Does the Bible support the Day-Age Theory? Could God have used six long periods to create the world, rather than six 24-hour days?

what does the bible say?

Day-age theory is an old-Earth creationism view based on and supported by the Bible. The word for "day" (Hebrew yom) in Genesis 1 may be interpreted as an ordinary day, or as an extended period (e.g., Genesis 2:4). The day-age view understands the days of Genesis 1 to give chronological information, but not a depiction of literal 24-hour days. Day-age theory seeks to harmonize faithful interpretation of the Bible with a modern understanding of science.

The day-age theory (as considered here) agrees with observed geological and astronomical time scales. However, it does not admit Darwinian (unguided) evolution, instead believing the Genesis account of how God created life and especially humans (Genesis 2:7). Contrary to wide-spread public impression, (neo)-Darwinian evolution cannot account for the initial origin of life. According to Genesis, you do not get from inorganic matter to organic by unguided natural processes, but only by God's spoken word (e.g., Genesis 1:26).

Two concerns about the day-age view are addressed in the Scripture section below. First is the problem of the appearance of light on the fourth day. Second is the implication that disease and death must have existed before the Fall of man.

from the old testament

Genesis 1:1-2:3 tells us about God creating the earth and life. Day-age creationists interpret the days of Genesis 1 (Hebrew yom) as indeterminate ages, where each day signifies a distinct phase of God's creative work. The day-age view takes the chronology of Genesis 1 seriously: the days of Genesis 1:1-2:3 represent a real sequence of seven ages.Is the Earth young or old? We can't be absolutely certain because Genesis 1 is not explicit. Either view can be supported with Biblical text and scientific evidence. In the 4th century, Augustine confessed that he did not find the days of Genesis 1 easy to understand. In The City of God he said, "What kind of days these are is difficult or impossible to imagine, to say nothing of describing them...We cannot understand what happened as it is presented to us; and yet we must believe it without hesitation." Christians should seek unity in the truth that God created the heavens and the Earth. The details of when creation occurred is not an issue over which Christians ought to suffer doubt or discord.To address the apparent problem of plants appearing on Day 3 (Genesis 1:9-1:13) before the sun and moon on Day 4 (Genesis 1:14-1:19), proponents of day-age theory argue for an observer-based understanding of the appearance of the sun on Day 4. The point of view for each creation day is that of an observer on Earth's surface. The day-age view posits the sun is already present on Day 4, having been created “in the beginning,” as part of “the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The verb "make" in 1:16 means to prepare, observe or appoint while "create" in 1:1 means to shape or fashion something new in the heavens and earth. So, from the text it makes sense that the sun, moon, stars, and galaxies were created in Genesis 1:1. Then, on day 4 the sun, moon and stars appeared as distinguishable lights in the sky when the cloud cover that had concealed them dissipated. Day-age proponents argue from modern science that the clouds parted on the earth at a definite time in history, and that this change occurred after the green plants had appeared and before animal life.An example of day meaning a period longer than 24 hours is Genesis 2:4: "These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens."The immense array of stars in the night sky along with the sun and moon have taught all generations to worship the Creator (Psalm 19:1). Today, science continues to deepen our appreciation for God's design. The more we learn about how the universe is structured, and how it works, the more fully we grasp the power of God.

from the new testament

Romans 5:12 states that “sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” This verse is sometimes used by opponents of day-age theory to suggest that animal death could not have occurred prior to Adam's sin. But this verse indicates only that Adam’s fall brought death to men (Greek anthropos). Anthropos specifically refers to human beings, not animals. Only man sins, not animals. Animal death is neither mentioned nor inferred in Romans 5:12 and is excluded by Paul’s use of the word anthropos. Scripture does not explicitly indicate that animal diets changed after the Fall. Since some created animals are carnivorous (e.g., lion, vulture, shark, wasp), Day-age theory believes animal death was part of God’s creation long before Adam was even created.1 Corinthians 15:21-22 is sometimes used to suggest Adam’s sin brought about all death, including animal death. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” However, the context clearly pertains only to mankind, with humanity’s death being defeated through the resurrection of Christ. The passage states those who die are the same as those resurrected and made alive in Christ. If ‘all’ that die in Adam includes animals, then the ‘all’ made alive by Christ must also include the animals. Nowhere does Scripture suggest a spiritual aspect of animals nor their need for redemption. So, this text does not contradict day-age theory, where plants and animals would have died prior to the Fall of Adam.

implications for today

The day-age theory is an old Earth creationism view that agrees with observed astronomical and geological time scales but does not allow Darwinian evolution. The age of the universe is estimated at about 13.7 billion years, based on two primary methods: by studying the oldest stars, and by measuring the expansion rate of the universe and then extrapolating back to the beginning. Both the Bible (Genesis 1:1) and astronomical evidence confirm that the universe had a beginning. The fine-tuning of the universe over a long stellar history in order to support human life is an incredible proof of divine design.

Radiometric dating of meteorite material and ancient rocks give an estimate for the age of the Earth at 4.5 billion years. There are assumptions and uncertainties in the estimated age; the scientific view could change if new evidence is discovered. Day-age theory asserts that Earth’s geologic features formed over long ages through both gradual and catastrophic processes. The age of the Earth has no bearing on the initial (divine) origins of life. An ancient Earth does not equate with Darwinian evolution. Darwinian evolution (change through unguided processes) is unbiblical, biologically untenable, and not supported by the fossil record. The sudden and rapid diversification of life forms during the Cambrian period (around 541 million years ago) is seen as evidence of a prolonged creative period, rather than an ordinary day. This explosion of diversity is difficult to explain through gradual evolution over millions of years.

God miraculously created life, including Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:27), who were uniquely made in the image of God and from whom humanity’s sin originated. As an (old-earth) creationism view, day-age theory fits withing the framework of the Bible.