an eternal creation. Thus temporal time as we know it did not start until they fell and were exiled from the eternal.

But I'm sure there's no shortage of those who are willing to show me how wrong I am ;)
Let's face it. You are as wrong as wrong can be. All you needed was to meditate on Genesis 1:5 and you would have had your answer.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#18
somewhere in between 6 and 7 thousand years ago i think.... in my opinion the first day was ... uhh

... the first day

1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

(i believe this is when it started .. before this vvvv)


1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
But God defined day and night by the light and the darkness. Not by time. Is time not actually a construct of the human mind?
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#19
Let's face it. You are as wrong as wrong can be. All you needed was to meditate on Genesis 1:5 and you would have had your answer.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Again, the definition is dark vs light. Not the passage of time. Did not man attached time to the definition of day?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,418
12,903
113
#20
Again, the definition is dark vs light. Not the passage of time.
How did you miss "evening" and "morning"? Do they not indicate the passage of time daily? Or are you simply looking for an excuse to promote another fantasy?