Was Adam an amoeba? Did the Garden of Eden exist sometime after the world began “millions” of years ago? How did the dinosaurs die? 
These are some common questions I’ve heard. Heck, these are questions I had at one time too. I chose to not really “try” to find the answers. I just accepted what I heard others tell me like some scientists, “smarter” people than me or even National Geographic. Did you know that the answers I had thought were “pretty good” go totally against what the bible proclaims? I’m not just talking about Genesis, I’m talking about much of the New Testament as well.
One example to let you in on the misinformation:
In Paul’s discourse to the Romans he notes in Chapter 5:
12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
Paul notes that death entered the world after sin. This corresponds to creation, as described in Genesis. The bible says there was no death before sin. Adam and Eve committed the first sin. Here is the dilemma: Secular science teaches that the world is millions of years old, that there were millions of years of death before there was even a human in the form as we know it today. If there was death before Adam, then the bible is wrong. If Adam was some amoeba and we were made in the image of God, then the form of God has no ears or mouth and God is a liar when he says he hears, sees and speaks to us. Let alone knowing us before we were born, since on the early evolutionary tree, there was no birth, just division (ha!). So how can this be resolved…? Well, it can be resolved.
There are tons of questions out there that DO have STRONG biblical answers. Answers that come from scientists, people smarter than me, and articles and magazines. Check out the following link, and search the topics or type in a question you’ve had for many years and see what answers you find. You just might find you are strengthened in your faith. You just might find the answer you’ve been looking for, but didn’t know it existed.
Blessings!
Filed under: Bible Questions, Challenge, Creation, Encouragement, Life, Religion, Sharing your Faith, Short Thoughts | Tagged: answers, belief, believe, bible, Challenge, Christianity, convert, creationism, death, decisions, eternity, evolution, faith, Genesis, God, hesitation, Jesus, listen, Paul, persecution, questions, salvation, share, sharing, sin, spiritual, strengthen your faith, Study, Thoughts, truth, Your life
Are you suggesting that the Bible be taken literally?
Sorry, but Answers in Genesis has been shown to be wrong on a number of issues.
In any case, what kind of death are you speaking of? More importantly, what kind of death is the bible speaking of–spiritual or physical?
airtightnoodle said:
“Sorry, but Answers in Genesis has been shown to be wrong on a number of issues. In any case, what kind of death are you speaking of? More importantly, what kind of death is the bible speaking of–spiritual or physical?”
Thank you for your comment! Not sure what you mean to imply regarding someone making a mistake or being wrong….? Every scientist the world has ever known has made plenty of mistakes and then updated their research. If you mean to say that AiG is completely in error and unreliable due to a perceived error, then you must say the same thing about every other researcher the world over. How old is the earth supposedly now? Think about it.
As to your serious question regarding death, it seems that the Christian theological community cannot accept what is clearly written. The book of Revelation gives the most clear indication as to what the referred to verse in Romans eludes to…the earth will be restored one day to the perfection it once was. Animal will not eat animal, death, pain and disease will be gone. No tears will fall. This description is also a description of the Garden of Eden, hence, why it is noted “the whole creation will be restored”. This description comes from several books in the bible. I’m not a theologian, just one who researches. I’m sure you could find several interesting debates regarding this topic in places other than AiG’s references since it seems you will not read info they promote.
My belief is that Scripture is clear in eluding to the idea that Adam’s sin brought forth a curse on all of the creation and part of this curse was physical death. Spiritual death could not have began until after the LAW was passed down. This point is debated, however, but I believe it is debated because many Christians try real hard to fit the Bible into their ideas of how old the universe and earth is and not the other way around. I feel one must be able to look at the Bible first and derive logical and truthful answers based on it’s declarations.
Thanks again for the comment!
Kurt wrote:
<Are you suggesting that the Bible be taken literally?
Yes, where appropriate. For instance, the book of Revelation is full of symbolism that cannot be taken literally. ‘Biblical scholars’ or ’searching the web’ for sites that interpret various scriptures would be a better resource to get more answers. Some of the bible is poetic, historical, allegorical or symbolic. Another good example is Jesus and others speak historically about the institution of marriage from Genesis as well as Jonah* and Noah**. Paul writes of Adam.*** Others point to these accounts as NOT historical, but the way in which Jesus and other authors use them in the Bible goes against this thinking. It is the mind of man that feels like they know more than “God” and thus all of the spite and arguing. Biblically, man is imperfect and prideful, which is exactly how we portray ourselves when we keep reinterpreting scripture based on information we “think” is correct.
Again, for further insight, I would search the web or talk to a biblical scholar from a church or university. There are many viewpoints, especially regarding Genesis, but most would agree there is validity to the claim the Bible could be taken literally where it is portrayed as historical.
God bless!
Jeff
* Jonah – Matthew 12:40 & Luke 11:30
**Noah – Luke 17:26-27 (In Hebrews 11:7, I Peter 3:20 and 2 Peter 2:5 Noah is also discussed historically)
***Adam & Eve – Romans 5:14, I Corinthians 15:45, I Timothy 2:13