Many believers and non-believers differ in their opinions about how old the earth really is. They believe that Science and Scripture are at odds with each other.
Scientists say that the earth is billions of years old (4.543 billion years to give an exact estimation). Who’s to say that they are wrong? Scientists have calculated this number based upon research into many factors that I only know the slightest bit about.
Many Christians combat this statement by saying the earth is only 6,000 years old because that’s all the time they think the Bible talks about. Their response to people who question the Bible is, “That’s just the way it is! You just have to believe!”
Today I am going to do my best to break down what the Bible says to show the true answer to this question about the age of the earth, and it’s not what most Christians say.
What does Science Say?
“Today, we know from radiometric dating that Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. Had naturalists in the 1700s and 1800s known Earth’s true age, early ideas about evolution might have been taken more seriously”
Results from How Old is Earth? | AMNH.
I’m going to try to explain this concept in the simplest terms possible. Radiometric dating is basically when we use a decaying material to determine how old it is. Geologists use the rate of decay and say “Well if it’s decaying this fast now, and it’s always decayed like this, then it must have started decaying ______ years ago.”
All these complex formulas gave us that number listed above 4.5 billion years old.
What does the Bible Say?
I want to read you a few scriptures. These are the foundation of what I truly believe is the truth behind the age of the Earth, and it might surprise you to find out that it agrees with the Science and actually backs it up.
The Bible and Science are in agreement: the earth is not 6,000 years old.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 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.
Genesis 1:1-2 KJV
Most Christians just flow right over these verses because in verse 3 we start the story of how God created the earth as we know it, but these verses are very important.
There are a few words that I want to pull out of these verses that will shed light on the subject.
“…earth was without form…”
The earth had been destroyed. How does this relate to science? Well remember whenever scientists discuss the extinction of dinosaurs they talk about a cataclysmic event?
The earth was created and then destroyed and reduced to a formless abyss void of life and light. Remember where light exists, life exists.
“…the face of the deep [waters]…”
This is talking about waters. We know this because later in the verse it says “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
So we start to get a picture of what happened before what Christians would consider the “creation of the world” 6,000 years ago.
The World Before Adam
Some Christian circles call this the pre-Adamic Race. In other words, the people and animals that existed before God created Adam.
Scientific Proof
Fossils exist. That’s clear as day.
If you’re a “by-science” person, then this might be the first time that the Bible actually might make sense with common sense.
This is where most intelligent people have a problem with the Bible because it’s very clear that something existed here before mankind as we know it.
- Dinosaurs
- Cavemen
Most Christians don’t know how to explain this because they haven’t studied this concept out, but once you study this topic it becomes very clear that something existed here before mankind as we know it.
Scriptural Proof
What is the proof that this pre-Adamic race was on the earth prior to the creation of the earth as we know it?
I point you to 3 scriptures:
#1 Genesis 1:2 – Water on “face of the deep”
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 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.
Genesis 1:1-2 KJV
We’ve already talked about the first verse in Genesis 1:2. The face of the waters is clearly talking about flood waters on the “face of the deep”.
#2 Genesis 9:11 – “Won’t flood the earth ‘anymore’”
And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
Genesis 9:11 KJV
Now think about the language used here. Think about in the natural. When you shoot someone with a Nerf gun or jump scare them, if you had just done it once, what would you say?
Probably something like, “Ok OK I won’t do that again.”
But what did God say (paraphrased), “I won’t do that anymore.”
That word is important it means that it’s been done before.
#3 Genesis 1:28 – “‘Replenish’ the earth”
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:28 KJV
The word replenish means to fill up again.
I mean… does God really need to spell it out anymore than that. If He told Adam to replenish the earth then there was something here before that Adam could “fill up again” from.
Science and Scripture Agree: The Earth isn’t 6,000 Years Old
If this is the first time you’ve heard these things, it might be a lot to take in. I remember the first time I learned about the “Pre-Adamic Race” I thought it was crazy!
The information is all in there, but don’t take my word for it. I encourage you to do your own study of the Bible.
Know that regardless of how old the earth is the Bible IS reliable.
I write this blog post not to prove to you that scripture agrees with science, but that science agrees with scripture.
If you profess to be a Christian you have to know that the Scriptures have to be the final authority as they are in my life.
Ask me any questions you have…
While you’re studying this topic, if you have any questions, I encourage you to send me any questions you have about this topic. Email me at [email protected].
There are a lot of other facts that line up with the Bible that prove this topic, but the information I’ve provided is a good starting point. Regardless of where you are on this line of thought, I’ve given you more than enough information to at least make you consider this.
At the end of the day it’s up to you to choose what you believe, and it really is just a choice.
0 Comments