creation of the world

[Ceris]

6 twenty-four hour days, 1 day of rest (7 in total).

 

[Sinai]

But a "literal interpretation" of the Bible can support either the young Earth creationists who claim the universe is a few thousand years old OR the old Earth creationists who claim the universe is billions of years old.

literal says that God created in six days. days. literal. the universe may very well be physically billions of years old, and yet be truly only several thousand (take for instance Adam was created a physically full-grown man even though he was really only a few minutes old.)

Actually, "literal" says that God created in six יוֹםs. The Bible doesn't give an age other than six periods of time--each identified as a יוֹם (pronounced yom)--plus the period of human history since the time God created a soul for Adam. Although יוֹם is most commonly translated as "day" it can also mean an age, an era or an unspecified period of time. The Bible can support either a "young Earth" position that the universe is only a few thousand years old (generally YECs claim it to be in the range of 6-58 thousand years) or an "old Earth" position that agrees with the scientific evidence that it is billions of years old.

 

[Faith In God]

[/b][/i]Actually, "literal" says that God created in six יוֹםs. The Bible doesn't give an age other than six periods of time--each identified as a יוֹם (pronounced yom)--plus the period of human history since the time God created a soul for Adam. Although יוֹם is most commonly translated as "day" it can also mean an age, an era or an unspecified period of time. The Bible can support either a "young Earth" position that the universe is only a few thousand years old (generally YECs claim it to be in the range of 6-58 thousand years) or an "old Earth" position that agrees with the scientific evidence that it is billions of years old.

There was evening and there was morning. the first day. sounds like a regular day to me.

 

[GodSaves]

I agree Sinai, that creation could have been in a literal day or age. I do think the repeated saying of evening and morning gives credance to a literal day, as we know of what evening and morning to be. The tradition of the Jews keeping the Sabbath (saturday) because it was commonly believed it was the day in which God rested after creation also gives some credance to a literal day. It can very well be true that the earth is old as science says it is. What I cannot make myself believe is that plants/animals and man all evolved out of 'bacteria.' This, in my opinion, does not fit with the scriptures.(more then just Genesis) There are many who would argue this and have argued this.

I think I believe in creationism because it requires alot of faith, especially today when there not that many who do. (we are largely out numbered by those who believe in evolution) It takes alot of faith because almost everyone is telling me/us differently because of their belief in some well educated men and their theories. I don't believe there has been any evidence found that shows a fish evolving into a bird, or something this dramatic as evolution suggest.

I also believe in creationism because I believe it really brings you back to the Bible for support. It really is one of our only support, so it brings us back to God's Word. I believe that evolution points one, to other things, other then God's Word. Evolution exists outside of the Bible, and it really doesn't need the Bible at all. It also is a stumbling block for many non-believers because, I believe, in their thoughts why would there be a need for God if everything could have become on its own. Theistic Evolutionists say God guided everything. I believe this to be a mix between these theories provided by men, as well as the teachings from the Bible. For me this too causes a problem. I do not believe in mixing the unholy with the holy. Now, I am aware many will say this is not true. That is fine, but it is not how I see it.

You know, I really like to take risks, finacially, and physically. I used to rock climb when I was younger without ropes. I like investing where risk is involved because rewards are high. I just cannot bring myself to start looking to teachings of the world that don't reflect the teachings of the Bible. I personally think that it is not wise to begin mixing the two teachings, the worlds and God's. I know from experience, once you dabble you tend to dabble a little more. Maybe it is different for others.

Like the Bible teaches, in the later times there will be teachings that will deceive many, including those who are of the church. I just don't want to subject myself to this dabbling that could eventually lead to being deceived. Maybe I am just dumb, as I think some will say, even my own Christian brothers. Evolution is a changing theory, it is currently being reviewed by evolutionists because they believe some of it is not correct. Francis Crick, nobel prize winner for his discovery of DNA(well he kinda ripped it off of a fellow scientist) has stated in one of his books that it is impossible for life to have come from the primordial soup, or bacteria. The complex just doesn't evolve from the simple, he states. He has even suggested that aliens might have planted pods in the ocean, and that is how we were created. Currently, some scientists in America are searching for evidence of life, or aliens. What if evidence is found that life can exist on other planets, conclusive evidence? Will Francis Crick's idea become part of the evolutionary theory? I dunno, right now it seems far fetched, but I bet in the 1500's the thought of man evolving from a type of ape seemed far fetch too.

We are told in the Bible to keep away from the world's teachings. I will stick with the Bible and be one of the so called "dummies, or clueless" who believe in creation so that I won't be one, who may, fall for future theories that continue to take away God's Glory.

There is intent that the evolutionary theories suggests that a supernatural being is not necessary.(I am not taking about TE's) If this is incorrect then there would be a suggestion in theory that something had to create the matter that started it all. This is where TE's come in.

Anyways, I apologize for my ramblings. Take note, these are my thoughts which I am convicted of. My thoughts that are for me, so please save your time by not debating my thoughts. And I will save mine. All in all TE's and YEC's and Gap Theories, we are all saved by grace. How it started is not really a concern, but watching to stray from the teachings of the world should be. I am not saying you cannot agree, just be watchful, so that none of us are deceived. Satan is just looking to do this to each and everyone of us.

God Bless

 

[Ave Maria]

God created the universe in 6 24-hour days and rested on a 7th 24-hour day! Isn't God awesome?!

 

[Dark_Lite]

Theistic evolution.

Not hard to see. Some people just like to play games.

 

[Sinai]

There was evening and there was morning. the first day. sounds like a regular day to me.

The key phrase in your interpreting "creation week" as being six consecutive 24-hour days seems to be (with the Hebrew words reversed to correspond to the English order) wayhi-'erev wayhi-voqer yom 'echadh....yom sheni....yom shelishi...., which is generally translated "and it was evening and it was morning day one....day second....day third," etc.


Three Hebrew words are especially important to our understanding of what the Bible may mean by this phrase:

• The Hebrew noun erev or ereb, which refers to the time of dusk beginning with the setting of the sun. It is generally translated as "evening" and is the time when the shadows of evening have grown long but it is not quite dark yet. The word can be used either to mean that time of day just before everything gets totally dark, or it can be used to refer to coming darkness, a time of chaos or confusion, or a time when one cannot see quite clearly. The root of erev means “mixed-up, stirred together, disorderly”—which tends to be our visual sensation of being in the dark;

• The Hebrew noun voqer or boker, which refers to morning or the breaking of day or that time when the rising of the sun allows one to see his way. Its root means “discernible, able to be distinguished, orderly”—which tends to be our visual sensation at the coming of day; and

• The Hebrew noun yom, which is generally translated as day or as a period of time, although it can also mean a generation, an era, or an indefinite period of time.

Yes, you can make an argument that evev and voqer are sunset and sunrise and that each yom is a "regular" 24-hour day, though some may question how "regular" the days could be when the sun didn't make its appearance until the fourth day (and we aren't certain that the Earth was present until the third day). But as you should be able to see from the Hebrew meanings of the terms, good arguments can also be made for other meanings of those terms. You will note that I did not argue against either interpretation, since the Bible will support either one.

 

[Faith In God]

Sinai, i think Godsaves did a great job already. thanks though.

 

[Sinai]

I agree Sinai, that creation could have been in a literal day or age. I do think the repeated saying of evening and morning gives credance to a literal day, as we know of what evening and morning to be. The tradition of the Jews keeping the Sabbath (saturday) because it was commonly believed it was the day in which God rested after creation also gives some credance to a literal day.

I can see that argument and have no problem with YECs who think the most logical or accurate interpretation for yom is to mean a 24-hour day.

On the other hand, I can also see the OECs' argument (based upon the Bible's failure to close out the seventh day and the language of Psalm 95 and Hebrews 4) that the seventh day has extended thousands of years--and I have no problem with OECs who think the most logical or accurate interpretation for yom is to mean an age or unspecified length of time.

For that matter, I can also see and have no problem with the interpretation that each yom should be of approximately 24 hours in length--but should be measured forward in time as it occurred rather than backwards in time looking back toward the time of creation. Because measuring it forward in time as it occurred would mean it would be measured at the speed of outward thrust following the initial creation of the universe (i.e., what scientists generally call the "big bang"), time dilation would cause six consecutive periods of around 24 hours each to total the billions of years (measured looking backwards in time against the creative process) science says occurred.

My point was that the Bible will support any of those positions. Thus, I think we are doing a terrible disservice to the Lord and the Great Commission He gave us when we allow this issue to become a stumbling block to winning the world for our Lord and Savior.