Measures of Time

[Dante]

Genesis chapter 5 records a number of men and their sons who lived nearly a millennium. The popular teaching is that people literally lived for hundreds of years in the beginning centuries of the Earth. But did the writer of Genesis, and the records he gathered the times of these life spans, use the same measure of time that we do today? In other words, doesn't it seem absurd and almost unbelievable that people lived for nearly a millennium, and slowly digressed to less than a century of life? Is it possible that our span of a year (a 365 consecutive day measure) could be different from the measurement of years in the beginning?

Why am I wrong or right?

[mfblume]

Genesis chapter 5 records a number of men and their sons who lived nearly a millennium. The popular teaching is that people literally lived for hundreds of years in the beginning centuries of the Earth. But did the writer of Genesis, and the records he gathered the times of these life spans, use the same measure of time that we do today? In other words, doesn't it seem absurd and almost unbelievable that people lived for nearly a millennium, and slowly digressed to less than a century of life? Is it possible that our span of a year (a 365 consecutive day measure) could be different from the measurement of years in the beginning?

Why am I wrong or right?

The issue of how long these folks lived has been argued many times before. So I did a personal study. Whatever their units of years exactly were in duration, there is one rule of thumb that would apply and make sense to any variable we might interpret them to actually be, to tell us whether they loved longer than us or not, if they are not actual years as we know them. The question of how many descendants did Adam live to see in his line will answer that issue.

If the years were actually quarter years or third years, using the same standard of what they called a year would still fit in seeing the same average amount of descendants in one's line that we see today -- that is, again, IF their years were not actual years like ours are. And I found Adam lived to see about EIGHT or NINE descendants. Now, that is impossible unless they really did live that long!

http://kukis.org/Doctrines/genealogies/adam-to-noah.jpg

The same duration of what was a year was counted to say they were alive as is the duration of time until they had children, and time for how long those children lived. So it all points to a very long duration of lifespan, informing us they did live that long as our units would determine.

[Dante]

Excellent! Thanks, Pastor Blume. :)

[Aquila]

Genesis chapter 5 records a number of men and their sons who lived nearly a millennium. The popular teaching is that people literally lived for hundreds of years in the beginning centuries of the Earth. But did the writer of Genesis, and the records he gathered the times of these life spans, use the same measure of time that we do today? In other words, doesn't it seem absurd and almost unbelievable that people lived for nearly a millennium, and slowly digressed to less than a century of life? Is it possible that our span of a year (a 365 consecutive day measure) could be different from the measurement of years in the beginning?

Why am I wrong or right?

Well... if I can believe that God created the world in six days, a flood covered the planet, prophets spoke to God, the Sun stood still in the sky, God split the Red Sea and the Hebrews walked out of Egypt on dry ground, a man was one with God, raised the dead, healed the sick, cast out demons, fed over 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes, arose from the dead after three days, and will physically return over 2,000 years later... why shouldn't I believe that men could live such long lives???

If we approach the Bible rationally, we'd have to say that Genesis is merely symbolic at best, the OT miracles were myth and embellishments, that Jesus was a good man to whom mythic miracles are attributed, he died a martyr's death, people couldn't accept it and made up stories of a resurrection, and that there is no real reason to believe He'll return after what has now been over 2,000 years.

Why approach the Bible with selective rationality? The Bible is full of "impossibilities" and "miracles". It is a book about the supernatural and mind bending power of an Almighty God. We either believe it... or we don't.

[Aquila]

When a young man asked me about the truth of the Bible in light of modern scientific discoveries, facts, and theories... I explained that the Bible will one day prove to be true in every respect. Until then, this supernatural history of the world, God, and man's relationship with God is preserved and has been dedicated to our keeping. We hold this supernatural history in our possession. It is to be taught to those whom God fills with His Spirit and defended among our number. We are to protect it and preserve it. That's part of our mission.

[Aquila]

Imagine God handing you a book and saying, "This is what really happened and what all of this is really about. Study it, learn it, teach it to those who are trustworthy, and protect it. I'll be back to set everything straight in the appointed time. Now, do as I have commanded you."

That's how I look at it.

[Aquila]

The Bible... earth's hidden and supernatural history.

[Sean]

Genesis chapter 5 records a number of men and their sons who lived nearly a millennium. The popular teaching is that people literally lived for hundreds of years in the beginning centuries of the Earth. But did the writer of Genesis, and the records he gathered the times of these life spans, use the same measure of time that we do today? In other words, doesn't it seem absurd and almost unbelievable that people lived for nearly a millennium, and slowly digressed to less than a century of life? Is it possible that our span of a year (a 365 consecutive day measure) could be different from the measurement of years in the beginning?

Why am I wrong or right?




Keep in mind that the same writer in Genesis is the person that wrote about Abraham and his descendents(more normal ages to us)...if he used the same years, as in 1000 years equals 100 years, then Abraham was 10 years old and Sarah was 9 years old when they had Isaac, Ishmael would have been born to 2 first graders...

Look at how the ages eventually reduce to the same as us today in the same book by the same writer.