| Time | Event | Quantitative model? | Dating Techniques |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13-15 billion years ago | Big Bang | somewhat | cosmic microwave background and galaxy recession |
| (+3 minutes) | first nuclei | yes | ratio of elements |
| (+300,000 years) | first atoms | yes | cosmic microwave background |
| (+100 million years) | first stars | somewhat | simulations and high-redshift observations |
| (+ 1 billion years) | first galaxies | no | high-redshift observations |
| 12-14 billion years ago | our galaxy forms | no | globular clusters |
| 5-12 billion years ago | stars in our galaxy make heavy elements | yes | stellar evolution |
| 4.5 billion years ago | our sun formed | somewhat | radioactive dating (RD) |
| . | earth formed | somewhat | geological strate (GS) |
| . | ocean, atmosphere, and land formed | yes | cooling rate of earth |
| 3.8 billion years ago | first life (prokaryotic) | no | fossils (F), RD, GS |
| 2 billion years ago | eukaryotic life | no | F, RD, GS |
| 1-1.8 billion years ago | multicellular algae | no | F, RD, GS |
| 600 million years ago | Ediacaran animals | no | F, RD, GS |
| 530 million years ago | "Cambrian explosion" | no | DNA dating, F, RD, GS |
| 450 million years ago | life on dry land | no | DNA, F, RD, GS |
| 300 million years ago | dinosaurs | no | DNA, F, RD, GS |
| 140 million years ago | early mammals | no | DNA, F, RD, GS |
| 70 million years ago | dinosaurs wiped out | yes | evidence from meteor |
| 40 million years ago | early primates | no | DNA, F, RD, GS |
| 5 million years ago | Mediterranean Sea forms | yes | RD, GS |
| 4-5 million years ago | early hominids | no | DNA, F, RD, GS |
| 2.5 million years ago | stone tools | no/yes | F, RD, GS |
| 500,000 years ago | "archaic" homo sapiens | no | DNA, F, RD, GS |
| 120,000 years ago | modern humans | no | F, RD, GS |
| 10,000+ years ago | agriculture etc. | . | carbon dating, F, RD, archeology |
| 7,500 years ago | Black Sea fills | yes | F, RD, GS |
| 5,000 years ago | continuous written history | . | . |
- This is not an exhaustive list of dating techniques. Different
techniques can be used to check one method against another.
- The formation of nuclei and atoms in big bang and the evolution
of stars are extremely well understood.
- The early stages of the big bang, the formation of stars and
planets, and the formation of earth's atmosphere, ocean, and dry land,
are generally understood, with lots of details being worked out.
- The formation and evolution of galaxies is not well understood.
- Biological history is less quantitative because biology itself
is less quantitative and more complex. Dating techniques good.
Fossil record good in some parts, not so good in others.
Beware "nothing but-tery": A good scientific explanation of an
event in natural history does not exclude God. God can choose to
create via the natural mechanism he designed.
Young Earth Theory
The text describes a succession of miraculous acts which occurred in six
24-hour periods a few thousand years ago.
Implications for science: either science is wrong, or God made the
universe appear old.
Gap Theory
There is a long gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. Earth became "without
form and void" in recent past, perhaps due to the fall of the angels, and
then God re-created it in six days.
Implications for science: astronomy okay, geology and biology must be
wrong
Local Creation Theory
Text describes creation of a land for Israel. This is an old rabbinical
interpretation which ties Genesis 1 to the rest of the Torah (first five
books of the Bible).
Day/Age Theory
The Hebrew word yom can mean "day" or "age," and is translated both ways
in the Old Testament. The text describes a succession of miraculous acts
spread out over a long period of time.
Implications for science: enough time for the scientific picture, but
order of events is wrong.
Visionary Day Theory
Text describes successive days of revelation to writer.
Literal Day Theory
The day is literally 24 hours, but occurred at the beginning or end of an
epoch.
Proclamation Day Theory
Text describes scenes in God's council chambers (narrator shifts to scene
on earth in Gen 2:4), as God declares his creative intent. Days occur
outside of Earth's time and space, so "day" should not considered part of
Earth's historical chronology (neither as 24 hours or an "age").
Proclamation with Developmental Continuity
By His initial proclamation, God gifted nature with everything it needed
to achieve the final form envisioned by God. The earth itself is
commanded to bring forth life. The Hebrew word for "create" is bara, a
word which is used only for God's actions, including both "creation from
nothing" and "providential" actions.
Implications for science: fits well with evolutionary biology
Creation Hymn/Poem
Note poetic parallelism of days in Genesis 1:
| Days of Forming: | Days of Filling: |
|---|---|
| Day 1: separate light/dark | Day 4: sun, moon, and stars created |
| Day 2: separate water/sky/water | Day 5: birds and fish created |
| Day 3: separate land/water; plants created | Day 6: animals and humans created |
Ancient Near-Eastern (ANE) Cosmology
Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures pictured the world as a primeval ocean
that was split to form sky and land, with the primeval waters lying above
the sky and below the earth. Many scripture passages refer to this
cosmology. The Hebrew story differs from other ANE stories in its
theological message.
Implications for science: we don't need to reconcile the Genesis
chronology with modern science.
Why might God use an incorrect (but widely assumed) cosmological picture
to teach correct theology?
--To not confuse the author and original audience about the real
theological points.
--To aid communication to surrounding cultures and future generations.
--To teach us today not to look to scripture for things scripture is not
intending to teach.
--To show us that God can use us today without having to first correct
all of our mistaken beliefs.
How God relates to world:
God made the world, not a pantheon (and not the "god" Chance).
The creation is the orderly design of one God, not result of
competition among many gods.
The world didn't exist with God from eternity; it's here because
God made it.
Creation is utterly dependent on God.
The worth of creation:
Creation is fundamentally and originally good.
The world is not an illusion, not partially good and
partially bad,
and not intrinsically bad or worthless that we need to
overcome or escape it.
The beauty of creation is described as God's clothing and glory.
The worth of human beings:
We are made in God's image.
We are part of creation which God declares "good."
We are intended to relate to God. (Salvation restores this.)
We are given the responsibility and authority of managing
creation.
The worth of families:
Marriage is good and is part of God's original design.
People need other people.
New families are made with marriage.
Both men and women are made in the image of God.
The worth of work:
We are commissioned to do work, take care of creation.
Adam was commissioned to name things. (Naming is very important
in Hebrew thought)
This a basis to study creation (the beginning of science!).
The worth of rest:
Our day of rest is based on God's rest from his creative work.
It is part of the original good created order. Both work
and rest are holy.
God's rest is culmination of week.
See supplemental handout for this week:
"Hermenutics in Everyday Life"(humor)
For scripture passages used here (Genesis 1, Genesis 2, and Psalm 104),
visit The Bible Gateway