Vol.2 No.5

Q. The Bible seems to indicate that the earth was created by God just a few thousand years ago, yet all the best scientific evidence indicates that the earth is billions of years old. Please clarify.

A. The Bible does indicate that the earth is about 6,000 years old. You are also right that much scientific evidence points to the earth possibly being billions of years old.

Let me recommend a fine book defending the Biblical chronology of creation Creation's Tiny Mystery by Robert Gentry. Here are some brief comments that might explain the apparent difference:

When the earth was created, it was perfect (Genesis 1:3 1). After Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, God cursed the earth. "And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake. . ." (Genesis 3: 17-19).

The earth seemed to age dramatically after the sin of man and no doubt looked vastly older than it was. There was a further cursing of the earth after the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. "And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive they brother's blood from thy hand.. ." (Genesis 4: 11-12). Again, the earth was made to appear older than it really was.

At the time of the world-wide flood, God also cursed the earth (Gen. 8:21). As you can see, God cursed the earth at least three times, no doubt aging it dramatically each time. The Psalmist also indicates that the earth "shall wax old like a garment" (Psalm 102: 25-26).