yoel-
True- It doesn't say "the day in genesis is as 1000 years." This verse is
one that many Christians take the LITERAL (actually not literal, since it
says "a day is AS/LIKE (NIV) 1000 years" NOT "a day IS 1000" years. If I
say I am LIKE my brother, it may mean I look like him, I act like him, but
it does not mean that I AM him.)
(DAVE 5/22) Yoel: Agreed. When I read this verse in Peter, I take it to
have some kind of connection to the Genesis day only in the sense that a
"day" to God is (or could be) a long time, and is not confined just to our
perception of "day".
Yoel
Many Christians conveniently grasp onto
this verse to explain various Biblical and intellectual conflicts like the
supposed 6 day creation of the world (oh well, maybe it was 6000 YEARS), or
Jesus' coming soon ("since with the Lord a day is as 1000 years, 2000
constitutes "soon)". I have heard Christians who believe in evolution use
this verse to explain that evolution is consistent with the Bible.
(DAVE 5/22) Yoel: Agreed - I have too. I know several who believe in the
7000 year "creation" and that 2000 AD is year 7000. I subscribe to what
occurred in each "day" of Genesis, but do not know HOW it occurred (ie
evolution?) or how long it took to occur. I have often used the example of,
say, you asking me over for dinner. You could invite me over at 7:00 pm
this evening. At that precise moment, I show up. The fact that I have
appeared at 7:00pm IS the primary issue. As to HOW I got there, or how long
it took me, these are only secondary issues. I view creatuion in the same
manner - I believe there was a creator (primary) whose methods and time
frames (secondary) are pretty well unknown to me. In this regard, the issue
of evolution is only a secondary one - as a result, I neither think it
supports or detracts from my belief system and faith - it very well could be
the/a method of creation.
Yoel
But this is dishonest. This is using an analogy in one verse in the (sort
of) literal sense, but it is only being applied to a time reference when
the reference seems ridiculous or contradictory. Otherwise, "day" means
"day".
If I say "this day takes forever"- I do not literally mean that the day is
lasting throughout eternity. In the same way, 2 Peter 3:8 is not setting
the rules for proper calendars nor is it defining the meaning of the word
"day".
(DAVE 5/22) Yoel: Agreed.
Yoel
Actually, Peter seems to be answering to doubts as to the arrival of
the Kingdom of God and the obvious fact that God is taking his sweet time.
The following verse reads: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as
some understand slowness." So, when Peter (or whoever) says "With the Lord,
a day is like a thousand years." he is simply trying to convince the
readers that the Lord takes his time.... He is NOT defining the meaning of
the word "day" nor is he setting calendar functions.
(DAVE 5/22) Yoel: Agreed - I believe this is his purpose here as well.
Going back to the Genesis "day" then, can the same inference be applied?
Could this "day" be longer than 24 hours? It depends on whose "perspective"
the account is coming from - a God whose concept of "day" is (or could be) a
very long time, or a human. Even for us, the idea of "day" can have several
meanings - I could say "In my grandfather's day...." and mean much more than
a 24-hour time period, and not even be time specific.
Dave-
>Creationists will state that the "day" is an actual day.
yoel-
Yom- day
Yom kipur- day of atonement
yom haemahot- mother's day
yome shabbat- sabbath day
yom yafe- beautiful day
yom shishi- sixth day (friday)
yom haatzmaut- independence day
yom huledet- birthday
yomayim- two days
yom shilshom- the day before yesterday
yom yom- everyday
kol yom - every day
yom tov- holiday
hayom- today
yom valailah- day and night
dorit yom- Doris Day (just kidding)
Dave-
Evolutionists (who
>either subscribe to or tolerate the Bible) will say that it means a very
>long period of time - maybe a geological period. And there seems to be many
>conclusions or thoughts in between these two extremes. And there are some
>who believe it is symbolic literature and language - describing something
>else beyond what we are considering.
>
>I don't know what I think on this - I haven't ruled evolution (of some form)
>out of my belief system, yet I do believe there is a supreme being
>responsible for our creation. It matters little in the long run which one
>is right, but it is interesting.
>
>Can you, or Yoel or anyone else provide some information on the word "day"
>used in Genesis and the real meaning of this word in the context of how it
>is used here?
yoel-
Why would it mean anything else? There is no reason for "day" to mean
anything besides "day", except a desire to prove something, and this
allegorical "loophole" in Peter has been used in varying ways.
Yom means "day". Just like "day" in English. "Jour" in French. "Dia" in
Spanish... I believe the Arabic word is very similar (isn't it "yum"?), and
I am pretty certain the the Aramaic word is the same. There is no secret
regarding what it means.
(DAVE 5/22) Yoel: So you are saying that the writer of Genesis meant to
submit that the world was created in these 24 hour time periods? If so,
what about the various meanings of "day" as I suggested above? Do these
various meanings also apply to Hebrew?
Thanks for the comments - very interesting.
Dave.
"Enough awareness invaded your consciousness that you realized it was best
to get out of bed, into your clothes and get on with the day...In the same
way, enough of the Person of Christ and his purposes and the needs of the
world must invade our consciousness so that we are able to sleep no
longer...we awake to get on with God's redemptive purposes."
- Bryant