Post by Josh on Mar 6, 2007 7:23:17 GMT -8
Orginally posted 4/3/06:
QUESTION:
Science has shown conclusively that the earth is more than 4 billion years old. Doesn’t an earth that old directly contradict the Biblical idea that everything was created in just six 24-hour periods?
REPLY: First off, Genesis speaks of 7 yoms (Hebrew translated as ‘day’). The Hebrew word yom has 3 literal meanings: a 24 hour day, a 12 hour day, or an indefinite period of time/ age. Even the word day in English has roughly the same alternative meanings: we might say "Back in my day...." or "in George Washington’s day", etc... Also in English we speak of mornings and evenings of ages or long periods of time: “The sun was setting on the classical period” or “at the dawn of the Reformation”.
There are many interesting clues in Genesis 1 and 2 that tip us off that the author is intending yom to mean long periods of time. For instance, interestingly, day 7 does not have an evening, which leaves us with the indication that we are still in day 7, the day of God’s rest from creation (as a side note: this ‘resting’ of God on day 7 predicts that we will find man as the final creature to appear in the fossil record, and that's exactly what we find, no new species after man! Instead, we find only extinctions!)
It is sometimes suggested that this interpretation of yom is a modern attempt to reconcile Genesis with science by stretching the account out of its context or obvious meaning. However, this day/age theory is not something new designed to defend against scientific attacks on Scripture; some early church fathers and early rabbis interpreted the days in genesis to be long periods of time.
One more question if my case needs more ammunition: consider day 6. All the following things happen in just that day:
1) Creation of land animals
2) Creation of Adam
3) Adam names animals in the garden
4) Adam gets lonely
5) Eve created.
Does it seem even remotely likely that all of these events could happen in one 24 hour day? I know men need women, but I'm sure with all the new sights, Adam wouldn't have gotten lonely for at least a week!
For these and other reasons, I personally think it's clear that the author of Genesis clearly intended the reader to understand that each yom is a long period of time. Of course, this interpretation is not something that Christians should divide over, but one that can be investigated and debated well within the realm of Orthodox Christian belief. And honest pursuit of truth should of course be encouraged.
If you have any further questions, I’ll try and post some links by others who have done a more thorough job. Please reply with questions and/ or comments if this is of interest to you.
NOTE, THIS THREAD IS LOCKED. IF YOU WISH TO REPLY TO IT, PLEASE VISIT THIS SAME ARTICLE IN THE QUESTIONS ABOUT CHRISTIANITY FORUM:
www.aletheia.proboards76.com/index.cgi?board=science
QUESTION:
Science has shown conclusively that the earth is more than 4 billion years old. Doesn’t an earth that old directly contradict the Biblical idea that everything was created in just six 24-hour periods?
REPLY: First off, Genesis speaks of 7 yoms (Hebrew translated as ‘day’). The Hebrew word yom has 3 literal meanings: a 24 hour day, a 12 hour day, or an indefinite period of time/ age. Even the word day in English has roughly the same alternative meanings: we might say "Back in my day...." or "in George Washington’s day", etc... Also in English we speak of mornings and evenings of ages or long periods of time: “The sun was setting on the classical period” or “at the dawn of the Reformation”.
There are many interesting clues in Genesis 1 and 2 that tip us off that the author is intending yom to mean long periods of time. For instance, interestingly, day 7 does not have an evening, which leaves us with the indication that we are still in day 7, the day of God’s rest from creation (as a side note: this ‘resting’ of God on day 7 predicts that we will find man as the final creature to appear in the fossil record, and that's exactly what we find, no new species after man! Instead, we find only extinctions!)
It is sometimes suggested that this interpretation of yom is a modern attempt to reconcile Genesis with science by stretching the account out of its context or obvious meaning. However, this day/age theory is not something new designed to defend against scientific attacks on Scripture; some early church fathers and early rabbis interpreted the days in genesis to be long periods of time.
One more question if my case needs more ammunition: consider day 6. All the following things happen in just that day:
1) Creation of land animals
2) Creation of Adam
3) Adam names animals in the garden
4) Adam gets lonely
5) Eve created.
Does it seem even remotely likely that all of these events could happen in one 24 hour day? I know men need women, but I'm sure with all the new sights, Adam wouldn't have gotten lonely for at least a week!
For these and other reasons, I personally think it's clear that the author of Genesis clearly intended the reader to understand that each yom is a long period of time. Of course, this interpretation is not something that Christians should divide over, but one that can be investigated and debated well within the realm of Orthodox Christian belief. And honest pursuit of truth should of course be encouraged.
If you have any further questions, I’ll try and post some links by others who have done a more thorough job. Please reply with questions and/ or comments if this is of interest to you.
NOTE, THIS THREAD IS LOCKED. IF YOU WISH TO REPLY TO IT, PLEASE VISIT THIS SAME ARTICLE IN THE QUESTIONS ABOUT CHRISTIANITY FORUM:
www.aletheia.proboards76.com/index.cgi?board=science