Age of the earth

• Why does the age of the earth matter?
• Dr. Rogers: Does the Hebrew word yom endorse an old earth?
  • The word can be used either literally or figuratively.
    • Figurative: Genesis 2:4, 17
    • Literal in cases where it is used with the number of a day (first day, second day, etc.).
• Other references to Creation
  • Exodus 20:11
  • Mark 10:6
• Could the God described in the Bible create the earth in 6, 24-hour days?
• Could the God described in the Bible create the earth across billions of years?
• Based on the evidence available, which do you believe?
• Age of the earth estimations from Biblical records
  • Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus
    • Tracing Jesus’ lineage through Joseph
    • Establishes a paternal link to David
      • Legal right to inherit throne
    • Age of earth: 7,307 years
    • Date of creation: 5284 BC
  • Luke’s genealogy of Jesus
    • Traces Jesus’ lineage through Mary
    • Establishes a blood link to David
      • Blood right to inherit throne
    • Age of earth: 8,596 years
    • Date of creation: 6573 BC
• Underlying assumptions of this Biblical timeline
  • The “days” of creation were literal, 24-hour days.
  • No gaps in genealogies presented in the Biblical record.
  • Where we don’t have the age of the father at the birth of the next person in a lineage, this timeline uses an “average lifespan” for that timespan.
  • Assuming there are no gaps in the genealogies presented in the Bible, this makes the timeline longer than actual.

Introduction

• Genesis 12:1-3, 11-12 – God’s promises to Abraham.

God’s promises

• Genesis 12:1-7

I will make you a great nation.

• Genesis 21:5
• Exodus 1:7-9, 20
• Deuteronomy 26:5
• Genesis 14:13 – “Abram the Hebrew”
• Romans 4:18-22
• FULFILLED! Abraham became the father of the Hebrew nation.

To your descendants I will give this land.

• Joshua 1:1-6; 21:43-45
• Nehemiah 9:7-8
• FULFILLED! The nation lived in the land of promise.

In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

• Matthew 1:1, 2-16; 3:8-9
• Acts 3:13-15, 19, 25-26
• FULFILLED! Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, became the Savior of the world.

Abraham’s exemplary faith

• Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-19
• John 8:31-33, 37-47
• Romans 4:9-17, 23-24
• Romans 9:6-8
• Galatians 3:6-9, 26-29