Is It A New Or Old Earth?

Few issues today spark as much debate regarding the Bible and Creation as the age of the earth. The question of “How old is the Earth?” has been a topic of debate for centuries and has been argued by everyone from scientists to Christians. Young earth creationists believe the world is around 6,000 to 10,000 years old due to their literal interpretation of the Bible, while others believe the world is around 4.5 billions of years based on modern science. This paper will examine how scholars on both sides of the argument have approached this issue and explain what I believe.

The debate between young earth and old earth theories has been a significant topic of discussion among scholars, theologians, and scientists for decades. This issue revolves around the interpretation of evidence relating to biblical scripture and physical worldly evidence. The “Young-Earth Creationism" section of the Answers Research Journal states, "Young-earth creationism, alternately known as biblical creation, is a set of beliefs about earth history based on the assumption that the Bible provides an accurate historical record of earth’s origins and timescale."[1]

One of the major arguments for a young earth comes from a theological standpoint. Many believers believe that the Scriptures provide an accurate account of history, including the order and timeline of creation.  Those who believe in a young earth argue that the earth is approximately 6,000 years old, because of their literal interpretation of the Bible, especially in the book of Genesis, where the Earth is described as being created in six days. Answers in Genesis is a large organization that supports and helps people learn about the Bible, and they believe that the Earth is approximately 6,000 to 10,000 years old. They often challenge conventional scientific dating methods and propose alternative interpretations of geological data.

“The earth is only a few thousand years old. That’s a fact, plainly revealed in God’s Word…He has given us a specific history, beginning with the six days of creation and followed by detailed genealogies that allow us to determine when the universe began. Based on this history, the beginning was only about six thousand years ago (about four thousand years from creation to Christ).”[2]

Personally, I believe in a young earth view because it follows what the Bible actually says. Genesis describes the creation week with days, not long periods of time. The Bible specifically says in Genesis when describing creation "And there was evening, and there was morning" a total of 6 times in verses 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31. It shows the end of each day of creation and the start of the next. Also, genealogies listed in the Old Testament can be used to calculate the age of the Earth based on biblical chronology. James Ussher, an Irish archbishop, from the 17th century used biblical genealogies, ancient historical records, and astronomical data to prove that the Earth is approximately 6,000 years old. An article on Answers in Genesis website titled “The World: Born in 4004 BC? Ussher and the Date of Creation” by Larry Pierce[3]  explains how James Ussher was able to calculate the age of the earth, as well as a table that shows how old the earth was during certain events and where to find them in scripture. They also provide many articles to help someone answer this question with scripture and science.[4]

Unfortunately, on the other hand there are some misguided people called Old Earth Creationist who believe in an old earth view, and believe the earth is around 4.5 billion years old based on scientific data like geology, astronomy, and biology.  “Old Earth Creationists hold that various aspects of living things were created by special supernatural intervention.”[5] A book titled “The Bible, Rocks and Time" by Davis A. Young and Ralph F. Stearley discusses the geological evidence that Old Earth Creationists use to support an Earth that is billions of years old, and they argue that scientific findings are consistent with a long history of Earth.

Those who support this view typically point to radiometric dating methods, such as carbon dating and uranium-lead dating. They also use fossil records and cosmic background radiation as strong evidence for an ancient universe. According to the Geological Society of America, there is also significant evidence from rock layers and fossil records that clearly points to an Earth that has undergone billions of years of geological processes. These findings challenge the young earth view by attempting to show how natural processes have occurred over millions of years, leading to the current state of our planet and its life forms. Also, an article from National Center for Science Education called Common Creationist Attacks on Geology uses the arguments surrounding fossilization to prove that an old earth is more believable.

“Geology operates on the assumption that the laws of physics and chemistry have remained unchanged since the formation of the earth. Geology tries as much as possible to explain the geological past in terms of processes that can be seen happening on the earth today.”[6]

Thankfully there are some scientists that have attempted to challenge the typical geological dating methods used by old earthers to disprove that the world is billions of years old. The Institute for Creation Research, similar to Answers in Genesis, pushes for a young Earth view, questioning the assumptions behind radiometric dating and advocating for a global flood as an explanation for many geological features. They believe that radioactive decay rates may have been different in the past, which would result in a younger age for the Earth. They claim we can find evidence of rapid geological processes that go against the beliefs of billions of years process, suggesting that the Earth could be much younger than science believes. They also have an article on their website called "Six Biological Evidences for a Young Earth" where they discusses biological evidence, such as soft tissues in fossils and mitochondrial DNA studies, to support a young Earth. One quoted statement says, “Scientists have studied mitochondrial DNA in people groups around the world and discovered the data are consistent with a single origin of all humans less than 10,000 years ago."[7] The Christian Research Institute also put out an article titled "Old-Earth Creationism and the Fall: A Summary of The End of Christianity", that critiques the old earth perspective, and the theological challenges it presents, particularly the idea of the Fall and evil.

"The End of Christianity presupposes that the earth and universe are old and, given that presupposition, attempts to answer how the fall of humanity could be responsible for natural evil."[8]

In conclusion, the question of “How old is the Earth?” sparks debates of faith, science, and interpretation of biblical texts. On one side, Young Earth Creationists firmly believe that the Bible offers a clear timeline, suggesting that our planet is only about 6,000 to 10,000 years old. They use the interpretation of Scripture is true, particularly the creation story in Genesis and genealogies found in the Bible, prove the young age of the earth. On the other hand, Old Earth Creationists embrace their scientific evidence, geological, and biological findings to claim that the Earth is around 4.5 billion years old. What is fascinating about this debate is how it challenges us to think about our beliefs and the world around us on a deeper level. It raises important questions about how we reconcile our faith with new and old scientific discoveries, and what those answers mean for our understanding of scripture. Ultimately, the question of the age of the Earth remains a critical issue that encourages scholars, theologians, and believers alike to explore, converse, and reflect as they seek to understand the relationship between their faith and the natural world. As we continue to navigate these discussions, it is essential to approach them with open hearts and minds, ready to learn from one another.

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[1] “Young-Earth Creationism,” Answers in Genesis, https://answersresearchjournal.org/young-earth-creationism/.

[2] “Evidence for a Young Earth: 10 Best Facts.” Answers in Genesis. https://answersingenesis.org/creation-vs-evolution/evidence-for-young-earth-creation/.

[3] in, “The World: Born in 4004 BC?,” Answers in Genesis, last modified April 28, 2006, https://answersingenesis.org/bible-timeline/the-world-born-in-4004-bc/.

[4] Age of the Earth Topic, “Age of the Earth Topic,” Answers in Genesis, last modified 2018, https://answersingenesis.org/age-of-the-earth/.

[5] National Center for Science Education, “Old Earth Creationism | National Center for Science Education,” Ncse.ngo, last modified 2016, https://ncse.ngo/old-earth-creationism.

[6] Christopher Gregory Weber, “Common Creationist Attacks on Geology | National Center for Science Education,” Ncse.ngo, last modified 1980, https://ncse.ngo/common-creationist-attacks-geology.

[7] Jeffrey Tomkins, “Six Biological Evidences for a Young Earth,” Www.icr.org, last modified April 30, 2019, https://www.icr.org/article/six-biological-evidences-for-a-young-earth/.

[8] Christian Research Institute, “Old Earth Creationism and the Fall: A Summary of the End of Christianity - Christian Research Institute,” Christian Research Institute, last modified August 14, 2014, https://www.equip.org/articles/old-earth-creationism-and-the-fall/.