How Old Is The Earth?

[Elizabeth619]

Well, it looks like this thread has descended into madness so I think I will take my leave.

Me too. I feel like my brain will explode if I stay in this thread any longer. If that happens then aliens with divine technology my experiment on it. We can't have that.

 

[Tintin]

This is God's promise to His people? Ah... ok...

No, no. The rainbow in the sky...

[video=youtube;R1LAHPTXqbw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1LAHPTXqbw[/video]

 

[Hashe]

The biggest thing that confuses me about this is that in Gen 1 the earth takes six days to create.
In Gen 2:4 it takes 1 day (it is singular 'THE day the Lord created').
Are both literal? If not why? And if one is literal and not the other, how do we know what to take literal?

 

[Percepi]

The biggest thing that confuses me about this is that in Gen 1 the earth takes six days to create.
In Gen 2:4 it takes 1 day (it is singular 'THE day the Lord created').
Are both literal? If not why? And if one is literal and not the other, how do we know what to take literal?

The better question is, "Are they both literal? If so​, why?"

 

[kennethcadwell]

The biggest thing that confuses me about this is that in Gen 1 the earth takes six days to create.
In Gen 2:4 it takes 1 day (it is singular 'THE day the Lord created').
Are both literal? If not why? And if one is literal and not the other, how do we know what to take literal?

The way you have to look at it is this. God did create the world in one day however it was dark and void of life. It took the other five days for him to put light, water, land masses, plants, stars, animals, and man on earth for it to thrive.

 

[Tintin]

The biggest thing that confuses me about this is that in Gen 1 the earth takes six days to create.
In Gen 2:4 it takes 1 day (it is singular 'THE day the Lord created').
Are both literal? If not why? And if one is literal and not the other, how do we know what to take literal?

One word: Context.

 

[Hashe]

So what is the different contexts? Both describe creation, so from where do you get different contexts?

 

[oldhermit]

The biggest thing that confuses me about this is that in Gen 1 the earth takes six days to create.
In Gen 2:4 it takes 1 day (it is singular 'THE day the Lord created').
Are both literal? If not why? And if one is literal and not the other, how do we know what to take literal?

In Gen.1:5 the word is yowm representing a 24 your period. In Gen 2:4 the word is towldowt meaning generations.

 

[Tintin]

So what is the different contexts? Both describe creation, so from where do you get different contexts?

There are two creation accounts but only one creation. Genesis 1 looks at the big picture, Genesis 2 focuses more on the creation of Adam and Eve. The different contexts can be understand in part by looking at the English translations, but studying up on the Hebrew words for "day" and their different meanings helps greatly. Again, context within the chapter/passage is still important.

 

[jamie26301]

Tintin, oldhermit, and company (I say that endearingly ):

What would you say to scholars who propose that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are actually separate creation accounts, written by two different authors? How would you eradicate that claim?

 

[kennethcadwell]

So what is the different contexts? Both describe creation, so from where do you get different contexts?

Like I said both Genesis 1 an Genesis 2 show the earth was made in one day, but in Genesis 1 it shows how it was dark and with out shape and void. The other five days were for when God put everything in place for the earth to thrive.

 

[oldhermit]

Tintin, oldhermit, and company (I say that endearingly ):

What would you say to scholars who propose that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are actually separate creation accounts, written by two different authors? How would you eradicate that claim?

I have read their arguments and they have absolutely no understanding of this text. Here is what you have to consider when you refer to someone as a "scholar" of the Bible. Are they secular, meaning one who views the Bible strictly as a narrative document (meaning nothing more that an anthology of stories with no eternal implications, there are many of these types of "scholars") or are they scholars who regard the Bible as the Word of God"

 

[Hashe]

In Gen.1:5 the word is yowm representing a 24 your period. In Gen 2:4 the word is towldowt meaning generations.

towldowt is in the first part of the verse, yowm (as you write it) is in the second part of the verse.
These are the generations (towldowt) ... on the day (yowm) when God created.

 

[Percepi]

I have read their arguments and they have absolutely no understanding of this text. Here is what you have to consider when you refer to someone as a "scholar" of the Bible. Are they secular, meaning one who views the Bible strictly as a narrative document (meaning nothing more that an anthology of stories with no eternal implications, there are many of these types of "scholars") or are they scholars who regard the Bible as the Word of God"

Good question!

Is there a way to determine the meaning of Genesis without confirmation bias? If so, how?

 

[kennethcadwell]

Tintin, oldhermit, and company (I say that endearingly ):

What would you say to scholars who propose that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are actually separate creation accounts, written by two different authors? How would you eradicate that claim?

The fact that there was only one author for the first five books of the bible....Moses. And as for being separate creation events it does not take rocket science to see that it isn't. The first chapter talks of the creation as a whole, and the second chapter then goes into explaining it in detail. Genesis 2:4 This is the history of the heavens and earth when they were created. See it goes into the history accounts of what took place...not a separate event.

 

[Hashe]

There are two creation accounts but only one creation. Genesis 1 looks at the big picture, Genesis 2 focuses more on the creation of Adam and Eve. The different contexts can be understand in part by looking at the English translations, but studying up on the Hebrew words for "day" and their different meanings helps greatly. Again, context within the chapter/passage is still important.

There is only one Hebrew word for 'day' - yom. It has different meanings which is dependent on context. So it is a bit circular to say understand the context by understanding the different meanings of the word day!

 

[oldhermit]

Good question!

Is there a way to determine the meaning of Genesis without confirmation bias? If so, how?

I can give you my teaching outline on chapter 2 if you like. This may help answer some of you questions.

 

[Hashe]

Like I said both Genesis 1 an Genesis 2 show the earth was made in one day, but in Genesis 1 it shows how it was dark and with out shape and void. The other five days were for when God put everything in place for the earth to thrive.

So on at the end of day 1 in Genesis 1 the earth was under water, but in day 1 in Genesis 2, it was dry.
Which day did God put everything in it? Day 1, or Days 2 - 5?

 

[oldhermit]

towldowt is in the first part of the verse, yowm (as you write it) is in the second part of the verse.
These are the generations (towldowt) ... on the day (yowm) when God created.

Good point. I am not a scholar on the Hebrew language but, I would suggest that the context of beyowm is defined by its connection to generations.

 

[kennethcadwell]

So on at the end of day 1 in Genesis 1 the earth was under water, but in day 1 in Genesis 2, it was dry.
Which day did God put everything in it? Day 1, or Days 2 - 5?

It was not dry in chapter 2. The mist that it talks about rising up to water the whole face of the earth is the same as the forming of land from 1:9. You can't have mist when you have nothing but dry land.