Age of the Earth

[Celt]

Some Bible scholars call that idea the "Gap theory"; the idea that there's an unknown time gap between Gen.1:1 and Gen.1:2. Some scholars, like Barnes, agree the concept does exist there in Genesis 1.

Bishop Ussher of the 17th century in his work The Annals of The World began with the time of Adam's forming; putting the date at around 4,000 B.C. The 19th century Christian scholar E.W. Bullinger placed the date at 4004 B.C. for Adam, treking backwards from Christ's birth. Bullinger in his KJV study Bible also documented the 'gap' in Gen.1 from the Hebrew (see The Companion Bible).

Add the 2,000 years since Christ came onto the 4,000 B.C. for the man Adam, and it equals 6,000 years ago. No matter who does a Bible chronological history of man, that's as far back as it can go, Biblically. Think about it. That's the basis of where the young earth idea sprang from. It's been assumed that the creation was at the same time as the man Adam on God's 6th day.

If we allow God's Word to interpret for us, then what Peter said about a thousand years to us is like a day to God has a whole lot of weight in Genesis. If we disagree with that as written, then aren't we defaulting to someone or something else as the interpreter?

[Jonny_NZ]

If we allow God's Word to interpret for us, then what Peter said about a thousand years to us is like a day to God has a whole lot of weight in Genesis.

Yes, I agree. I've never seen the need for people to maintain stringently that if you don't accept the creation of the universe as being carried out in earth length days, then you don't accept the Bible.

When we consider how long a galactic day is (the time it takes a galaxy to make one revolution) - and how tiny a vast galaxy is compared to the size of the universe - we're looking at some pretty incredible numbers.

We also often don't seem to consider how God inspired the creation account to be passed down then written down by humans. For instance, even if God gave a vision of the creation account to the author (or someone generations before the author) then we still end up with a fallible human doing the transcribing. It's pretty obvious that the author of Genesis was neither a physicist nor a biologist by profession.

[Celt]

I too believe there's an unknown 'gap' of time in between the Gen.1:1 and 1:2 verses. The idea is actually exposed in part within the KJV translation. I don't believe in evolution theory, nor do I see this as a conflict within God's Word. I also believe it is responsible for a missing link that science can't seem to figure out about this earth's history.

Gen 1:1-10

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

The word "heaven" is plural in the Hebrew, pointing to the sky around the earth, and to God's Heavenly Abode. Note this is the only actual statement in Genesis 1 about God's act of creating the earth and the heavens. Is it a summary statement, with the rest of Gen.1 as the details of His creation? That's how I was originally told to view it as a child.

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.

That "the earth was without form, and void" phrase has been a stumbling. The KJV translation of that doesn't flow the same in the Hebrew. In the Hebrew it's 'tohuw va bohuw', which can be translated as 'a waste and an undistinguishable ruin'. If you do a Bible word study on those Hebrew words, you'll discover they're often used in other Scripture to mean something that was originally in a good state turning bad, or going into confusion. No question there's a confusion or chaos state involved with that. But the problem is when did that state exist, before the earth was created, or after it was created?

Note those "face of the deep" and "the face of the waters" expressions given with that state. I used to think that 'without form and void' meant an ether of chaotic gases, like a Nebula, and God was creating out that. But that doesn't fit with those "face of the deep" and "face of the waters" expressions. The "face of the waters" is an expression also used of the flood in Noah's day (Gen.7:18).

Here's a description of the "deep" in Psalms. What's the subject there?

Ps 104:5-9

5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At Thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of Thy thunder they hasted away.

8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which Thou hast founded for them.

9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

(KJV)

One can say that's about the flood of Noah's day, but is it only about that flood? Gen.1:2 has a connection with waters, meaning the earth being without form and void had to do with the face of waters. That don't point to any Nebula type idea. Nor does it point to 'nothingness'. It's important to keep those 'waters' in mind for the later verses.

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

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.

That "firmament" means the expanse of the sky. God is dividing water here to create that "firmament". It's those same "face of the waters" mentioned back at verse 2. He's dividing them, moving part of those waters to form the sky. The other waters He left where they were. Where were all those waters when He did that dividing? In outer space somewhere? In nothingness?

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

God calls that firmament Heaven. The KJV translators capitalized that word "Heaven", but it's referring to that "firmament" expanse of sky mentioned in the previous verses, i.e., the atmosphere.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

Recall the waters back at verses 6-7 that were being divided? Part of the waters went up to form the sky, but the other part of waters were left where they were. The waters that were left below the firmament (sky) are these "waters under the heaven". Note where they are here; upon the earth. God moves those waters left unto one place, and suddenly... the dry land appears from underneath. The earth was there all along, underneath all those waters. That is not an act of creating the earth; it's an act of uncovering the earth that was there all along.

10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

(KJV)

It's really the bad translation by the KJV translators of Genesis 1:2 with "the earth was without form and void" that caused many to think of the idea of nothingness and chaos. Do some research into what the ancient pagans believed about the creation and you'll find the chaos-nothingness interpretation of Gen.1:2 really sprang from them. The chaos interpretation is popular, but it falls flat when those waters have to be explained along with it.

[BlindSeeker]

That "the earth was without form, and void" phrase has been a stumbling. The KJV translation of that doesn't flow the same in the Hebrew. In the Hebrew it's 'tohuw va bohuw', which can be translated as 'a waste and an undistinguishable ruin'. If you do a Bible word study on those Hebrew words, you'll discover they're often used in other Scripture to mean something that was originally in a good state turning bad, or going into confusion. No question there's a confusion or chaos state involved with that. But the problem is when did that state exist, before the earth was created, or after it was created?

How about submitting some verse as examples.

[spiritman]

Greetings Honolulu Dad,

In the name of our one and only true God our Lord Jesus Christ. Brother I have a question for you, where in the Bible does it say when satan fell from heaven? it does not say. So for anyone to place this time frame between Genesis chapter 1:1 and verse 2, is spectulation. And we as Christians should not deal in speculation. We only know that it happened sometime before Adam fell.

However I think by your question that you are indicating that the defintion for void in chapter 1 verse 2 is bōh

[Guest]

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 John 5:11-13

We also often don't seem to consider how God inspired the creation account to be passed down then written down by humans

Ah!

Dear Brother

Therein Lies The Rub.....

Who Wrote Genesis

Another Look

The Humble Elder And The LORD Jesus Christ

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

Deuteronomy 34:10

Spoke Face To Face While He Wrote

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

John 14:9

In The Book Of Remembrance

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:1-3

God's Firsthand Account

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31

Believe The WORD

Stand Fast

Amen

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Your Brother Joe

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

[spiritman]

The holy spirit does indeed guide one to the truth; however sometimes it's necessay to give someone who's going the wrong direction a little more than just The Spirit told me. I talk to some people who claim to be christians on line (well maybe they in their hearts truely believe that they are Chrisitans, but anyway, they don't believe in gifts of the spirit for today, but they are intelligent people.

most people know the rules for language; hebrew and greek have this in common with the english; if you have two words that are the same; but used in a different context, the context determines the correct definition; along with the fact, that the meaning we have come up with cannot contradict not even one scripture. This is called hermnutics (science of Biblical intepretation).

For example Let's take the word Run.

First context sentence reads: I have a Run in my stocking.

Second context reads: Let's put on our tennis shoes and go for a Run.

Same word used in a different context. If someone tells me that they have a run in their stocking; I don't interpret them as saying that they want to go jogging.

And If someone says Let's put on our tennis shoes, and go for a run; I know their not talking about a tare in their stockings.

[Guest Honolulu-Dad]

Greetings Honolulu Dad,

In the name of our one and only true God our Lord Jesus Christ. Brother I have a question for you, where in the Bible does it say when satan fell from heaven? it does not say. So for anyone to place this time frame between Genesis chapter 1:1 and verse 2, is spectulation. And we as Christians should not deal in speculation. We only know that it happened sometime before Adam fell.

However I think by your question that you are indicating that the defintion for void in chapter 1 verse 2 is bōh

[spiritman]

Oh sorry I almost forgot; but the main reason that one needs to study is because in the Bible we are commanded to do so.

2 Tim 2:15 (KJV) reads: 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth)

[BlindSeeker]

Greetings Honolulu Dad,

In the name of our one and only true God our Lord Jesus Christ. Brother I have a question for you, where in the Bible does it say when satan fell from heaven? it does not say. So for anyone to place this time frame between Genesis chapter 1:1 and verse 2, is spectulation. And we as Christians should not deal in speculation. We only know that it happened sometime before Adam fell.

However I think by your question that you are indicating that the defintion for void in chapter 1 verse 2 is bōh