Age of the Earth
The Bible and an Old Earth
Inserting vast ages into the Bible’s first chapter sets it at odds with modern secular scientific opinion regarding the order of events. Old-earthers put land mammals before whales contrary to biblical claims. Many such examples show it is impossible to add long periods of time into the biblical account without seriously damaging the doctrine of inerrancy.
Does the Earth Look Old?
Most people, including Christians, still claim dogmatically that the earth looks old. If we look at the earth through the “glasses” of human reasoning—that only snail-paced present geological processes can explain the past—then the earth does indeed look old. However, that autonomous human reasoning blatantly denies what God’s Word clearly tells us.
Noah’s Flood or Millions of Years, It Can’t Be Both
Either the rock record is the evidence of millions of years, or it is largely the evidence of Noah’s Flood. It can’t be both. If we believe the earth is billions of years old and shows no sign of a worldwide Flood, then that belief contradicts the biblical account of Noah. If we accept God’s testimony regarding the Flood, we cannot logically believe in millions of years.
“Scientific” Arguments for an Old Earth
We commonly hear scientific-sounding arguments that the earth and universe are billions of years old. We are told radiometric dating shows that certain rocks formed billions of years ago. We are told that starlight from distant galaxies takes billions of years to arrive on earth. Do these arguments stand up to scrutiny?
Evidences of a Young Earth
The earth is only a few thousand years old. That’s a fact, plainly revealed in God’s Word. So we should expect to find plenty of evidence for its youth. And that’s what we find in the earth’s geology, biology, paleontology, and even astronomy.
Age of the Earth Topics
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Nov. 26, 2023 from Answers Magazine
Where’s the supposed evidence that the earth is 4.54 billion years old? It’s not on earth at all!
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Nov. 14, 2021 from Answers Magazine
Every year, the moon moves an inch or so farther away from earth. It may not seem like much, but that tiny movement puts a big limit on the moon’s age.
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Aug. 8, 2021 from Answers Magazine
Helium diffuses so rapidly that all the helium should have leaked out of rocks in less than 100,000 years.
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Dec. 15, 2020 from The New Answers Book 4
Can a person believe in an old earth and an old universe (millions or billions of years in age) and be a Christian? Find out what the Bible says.
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Oct. 31, 2019 from The New Answers Book 4
The Reformers taught that God revealed in Genesis that He created all things in six ordinary days about six thousand years ago.
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Nov. 10, 2018 from The New Answers Book 3
Most people, including Christians, would still claim dogmatically that the earth looks old. But why does the earth supposedly look old?
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May 22, 2018 from Answers Magazine
Secular scientists claim it’s easy to disprove the Bible’s 6,000-year history: just count the tree rings. Is this dating method reliable?
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May 12, 2018 from Answers Magazine
A 6,000-year-old earth? When you look up the Bible references, the math’s not that hard!
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Oct. 14, 2017 from Essays on Origins: Creation vs. Evolution
Interpretation of the Hebrew word yom in Genesis 1–2 has become one of the most contested issues among professing Christians and Jews.
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Richard Dawkins Says He Despises Young-Earth CreationistsMay 19, 2015
That’s why Richard Dawkins despises young-earth creationists—he recognizes the incredible threat they are to his atheistic religion.
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Magazine Department ArticleCrystal Clear?July 1, 2014 from Answers Magazine
Evolutionary scientists say they have confirmed that 4.4 billion years is the age of the earth’s earliest rocks.
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Cosmos Review: “The Clean Room”April 22, 2014 from Countering the Culture
This episode tells the story of “one man’s quest” to discover what host Neil deGrasse Tyson assures viewers (six times) is the “true age of the Earth.”
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Feedback ArticlePat Robertson’s Word or God’s Word: Which Will You Believe?Nov. 30, 2012 from Feedback
On a recent episode of the 700 Club program on the CBN TV network, Pat Robertson made a very sad and disturbing statement.
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Feedback ArticleDebating with an Evolutionist on Fossil DatingAug. 10, 2012 from Feedback
Dr. Andrew Snelling, AiG–U.S., responds to a reader and gives more information regarding the fossilized wood on top of fossil belemnite.
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Book ChapterDefense—“Scientific” ArgumentsFeb. 23, 2012 from Old-Earth Creationism on Trial
In this chapter, we will examine the most common scientific arguments for an old earth.
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Book ChapterDefense—“Biblical” ArgumentsJan. 5, 2012 from Old-Earth Creationism on Trial
Several well-known evangelical leaders have offered arguments against young-earth creationism. It is surprising to see the very inadequate responses from otherwise brilliant men.
-
Book ChapterAn IntroductionDec. 22, 2011 from Old-Earth Creationism on Trial
With the resurgence of young-earth creationism in recent decades, the debate over the age of the earth and the proper hermeneutical approach to Genesis has intensified within evangelical circles.
-
Feedback ArticleGently Confronting GrandfatherSept. 9, 2011 from Feedback
While we do not harshly criticize those who are in error, we are told to warn or advise them. Tim Chaffey, AiG–U.S., writes about gently confronting our fellow believers.
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Book ChapterDating MethodsJan. 6, 2011 from Evolution Exposed: Earth Science
Most scientists and many Christians believe that the radiometric dating methods prove that the earth is 4.5 billion years old. Recent research shows otherwise.
-
The Emotional Age IssueNov. 15, 2010 from Answers Update
In 35 years of ministry, I’ve discovered that the issue of the age of the earth and the universe is an extremely emotional topic for secularists.
-
Feedback ArticleDoes Sand Prove Long Ages?July 9, 2010 from Feedback
Dr. Andrew Snelling, AiG–U.S., gives a young earth creation explanation of the formation of beaches and other sands.
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Feedback ArticleRevisiting Bristlecone Pines and the BibleMarch 13, 2009 from Feedback
A procurement forester offers his thoughts on tree growth rings and the biblical chronology. John Woodmorappe responds.
Articles About Age of the Earth
-
Nov. 26, 2023 from Answers Magazine
Where’s the supposed evidence that the earth is 4.54 billion years old? It’s not on earth at all!
-
Nov. 14, 2021 from Answers Magazine
Every year, the moon moves an inch or so farther away from earth. It may not seem like much, but that tiny movement puts a big limit on the moon’s age.
-
Aug. 8, 2021 from Answers Magazine
Helium diffuses so rapidly that all the helium should have leaked out of rocks in less than 100,000 years.
-
Dec. 15, 2020 from The New Answers Book 4
Can a person believe in an old earth and an old universe (millions or billions of years in age) and be a Christian? Find out what the Bible says.
-
Oct. 31, 2019 from The New Answers Book 4
The Reformers taught that God revealed in Genesis that He created all things in six ordinary days about six thousand years ago.
-
Nov. 10, 2018 from The New Answers Book 3
Most people, including Christians, would still claim dogmatically that the earth looks old. But why does the earth supposedly look old?
-
May 22, 2018 from Answers Magazine
Secular scientists claim it’s easy to disprove the Bible’s 6,000-year history: just count the tree rings. Is this dating method reliable?
-
May 12, 2018 from Answers Magazine
A 6,000-year-old earth? When you look up the Bible references, the math’s not that hard!
-
Oct. 14, 2017 from Essays on Origins: Creation vs. Evolution
Interpretation of the Hebrew word yom in Genesis 1–2 has become one of the most contested issues among professing Christians and Jews.
-
Richard Dawkins Says He Despises Young-Earth CreationistsMay 19, 2015
That’s why Richard Dawkins despises young-earth creationists—he recognizes the incredible threat they are to his atheistic religion.
-
Magazine Department ArticleCrystal Clear?July 1, 2014 from Answers Magazine
Evolutionary scientists say they have confirmed that 4.4 billion years is the age of the earth’s earliest rocks.
-
Cosmos Review: “The Clean Room”April 22, 2014 from Countering the Culture
This episode tells the story of “one man’s quest” to discover what host Neil deGrasse Tyson assures viewers (six times) is the “true age of the Earth.”
-
Feedback ArticlePat Robertson’s Word or God’s Word: Which Will You Believe?Nov. 30, 2012 from Feedback
On a recent episode of the 700 Club program on the CBN TV network, Pat Robertson made a very sad and disturbing statement.
-
Feedback ArticleDebating with an Evolutionist on Fossil DatingAug. 10, 2012 from Feedback
Dr. Andrew Snelling, AiG–U.S., responds to a reader and gives more information regarding the fossilized wood on top of fossil belemnite.
-
Book ChapterDefense—“Scientific” ArgumentsFeb. 23, 2012 from Old-Earth Creationism on Trial
In this chapter, we will examine the most common scientific arguments for an old earth.
-
Book ChapterDefense—“Biblical” ArgumentsJan. 5, 2012 from Old-Earth Creationism on Trial
Several well-known evangelical leaders have offered arguments against young-earth creationism. It is surprising to see the very inadequate responses from otherwise brilliant men.
-
Book ChapterAn IntroductionDec. 22, 2011 from Old-Earth Creationism on Trial
With the resurgence of young-earth creationism in recent decades, the debate over the age of the earth and the proper hermeneutical approach to Genesis has intensified within evangelical circles.
-
Feedback ArticleGently Confronting GrandfatherSept. 9, 2011 from Feedback
While we do not harshly criticize those who are in error, we are told to warn or advise them. Tim Chaffey, AiG–U.S., writes about gently confronting our fellow believers.
-
Book ChapterDating MethodsJan. 6, 2011 from Evolution Exposed: Earth Science
Most scientists and many Christians believe that the radiometric dating methods prove that the earth is 4.5 billion years old. Recent research shows otherwise.
-
The Emotional Age IssueNov. 15, 2010 from Answers Update
In 35 years of ministry, I’ve discovered that the issue of the age of the earth and the universe is an extremely emotional topic for secularists.
-
Feedback ArticleDoes Sand Prove Long Ages?July 9, 2010 from Feedback
Dr. Andrew Snelling, AiG–U.S., gives a young earth creation explanation of the formation of beaches and other sands.
-
Feedback ArticleRevisiting Bristlecone Pines and the BibleMarch 13, 2009 from Feedback
A procurement forester offers his thoughts on tree growth rings and the biblical chronology. John Woodmorappe responds.
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