Apologetics 10
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Creation, Old Ages, & The Flood
2 Scripture passages worth remembering….
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
ROMANS 1:20
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
We are to look at the Bible as History – real people, places and events.
Look at Bible for the framework (PARADIGM) of a understanding.
With Bible as inspired, ( as we have discussed over preceding 9 weeks), and God ordained.
1. then why would we look elsewhere for answer?
2. why would we follow any advice which presumes as a foundational principle to find ways of explaining existence w/o God involved?
3. Goal of “higher criticism” out of age of rationalism – separation of God and supernatural from Scripture.
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(Review )
GENESIS 1
Genesis Narrative ( not poetry ) vs . Ancient near east is done in epic poetry ( makes Genesis unique. )
Hebrew uses word for day ( 24 hr) not ‘age’ which is an alien concept imposed on the text
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CREATION ACCOUNT- Did God create the world in only 7 Days ( 24 hrs )
What is at stake in that question about Genesis 1 and beyond.
– Are Limits on God’s work defined by us realistic or appropriate?
– what is at risk
OLD AGES – Did people really live to be 900+ yrs old in Genesis?
Why & How could they really live that long ?
A key may be in Genesis 6:3: “The Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’” Many people see the reference to “a hundred and twenty years” as the new, divinely appointed limit on man’s age. By the time of Moses (who lived 120 years), lifespans were much lower. After Moses, we have no record of anyone living past 120. https://www.gotquestions.org/Genesis-long-lives.html
– Genesis 6:3 ….age
– Genesis 9:2-3 ….diet
– Genesis 9:13 ….rainbow
THE FLOOD – was it local, or world wide?
Genesis 7 :18-19
The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. 20 The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits.[a][b]
Jesus’ view :
Luke 17:26-27 New International Version (NIV)
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
Where are we to stand as we study these topics….as Christ followers ( disciples )?
2 Timothy 3:16