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
-
March 8, 2022 from Answers Magazine
For more than 100 years oil has been the “black gold” that has fueled transport vehicles and powered global economic growth and prosperity. So how does oil form, and what is its origin?
-
June 16, 2021 from Answers in Depth
How reliable is the tree ring data, and can it be conclusively proven that some trees (like Bristlecone Pines) only produce a single growth ring per year?
-
Nov. 14, 2020 from Answers in Depth
This is a summary of the historical development of the modern uniformitarian view of the geological record and the millions-of-years time-scale.
PDF Download -
A Response to a Gospel Coalition Blog on the Age of the EarthApril 22, 2015
In a blog post for The Gospel Coalition, Justin Taylor presented his reasons for doubting that the days of creation in Genesis 1 were literal 24-hour days.
-
April 9, 2014 from Answers Magazine
Granite rocks exhibit mysterious black spheres, known as radiohalos.
-
April 1, 2014 from Answers Magazine
The tiny black flecks found in granite testify to a powerful and recent worldwide Flood. But you have to look closely.
-
In-Depth ArticleSummary of a Response to “PCA Geologists on the Antiquity of the Earth”Aug. 18, 2010 from Answers in Depth
Eight geologists argue that Christians should reject Noah’s Flood as being geologically insignificant and adopt an old-earth view of Genesis.
-
In-Depth ArticleA Response to the Old-Earth Advocacy of Campbell et al., PCA Geologists on the Antiquity of the EarthAug. 18, 2010 from Answers in Depth
This response was developed to demonstrate to laymen that the arguments of old-earth geology are neither based on proper authority nor are scientifically compelling.
-
In-Depth ArticleBiblical Chronology and the 8,000-Year-Long Bristlecone Pine Tree-Ring ChronologyJan. 28, 2009 from Answers in Depth
The Bristlecone Pine long chronology, comprised of hundreds of live and dead trees, is claimed to be over 8,000 years long. But is there more to the story?
PDF Download -
In-Depth ArticleJesus, Evangelical Scholars, and the Age of the EarthAug. 1, 2007 from Answers in Depth
What did Jesus think about the age of the earth? Did He say anything during His earthly life that would reveal His thinking?
PDF Download -
Oct. 25, 2006 from Answers Magazine
One essential component of evolution is an extremely long timescale for earth history.
-
Philosophical Naturalism and the Age of the Earth: Are They Related?March 2, 2005
Many Christians do not understand the stranglehold that philosophical naturalism has on geology and astronomy.
-
Research PaperLong-age Puzzle of Thin Ice at the Edge of the Laurentide Ice SheetAug. 1, 2004, pp. 5–6
The margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in North America was generally composed of lobes, possibly as the result of rapid movement or surges to the south.
-
The Supposed Consistency of Evolution’s Long AgesAug. 16, 2001
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the theory of evolution is the apparent consistency of its corollary, the long-age geological system.
-
Research PaperLord Kelvin Revisited on the Young Age of the EarthApril 1, 1999, pp. 14–15
A century ago, Lord Kelvin calculated an upper limit for the age of the Earth.
-
-
Research PaperBook review: Sea-Floor Sediment and the Age of the Earth by Larry VardimanDec. 1, 1996, pp. 328–329
There is a vast difference between how uniformitarian scientists and creation scientists view Earth history and the data sets from the past.
Articles About Age of the Earth
-
March 8, 2022 from Answers Magazine
For more than 100 years oil has been the “black gold” that has fueled transport vehicles and powered global economic growth and prosperity. So how does oil form, and what is its origin?
-
June 16, 2021 from Answers in Depth
How reliable is the tree ring data, and can it be conclusively proven that some trees (like Bristlecone Pines) only produce a single growth ring per year?
-
Nov. 14, 2020 from Answers in Depth
This is a summary of the historical development of the modern uniformitarian view of the geological record and the millions-of-years time-scale.
PDF Download -
A Response to a Gospel Coalition Blog on the Age of the EarthApril 22, 2015
In a blog post for The Gospel Coalition, Justin Taylor presented his reasons for doubting that the days of creation in Genesis 1 were literal 24-hour days.
-
April 9, 2014 from Answers Magazine
Granite rocks exhibit mysterious black spheres, known as radiohalos.
-
April 1, 2014 from Answers Magazine
The tiny black flecks found in granite testify to a powerful and recent worldwide Flood. But you have to look closely.
-
In-Depth ArticleSummary of a Response to “PCA Geologists on the Antiquity of the Earth”Aug. 18, 2010 from Answers in Depth
Eight geologists argue that Christians should reject Noah’s Flood as being geologically insignificant and adopt an old-earth view of Genesis.
-
In-Depth ArticleA Response to the Old-Earth Advocacy of Campbell et al., PCA Geologists on the Antiquity of the EarthAug. 18, 2010 from Answers in Depth
This response was developed to demonstrate to laymen that the arguments of old-earth geology are neither based on proper authority nor are scientifically compelling.
-
In-Depth ArticleBiblical Chronology and the 8,000-Year-Long Bristlecone Pine Tree-Ring ChronologyJan. 28, 2009 from Answers in Depth
The Bristlecone Pine long chronology, comprised of hundreds of live and dead trees, is claimed to be over 8,000 years long. But is there more to the story?
PDF Download -
In-Depth ArticleJesus, Evangelical Scholars, and the Age of the EarthAug. 1, 2007 from Answers in Depth
What did Jesus think about the age of the earth? Did He say anything during His earthly life that would reveal His thinking?
PDF Download -
Oct. 25, 2006 from Answers Magazine
One essential component of evolution is an extremely long timescale for earth history.
-
Philosophical Naturalism and the Age of the Earth: Are They Related?March 2, 2005
Many Christians do not understand the stranglehold that philosophical naturalism has on geology and astronomy.
-
Research PaperLong-age Puzzle of Thin Ice at the Edge of the Laurentide Ice SheetAug. 1, 2004, pp. 5–6
The margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in North America was generally composed of lobes, possibly as the result of rapid movement or surges to the south.
-
The Supposed Consistency of Evolution’s Long AgesAug. 16, 2001
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the theory of evolution is the apparent consistency of its corollary, the long-age geological system.
-
Research PaperLord Kelvin Revisited on the Young Age of the EarthApril 1, 1999, pp. 14–15
A century ago, Lord Kelvin calculated an upper limit for the age of the Earth.
-
-
Research PaperBook review: Sea-Floor Sediment and the Age of the Earth by Larry VardimanDec. 1, 1996, pp. 328–329
There is a vast difference between how uniformitarian scientists and creation scientists view Earth history and the data sets from the past.
Support the creation/gospel message by donating or getting involved!
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
- Customer Service 800.778.3390
- Available Monday–Friday | 9 AM–5 PM ET
- © 2026 Answers in Genesis