Appendix 2 - Why Did God Take Six Days?

Appendix 2

WHY DID GOD TAKE SIX DAYS?

When one picks up a Bible, reads Genesis chapter 1, and takes it at face value, it seems to say that God created the world, the universe, and everything in them in six ordinary (approximately 24 hour) days. However, there is a view in our churches which has become prevalent over the years that these "days" could have been thousands, millions, or even billions of years in duration. Does it really matter what length these days were? Is it possible to determine whether or not they were ordinary days, or long periods of time?

WHAT IS A "DAY?"

The word for "day" in Genesis 1 is the Hebrew word yom. It can mean either a day (in the ordinary 24-hour day), the daylight portion of an ordinary 24-hour day (i.e., day as distinct from night), or occasionally it is used in the sense of an indefinite period of time (e.g., "in the time of the Judges" or "In the day of the Lord"). Without exception, in the Hebrew Old Testament the word yom never means "period" (i.e., it never refers to a definite long period of time with specific beginning and end points). The word which means a long period of time in Hebrew is olam. Furthermore, it is important to note that even when the word yom is used in the indefinite sense, it is clearly indicated by the context that the literal meaning of the word "day" is not intended.