Age of the earth and Genesis 1
How Genesis 1 is to be read — as literal 24-hour days (young-earth creationism, common among confessional Baptist + Reformed circles), as long-age periods (day-age, old-earth creationism), as literary framework, or as theistic-evolution-compatible. All views except naturalistic evolution are within Christian orthodoxy. "Affirms" = young-earth creationism (consistent with the most literal historic reading); "denies" = old-earth, theistic evolution, or framework-only views. Look for "literal six-day creation", "Answers in Genesis" alignment vs. "BioLogos", "old-earth creationism", "evolutionary creation".
This doctrine distinguishes traditions but is not a boundary of orthodoxy.
Key scriptures
- Col 1:16 — For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
- Exod 20:11 — For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- Exod 31:17 — It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
- Gen 1:1 — In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
- Gen 1:13 — And the evening and the morning were the third day.
- Gen 1:14 — And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
- Gen 1:20 — And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
- Gen 1:24 — And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
- Gen 1:3 — And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
- Gen 1:5 — And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
- Gen 1:8 — And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
- Heb 11:3 — Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
- Mark 10:6 — But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
- Ps 33:6 — By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
- Rom 1:20 — For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
What the confessions say
Articles of the historic confessions that address this doctrine.
- Reformed Baptist 1689 London Baptist Confession 4.1 — Of Creation
- Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith 4.1 — Of Creation
- Reformed Baptist 1689 London Baptist Confession 4.3 — Of Creation
- Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith 4.2 — Of Creation
- Reformed Westminster Larger Catechism Q17 — How did God create man?
- Reformed Westminster Shorter Catechism Q9 — What is the work of creation?
The Church Fathers
The earliest Fathers who commented on the Scriptures above.
And [know ye, moreover], that He who was born of a woman was the Son of God, and He that was crucified was "the first-born of every creature," and God the Word, who also created all things. For says the apostle, "There is one God, the Father, of whom are all things; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things." And again, "For…
And in a much inferior place they will be laid, and that, too, only when they have been tortured and completed the days of their sins. And on this account will they be transferred, because they have partaken of the righteous Word. And then only will they be removed from their punishments when the thought shall come into their hearts to…
God is a Spirit, not pervading matter, but the Maker of material spirits, and of the forms that are in matter; He is invisible, impalpable, being Himself the Father of both sensible and invisible things. Him we know from His creation, and apprehend His invisible power by His works. I refuse to adore that workmanship which He has made…
The rule of truth which we hold, is, that there is one God Almighty, who made all things by His Word, and fashioned and formed, out of that which had no existence, all things which exist. Thus saith the Scripture, to that effect "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established, and all the might of them, by the spirit of His…
Accordingly, with the utmost clearness and brevity, the prophetic word condemns this practice: "For all the gods of the nations are the images of demons; but God made the heavens, and what is in heaven." Some, however, who have fallen into error, I know not how, worship God's work instead of God Himself,-the sun and the moon, and the…
We, however, insist on the proper signification of every word, and say that principium means beginning,—being a term which is suitable to represent things which begin to exist. For nothing which has come into being is without a beginning, nor can this its commencement be at any other moment than when it begins to have existence. Thus…