Bible vs. Science

[CRC]

Was all physical creation accomplished in just six days sometime within the past 6,000 to 10,000 years?
The facts disagree with such a conclusion: (1) Light from the Andromeda nebula can be seen on a clear night in the northern hemisphere. It takes about 2,000,000 years for that light to reach the earth, indicating that the universe must be at least millions of years old. (2) End products of radioactive decay in rocks in the earth testify that some rock formations have been undisturbed for billions of years.
Genesis 1:3-31 is not discussing the original creation of matter or of the heavenly bodies. It describes the preparation of the already existing earth for human habitation. This included creation of the basic kinds of vegetation, marine life, flying creatures, land animals, and the first human pair. All of this is said to have been done within a period of six “days.” However, the Hebrew word translated “day” has a variety of meanings, including ‘a long time; the time covering an extraordinary event.’ (Old Testament Word Studies, Grand Rapids, Mich.; 1978, W. Wilson, p. 109) The term used allows for the thought that each “day” could have been thousands of years in length.

 

[Historicist]

CRC, I agree with most of what you say, but would be careful regarding the meaning of "day" in these verses. There isn't much room here for other than a literal 24 hour "day." The key, however, to understanding Genesis 1 and 2 is to recognize that these chapters, while written in Hebrew, were translated from ancient cuneiform. This is why The first few chapters of Genesis are in a style unlike the remainder of the book. In his book Biblical Antiquities: Book I the late archaeloogist and Bible scholar E. Raymond Capt explains this. Capt, using scriptural examples explains that what occurred on those six twenty four hour days, was not the actual creation, but God explaining it (i.e. a creation seminar). This only, explains the twenty four hour cycles of light and darkness, of "evening and the morning" before the solar system on day four. If the solar system was not created until day four, how could there have been three 24 hour cycles of "evening and...morning" prior to this? What happened on day four was, not the creation of the solar system, but God's explanation of it (i.e., an explanation, of what was created long before). Again, this only explains why the solar system is not mentioned until day four. What happened on that day was not its creation, it had been in existence for billions years. This is why atheists have a field day with young earth advocates. They recognize the fallacy of night and day, of "evening and...morning" before a solar system on day four.

Another weak link, and the foundation of the young earth interpretation is that Adam, created about 6000 years ago, was the first human. If this was true what is the origin of those who Cain feared "...shall slay me" (Gen. 4:14) when driven into their land? And if Adam was the first human, where did Cain get his wife (v. 17)? Young earth advocates try to get around this by reading into the text the idea that she was a sister. But there is no contextual evidence for this---none. Period. Common sense tells us that Cain's wife would have originated among those already in the land he was banished to. These were the pre-Adamic people, those described in Genesis 1. Adam and Eve are not described until---after the pre-Adamic people in chapter one.
To insist then that all creation occurred in six twenty four hour days 6000 years ago is the building of another error upon the first, the idea that Adam was the first human.

 

[Historicist]

CRC, I agree with most of what you say, but would be careful regarding the meaning of "day" in these verses. There isn't much room here for other than a literal 24 hour "day." The key, however, to understanding Genesis 1 and 2 is to recognize that these chapters, while written in Hebrew, were translated from ancient cuneiform. This is why The first few chapters of Genesis are in a style unlike the remainder of the book. In his book Biblical Antiquities: Book I the late archaeloogist and Bible scholar E. Raymond Capt explains this. Capt, using scriptural examples explains that what occurred on those six twenty four hour days, was not the actual creation, but God explaining it (i.e. a creation seminar). This only, explains the twenty four hour cycles of light and darkness, of "evening and the morning" before the solar system on day four. If the solar system was not created until day four, how could there have been three 24 hour cycles of "evening and...morning" prior to this? What happened on day four was, not the creation of the solar system, but God's explanation of it (i.e., an explanation, of what was created long before). Again, this only explains why the solar system is not mentioned until day four. What happened on that day was not its creation, it had been in existence for billions years. This is why atheists have a field day with young earth advocates. They recognize the fallacy of night and day, of "evening and...morning" before a solar system on day four.

Another weak link, and the foundation of the young earth interpretation is that Adam, created about 6000 years ago, was the first human. If this was true what is the origin of those who Cain feared "...shall slay me" (Gen. 4:14) when driven into their land? And if Adam was the first human, where did Cain get his wife (v. 17)? Young earth advocates try to get around this by reading into the text the idea that she was a sister. But there is no contextual evidence for this---none. Period. Common sense tells us that Cain's wife would have originated among those already in the land he was banished to. These were the pre-Adamic people, those described in Genesis 1. Adam and Eve are not described until---after the pre-Adamic people in chapter one.
To insist then that all creation occurred in six twenty four hour days 6000 years ago is the building of another error upon the first, the idea that Adam was the first human.

 

[Guest]

Who can put limitations on God? He can do anything. He created everything in six literal days. He could have done it in an instant. But He did it in six days so that we would have our week that we use today with the seventh day to be of rest. Science says a dead person can't be brought back to life. If this were true then none of us would be here in a Christian forum. There would be no Chistianity today to talk about! The fact that Jesus was dead and raised again from the dead is what Christianity is all about. He defeated the last sin...death that gives us all hope. If God wanted to place a galaxy 13 billion light years away from earth why can't He? God put it there. He said He did. There is nothing God can't do. Be cautious putting limitations on God. Very. very cautious. The only "weak link" here is those of you that want to appear as experts and will end up as fools when you attempt to rewrite and change the words of the Bible. Quit baseing your beliefs on "science" that fallable men change every few weeks.

 

[Historicist]

Fishbait, I stated my case by including scripture texts, you did not. You did not include even one scripture text to back your dogmatic assertion. Do you not recognize this?