Seven Day Creation Story

[GoingMyOwnWay]

I'm a little confused about the whole Creation story - Catholics believe that it didn't actually take seven days, that it really took billions of years. What do other Christians believe?

[Rick Kelly]

Hi GoingMyOwnWay
The creation of the earth, as it is now (2Pet3:7) was done in 7 24 hour days as explained below.

The Word "Day" in Genesis 1.
This Is Appendix 11 From The Companion Bible.

The word "day", when used without any limiting words, may refer to a long or prolonged period: as, the "day of grace", the "day of visitation", the "day of salvation", the "day of judgment", the "day of the Lord", "man's day", etc. But when the word "day" is used with a numeral (cardinal or ordinal), as one, two, three, etc., or first, second, third, etc., "evening and morning" (Genesis 1), or the "seventh day" (Exodus 20:9, 11, etc.), it is defined, limited, and restricted to an ordinary day of twenty-four hours.

The word "day" is never used for a year. Sometimes a corresponding number of days is used for a corresponding number of years, but in that case it is always expressly stated to be so used; as in Numbers 14:33, 34. But, even in these cases, the word "day" means a day, and the word "year" means a year. It is not said that a day means a year; but the number of forty years is said to be "after the number of days in which ye searched the land, even forty days".

It is the same in Ezekiel 4:5, where the years of Israel's iniquity were laid on Ezekiel "according to the number of days". In this case also, the word "days" means days, and the word "years" means years.

There is no Scriptural warrant for arbitrarily assuming this to be a general principle in the absence of any statement of that effect.


therain.org

I Hope this helps...
.Rick.

[Rick Kelly]

Hi again GoingMyOwnWay,

The article below will explain the "gap theory". The gap between Genesis 1:1 & 1:2.

I believe the earth may be billions or more old and GOD made it perfect in the begining. I also believe He made the earth as it is NOW in 7 24 hour days.


notes on Isaiah 45:18
This Is From The Companion Bible.

Isaiah 45:18

18. For thus saith 1 the LORD °That created the heavens; God Himself °That formed the earth and °made it; he hath established it, °He created it not °in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: " I am 1 the LORD;
and there is none else.

That created = the Creator of. Note how these expressions are heaped together to impress us with the fact that the One Who created all ought to be able to tell us, better than ignorant man, how He created it.
That formed = The Former of. Hebrew yazar = to fashion.
made = the Maker of. He created. It did not come of itself by evolution (see Appendix 5 and 8). Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 1:1)
in vain = tohu. The same word as in Genesis 1:2 ("without form"). Therefore it must have become tohu: which is exactly what Genesis 1:2 declares (See Below). In Genesis 1:1 we have "the world that then was" (compare 2Peter 3:6); and in verse 2 we have ruin into which it fell.

We are not told how, when, or why, or how long it lasted. When geologists have settled how many years they require, they may place them between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis 1.

In Genesis 1:2-2:4, we have "the heavens and the earth which are now" of 2Peter 3:7. Both are set in contrast with the "new heavens and the new earth" of 2Peter 3:13.

1The Lord = Hebrew; Yehovah

notes on Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.
This Is From The Companion Bible.

1. IN the beginning °God °created °the heaven and the earth.
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.

1. "THE WORLD THAT THEN WAS" (2Peter 3:5,6). See Structure, page 1. Creation in eternity past, to which all Fossils and "Remains" belongs.

God. Hebrew Elohim, plural. First occurence connects it with creation, and denotes, by usage, the Creator in relation to His creatures. See Appendix 4. The Hebrew accent Athnach places the emphasis, and gives pause, on "God" as being Himself the great worker, separating the Worker from His work.

created (sing.). Occurs 6 times in this Introduction. Other acts 46 times. See Appendix 5. Perfection implied. Deuteronomy 32:4. 2Samuel 22:31. Job 38:7. Pslams 111; 147:3-5. Proverbs 3:19. Ecclesiastes 3:11-14. [Even the Greek Cosmos = ornament. Exodus 33:4-6. Isaiah 49:18. Jeremiah 4:30. Ezekiel 7:20. 1Peter 3:3]

the heaven and the earth. With Hebrew Particle 'eth before each, emphasising the Article "the", and thus distinguishing both from 2:1. "Heavens" in Hebrew always in plural. See note on Deuteronomy 4:26.

2. And. Note the Figure of Speech Polysyndeton (See appendix 6), by which, in the 34 verses of this Introduction, each one of 102 separate acts are emphasised; and the important word "God" in verse 1 is carried like a lamp through the whole of this Introduction (1:1 - 2:3).

the earth. Figure of Speech Anadiplosis. See appendix 6.

was = become. See Genesis 2:7; 4:3; 9:15; 19:26. Exodus 32:1. Deuteronomy 27:9. 2Samuel 7:24, etc. Also rendered came to pass, Genesis 4:14; 22:1; 23:1; 27:1. Joshua 4:1; 5:1. 1Kings 13:32. Isaiah 14:24 etc. Also rendered be (in the sense of become), verse 3 etc., and where the verb "to be" is not in italic type. Hence, Exodus 3:1, kept=became keeper, quit = become men, etc. See Appendix 7.

without form = waste. Hebrew tohu va bohu. Figure of Speech Paronomasia See appendix 6. Not created tohu (Isaiah 45:18 See Above), but became tohu (Genesis 1:2. 2Peter 3:5,6). "An enemy hath done this" (Matthew 13:25,28,39. compare 1Corithians 14:33). See Appendix 8.

was. This is the italic type, because no verb "to be" in Hebrew (see Appendix 7). In like manner man became a ruin (Genesis 3. Psalms 14:1-3; 51:5; 53:1-3. Ecclesiastes 7:20. Romans 7:18).

face. Figure of Speech Pleonasm. See appendix 6.

the Spirit of God moved (see Appendix 9) = The beginning of "the heavens and the earth which are now" (2Peter 3:7). It is even so in the New Creation. The Spirit moves (John 3:3-8. Romans 8:5,9,14. Galatians 4:29. 2Corinthians 5:17,18).

therain.org

I hope this helps you understand why people say the earth is billions of years old.

Much Love To You & Yours
In JESUS
.Rick.

[Hannah Christine Gutu]

Well this is what i believe, Its true that creation took seven days. But there are some things we have to note here. Creation took place in seven (God) days. pay attention to the wording GOD DAYS. let me take your attention to Gen 1 vs 3-13, the first 3 days of creation. please note these days refered to are not like the days we know. They are God days. The days as we know them wee only crated on the fourth day of God's days. So looking at Gen 1 vs 14-19, God then created the days that we know and live in today but they are not God's days. I dont know the ratio of God's days to our present days but i strongly believe they are different based on the verss i have mentioned above. i hope i have helped you. Stay blessed.

[Peter Clement]

very good reply:-) a God´s day could be a 100.000 years?

[Falon]

It's funny that I found this today.Just yesterday my 10 year old read the first three chapters of Genesis and came back and announced he thought God must really love us alot.In the 2nd chapter verse 3 it says that God blessed spoke good of the seventh day and rested from ALL his work which he had created and done.verse 4 says that this is the HISTORY of the heavens and of the earth when they were created in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.It says there was evening and morning between each day.That sounds to me like one 24 hour period between each day.The Bible says in the beginning the Word is the word was and the word will be.The Bible was prewritten before it came to fruition.The Bible says before you were ever even formed in your mother's womb that God knew and approved of you and called you his own.I know that there are several different titles and religions and different Churches but I only serve 1 God.We as children of God as believers in His son have a ministry of reconciliation we are reconciled to God through Christ.I keep it simple.Yesterday I was grieved when I read on CSNBC NEWS about the lady in Korea publicly executed on the border of china for passing out a Bible a few weeks ago.I pass out Bibles all the time and own so many different versions.I was in tears that her husband and 2 children were taken to a 'prison camp" there were other similar stories where others had witnessed terrible crimes at these camps including extermination.This wasn't the diary of Ann Frank this was last month.There is nothing new under the sun and for generations people have been losing their lives over the Word of God.I suppose I just take God at his word, His Word is true.

[Natasha Mayes]

Gen 1:1-5 in the KJV says: "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. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that [it was] good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and He called the darkness Night. And the evening and the morning was the first day."

I used the KJV's version here, because, while it is not an easy translation to read, it is the most accurately translated from the original Latin. God created heaven and earth BEFORE He made day and night. It doesn't say how long it took, but if you believe your Bible as I do, I'd say He probably did it in a moment! He IS God. It would have been possible for Him to just THINK "creation" and it would be so. Until the first day and night was officially created, there really is no way to tell how long the creation of earth took. What the Bible does teach is that 1 day is like a 1000 years to God and a 1000 years like a day. For all we know God took His time in creating heaven and earth before taking another 6 days to sort out the "minor details" like the sun and moon and stars and all the rest! (Remember God rested on the seventh day!!)
I used to try and fit everything into a historical timeline of sorts, by using the same line I used earlier (1 day a 1000 years and vice versa). My point was that if this is true then there is no telling how long the days were back when God created it all. If we keep in mind, however that the first 5 Books in the Bible were written by Moses, after being divinely inspired by God, then I can come to no other conclusion than: 1 day - from the day the 1st day was created onwards - was in fact 1 DAY, as the Israelites, who it was written for originally - understood 1 day to be. That is from sunset to sunset or 24 hours.

[Glenn Robichaux]

Just understand God Is and God made man in His image and Jesus came ,died,was buried, & rose on 3rd day .; We can be forgive of sins by His Blood and soon we all will be with Him.

[Glenn Robichaux]

Show me a person that looks like this just like evolution show me a woman born a monkey NEVER
Follow not the gods' of this world for they will lead you away from Me saith the Lordf. He said do not get with strange women for they will lead you astray!

[LT]

Sam,

Your facts are in error. From the time of creation God has been central. Adam and Eve knew God. Their children gave offering to God. We could trace recognition of God down through the ages. There are many people groups down through the years that have worshipped aspects of nature, but even then they were seeking a higher power behind the nature and not just the thing (i.e. sun god, war god, fertility god, etc.). The Bible speaks of this in numerous places, but gives a clear understanding in Romans 1 and 2 regarding people seeking things other than God.

You proclaim you follow the way of truth and the way of Jesus. A Christian who knows Jesus recognizes that there is only truth, and Jesus is truth, He is the way (John 14:6). Now there can be statements that are true, but that is not the type of truth that we speakof when we talk about walking in or following truth.

You proclaim that many gave up Jesus to make their name fame. Do you not realize that the disciples were all executed (all but John) by the leaders of their day?

At this point I will ask a simple question. Is Jesus the Son of the Living God, God in the flesh, who came to shed His blood as the sacrifice for all who will receive Him? Or is he just a man blessed of God to you?

LT

[Jonathan McLatchie]

Jesus’ followers falsely attributed Messianic self-claims to Jesus in an effort to attain fame? I’m afraid this view is simply untenable. At the very least they certainly appear to have gone about it in entirely the wrong way. Had their goal been to simply start a new religion, assuredly it would have been advisable to frame it in accordance with the expectations of those they were hoping to convince. Quite simply, the Jews were not expecting a dying and rising (nor divine, for that matter) Messiah.

Secondly, modern scholarship is unanimously agreed that the disciples sincerely believed in what they were proclaiming (they were willing to suffer inhumane deaths for it, without renouncing their cause, among other reasons). Thirdly, given that the earliest Christian proclamation following the resurrection was in Jerusalem (where Jesus’ public ministry had been), very shortly after the crucifixion and alleged resurrection, they were somewhat limited in terms of the material available for fabricating. Had Christianity been a fabrication, assuredly they would have preached in Rome or elsewhere – certainly as far away from the eyewitnesses as they could be.

Consider the situation facing the disciples following the crucifixion. Their leader was dead. And Jews traditionally had no belief in a dying, much less rising, Messiah. In fact, orthodox Jewish beliefs concerning the afterlife precluded anyone rising bodily from the dead to glory and immortality before the general resurrection at the end of the world. Rabbinic interpretation with regard to the prophecies concerning the resurrection of the Messiah was traditionally that he would be raised from the dead at the end of time – along with all the other deceased saints. It is thus significant that the disciples had no necessary disposition toward a bodily resurrection, for it was counter-cultural given the prominent Jewish mentality. This is perhaps why, as John testifies in his account (20:9) that upon discovery of the empty tomb, “They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” If the disciples had been fabricators of an ideal, they would undoubtedly have posited at best a spiritual resurrection, for a physical and bodily resurrection could have been relentlessly exposed with the presence of a dead corpse. Instead, they went the hard way, by talking of the resurrection of the actual physical body, which – if not true – was an enormous risk to take should the body have ever been detected. But rather they believed in a literal resurrection because they had witnessed it for themselves. The religious leaders of the day wanted nothing more than to stifle Christianity.

A final reason why Jesus’ followers are unlikely to have put such words into Jesus mouth concerns his death by crucifixion. According to Jewish law, Jesus’ execution by hanging on a tree showed him out to be a man literally accursed by God (Deuteronomy 21:23). The crucifixion was undoubtedly a catastrophe to the mindset of the early church, for it had effectively shown that the Pharisees and the Jewish council had been right all along, and that the disciples had left their homes, families and possessions to follow a heretic – a man literally accursed by God.

I don’t think, therefore, that such a claim is at all tenable.

[Carla]

Dear Sambhunath,

This video is in response to your statement. I think you are treading on very shaky ground when you give a statement in the name of Jesus Christ..and you are essentially telling Him..WHo is Creator...that He did not create the world.

Exd 20:11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Psa 24:1 A psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

Isa 42:5 God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath and life to everyone in all the world. And it is he who says,

LORD in the OT is another name for Yahweh! (Jesus)



I hope and pray that the scales will be lifted from your eyes.
Blessings, Carla

[Lucio Mascarenhas]

As a Catholic I would like your source for the claim that "Catholics believe that Creation... really took billions of years." Where do you get that from?