I don't know.

<Not to mention his Firstborn, and the words used to indicate imo times in the distant past, beyond our comprehension. See the Proverbs text from my previous post.>

I think you would have a hard time consistently affirming an old earth and a young animal life position.

<Very curious here to find out how, and <why> the YE group insists on their "literal" (if that is even the correct term, I have doubts) interpretation of Genesis 1.>

The short answer is the understanding that an ordinal number modifying <yowm> is always a literal period of time.

Exodus 20:11 For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Who says?

<< According to young earth theory, the Sun was not created until Day Four >>,

Good points on the inconsistency in my "story" - that's why I need to increase my scriptural correctness and consistency and thus need to put in some more time to research.

Regarding proverbs I couldn't disagree more with you; of course there is the poetic value, no doubt, when read or recited (or sung) in the authentic language, but the jampacked info in terms of wisdom, prophetic clues and historical accounts included in the TEXT, is unequalled. In the same vein Psalms are not a bunch of songs, they are the inspired word of God, no? And not one letter or syllabe is excessive. Prophecies of the gravest importance are found in eg Psalm 2.

Your answer, summarized, to my Proverbs question appears to me to be upsettingly naive, but even more, it inhibits you to appreciate and understand the Bible as a whole. Proverbs is superiorly packed with instructions regarding the mindset and attitude of every individual Christian, and relates almost carbon copy to the writings of Paul (guided and inspired by the <same> holy spirit-), as he instructs the first congregations.

"verses 22-31" (excerpt from point III of V)

<III. His agency in making the world. He not only had a being before the world, but he was present, not as a spectator, but as the architect, when the world was made. God silenced and humbled Job by asking him, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Who hath laid the measures thereof? (Job 38:4, etc.). Wast thou that eternal Word and wisdom, who was the prime manager of that great affair? No; thou art of yesterday." << But here the Son of God, referring, as it should seem, to the discourse God had with Job, declares himself to have been engaged in that which Job could not pretend to be a witness of and a worker in, the creation of the world. By him God made the worlds, Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2; Col. 1:16. 1. When, on the first day of the creation, in the very beginning of time, God said, Let there be light, and with a word produced it, this eternal Wisdom was that almighty Word: Then I was there, when he prepared the heavens, the fountain of that light >>, which, whatever it is here, is there substantial.>

http://biblecommenter.com/proverbs/...

You can find "Matthew Henry Complete Bible Commentary" onl;ine, as well as from Amazon, I noticed. And in addition it is even included in completeness at this site I mentioned when examining the scriptures from here -- http://bible.cc/proverbs/8-30.htm - really a teaching tool par excellence, without peer.

heh

Ok - I think there is not much for us earth-boys to really find out about what God and his Son did during the immeasurable time they have had at their disposal, and I tend to lean even to the possibility that Genesis 1 and 2 are in large part to be seen as showing some other brand of allegory, if not the poetic one -- and Proverbs, ironically, not as such.

But it is mightily interesting to see how views have developed over time, and no doubt the books written later by eg David, Salomon and Saul are, say, incrementally making things more clear, with Proverbs playing an important role in understanding the Creation account, I think.

6 days of 24 hrs - ...perhaps... And you're right, <Yom> would indeed be the word used in case 6 literal days were used.

It would appear to me somewhat illogical to basically hang around for eons of time (unlike what proverbs tells us, of course), and then slam the whole thing together and have it ready in 6 days of 24 hours. Even though that may appear as what was told by God when Moses wrote it down.

They are the inspired word of God, but for the most part, they are poetry. My big picture take on understanding the Bible is to take it literally, unless I have a compelling reason to understand it as allegory, symbolic, etc. Inclusion in the book of Psalms, whose primary intent is a book of poetry is de facto a pretty compelling reason to understand it as allegory. Yes, we can find some jewels of literal truth, including propehcy as you mentioned, and some occasional doctrinal and historical nuggets. But its primary value is poetry.

<achieve: I never would be "wishing" such to begin with, since to me it would seem irrelevant or at least unnecessary to aspire to know the exact time and duration... But I can see that in the ongoing Feud with the Evo establishment it becomes a rather crucial paradigm, since a young earth excludes even the smell of a possibility of macro-evo and related C-dating flaws etc. Granted.>

I have always found the "The Floor is Yours" argument to be useful. When someone argues the negative side, I think it is incumbent upon them to express what would put them in the affirmative. If you are in the negative regarding the 6 days of creation being literal days, it is imperative you express what you would need to become an affirmative backer. If you cannot, then you are guilty of apriori denial of the possibility of the point under contention.

In like manner, I have always found it illuminating to ask the atheist/agnostic what it would take for them to be a believer. Most have never entertained the thought, which is quite telling.

<Again, it's very hard to maintain that an earth apparently created for man sat idle for aeons until God decided to inhabit it. I also understand I need to tread lightly when attempting to understand the ways/wisdom/plans of God. I think there are some NT passages that shed light on the matter and will have a look at them. I will gladly have another look at Proverbs 1-5.> Glad to hear that, and let us get specific on those scriptures and contexts... I do desperately need to get clear and consistent in this respect, or else close my trap.

Within a short time I will get back to you and attempt to share my "corrected" views.

I must emphasize that I am in no way related to texts or arguments following from the well known websites, and feel forced to keep training myself within a fresh approach, at ALL cost.