Old Earth Ch. 1: Starting Assumptions

A Biblical Case for an Old Earth
By David Snoke

Chapter 1: Starting Assumptions

Snoke’s very first sentence is recognition that science has affected his interpretation of the Bible. He would never have speculated that the Earth is millions (or perhaps billions) of years old solely from Scripture. However, from his scientific background (Snoke has a PhD in physics) he has determined that the Earth is indeed millions of years old (we’ll get into his evidence for this claim in another chapter). The question he asks is if the most obvious interpretation is the correct one. Snoke argues that scientific observation is like any human experience and it is legitimate to let this experience flavor our interpretation of Scripture. Yet, he is careful to point out that no human experience can ever “trump” the written Word of God. (He makes it clear early on that he believes the Bible is inspired and inerrant, but that our theological systems are works of man and subject to error.)

For those who doubt the legitimacy of interpreting the Bible in light of experience rather than the most obvious reading of Scripture, Snoke gives a few examples of when the “obvious” interpretation of a passage is found suspect, and these are the two I found most convincing:

The Moving Earth: When Galileo unveiled his heliocentric universe, the condemnation of the Roman Catholic Church was swift, citing passages from the Psalms (93:1, 96:10, 104:5) that say “the Earth is firmly established; it can not be moved.” The Church was willing to admit that the earth “appeared” to move, but refused to interpret these passages as anything less than an unequivocal statement that the earth is stationary. Snoke argues that “if the earth does not really move, then God is a great deceiver to have made an entire universe that is perfectly harmonized to make the earth look like it moves, when it does not.”

Coming in Power: In Matthew 16:24-28 (Mark 8:34-9:1, Luke 9:23-27), Jesus tells His disciples “there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in the Kingdom of God with power.” “The most ‘obvious’ interpretation of this passage is that Jesus would return to judge the Earth within about 40 years...” However, our experience tells us that Jesus has not returned to judge the earth, so therefore this passage must be referring to something else (perhaps the destruction of the temple in AD 70)

Snoke then gives criteria for appropriately interpreting Scripture in light of new experience: “It should show thematic consistency with all of Scripture, a truly biblical worldview.” and “should delineate boundaries, defining what is negotiable and what is not.” Snoke’s stated goal in writing this book is to “help the church avoid the same errors in the debate over the age of the earth that have occurred in [examples such as the Moving Earth].”

My Analysis:
It seems to me that Snoke’s main point in this book is that if your first interpretation of a passage of Scripture is unequivocally shown to be inaccurate by observation, it is necessary to reexamine this interpretation. (We’ll get to the scientific evidence for an old earth in the next chapter.) I can’t help but think of how often the beliefs of cult members are solidified after the date of the “Apocalypse” passes without a whimper. Rather than realizing their leader was wrong and abandoning their beliefs they simply proclaim that the judgment has mercifully passed them by (most likely because of their efforts.) It is too hard to give up on a belief once you have put all your eggs in one basket, even when the basket is swept out from under you.

Similarly, when observation (scientific or otherwise) clearly shows an archaic interpretation to be untrue, it is time to reevaluate that interpretation. This does not mean that the Bible becomes science’s whipping boy. To the Christian, there are two choices: either God has the galaxies in such a way that they appear to be as they are not, or else our interpretation was incorrect. It is pride to hold so tightly to our interpretations. It is necessary to read the Bible as a whole to find the most viable option. The Bible is not to be hammered, and twisted and stuffed into whatever shape science allows for it. Rather (among other things), science is a tool to alert us where our interpretations must be reexamined.

As we will see in later chapters, the age of the earth seems to be such a case.

This first post may not be all that exciting, but it is necessary to lay the groundwork for future posts. In reading this book, I encountered many exciting ideas I had never before considered and I look forward to exposing you to these ideas as well.