Did God create the Earth old?

The Age of Earth - Could God create the Earth in such a way that on DAY ONE it was very old?

God made a fully mature man on day six of creation, Adam (Genesis 1:26,27 & 2:7) and on Adam’s fist day he may have tested out as 30 years old, Eve too – they were certainly not infants. (Genesis 2:22). Therefore we, know that God is of course able and also willing to create something that is old or mature on it’s first day. The Lord did this with all reproducing life for after HE created them he blessed them and commanded them to multiply – only the mature can multiply; fish, birds, and animals as well. (Genesis 1:20-25).

But what about the planet Earth, did God create it old?

Earth time is governed by the Sun and Moon which were created on day FOUR of creation. (Geneses 1:14-16). One earth day is one complete rotation of the earth on its axis - sunrise to sunrise - which is 24 hours. Other planets spin faster or slower thus “planet time” is marked differently depending on what planet is used to mark the time.

When God uses the word “day” as in “there was evening and there was morning, one day… there was evening and there was morning, a second day, there was evening and there was morning , a third day “ (Genesis 1:5,8,13), the stars and sun and moon had not been created yet for they were all created on the FOURTH day TO MARK TIME (Genesis 1:14), so what does God mean when He says “day one, day two, day three”?

“.. with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” 2 Peter 3:8 NASB. Notice this Bible verse does not say that it is a thousand years but that IT IS LIKE a thousand years, the point being a day to the Lord is not automaticly a 24 hour period thus the first 3 days of creation cannot be proven as three 24 hour earth days since earth time did not exist until the fourth day and therefore we should not assume that they were 24 hours days.

It is possible God was referring to a Universe day which is how long it takes the Universe to make one rotation. How long is that? Noone knows.
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29 NASB

It is important that we avoid going beyond what is written as the Apostle Paul pointed out to the Church at Corinth on another matter. “Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.” 1 Corinthians 4:6 NIV


Over the years the Church has often been wrong when it tried to force the Bible to say something that it did not specificly say and this has caused unecessary conflicts between Science and Christainity. The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church and is also the God who created all Science so science will in the end submit to the Truth as will the Church.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

“YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET "For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.” Hebrews 2:8 NASB

We should see Scientists all over the world beginning to submit to Jesus and His Word and we are. There is a Christian by the name of Dr. Hugh Ross, an astronomer and in his book “The Fingerprint of God – recent scientific discoveries reveal the unmistakable identity of the creator”, he brings Science and faith in Christ together on this very topic and I recommend it for further insights into this question.

What we do know is that Genesis 1 reveals that God created everything in 6 days, however we do not know how God measured that “day” time and it does NOT appear to be six 24 hour Earth days. Even if it was 6-24 hour earth days He could have also created the universe mature in age on day one as He did with Adam, Eve, the animals etc.. Either way in such a case science and the Bible would not have a conflict over the Truth of the age of the Earth. As Christians begin to see what the Bible does not say as well as what it does say then God’s Truth in His Word will answer many questions.

May the Lord Jesus Bless You with His Word of Truth,
Stacey