Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 51:201 (Jan 1894)
Article: Primeval Man
Author: Smith B. Goodenow

BSac 51:201 (Jan 1894) p. 158

Primeval Man

Rev. Smith B. Goodenow

The Hebrew Bible fixes the placing of Adam in Eden at about 4000 years before the Christian era. The current Usher chronology has it 4004 years; but the most reliable reckoning of the Hebrew increases it to 4102 years. So that 6000 years from Adam expire in A. D. 1898. This expiration, within four years from now, of the six week days of human history (since “one clay is with the Lord as a thousand years,” 2 Pet. 3:8), is drawing some attention to the speedy opening of the seventh thousand years, or sabbatic day of human history, as a supposed millennial epoch described in Revelation (20:1–7).

But in a different quarter there is an awakened interest in the scientific question: How are we to reconcile so short a period of human existence as the six thousand years of Hebrew chronology, now about expiring, with the accumulating geologic facts, which go to show, by human fossils and relics of human handiwork, that man has existed on the earth much more than six thousand years? The Septuagint, or earliest Greek version of the Old Testament, translated from the Hebrew about 200 B. C, allows some fifteen hundred years more than the six thousand; but this is thought not sufficient for the geologic demands. What more can be done about it?

In order to forestall this alleged difficulty of science, some biblical scholars are trying to invalidate the early chronology of the Bible, from Adam to Abraham, as given in Genesis 5 and 11; so as, by having no Bible chronology of early times, to allow science full sweep for speculation as to the antiquity of man.1

The present writer is fully convinced that these endeavors to do away with the Bible chronology cannot succeed; and, further, does not entertain that apprehension that any greater antiquity for man than the Bible chronology allows, will be positively proved by science: so that he does not feel that need of “hedging” (to use a term current in worldly business ), in behalf of the Bible, which is stirring many scholars. For we believe that the geologists of our day are somewhat infatuated with the idea that they know the rate with which nature’s changes proceeded in prehistoric times. Whereas, we have no witnesses (except God) to testify at what an amazing pace vast developments might leap forward in the young gush of nature under new

BSac 51:201 (Jan 1894) p. 159

conditions,—such developments as require ages under the settled e...