Adam and 4000 BC

4000 BC is the accepted date for the creation of Adam, or so I've heard and read from numerous sources. Though I've also seen 4004 BC touted by some well known bishop that did some calculations or something.

I want to know if anyone here can tell me how this date (4000 BC) was acquired, or at least point me in the right direction. I don't mind researching myself but my google searching has been mostly fruitless for the purpose of answering my question precisely.

Thanks guys

Originally Posted by ForestsEchoLaughter

4000 BC is the accepted date for the creation of Adam, or so I've heard and read from numerous sources. Though I've also seen 4004 BC touted by some well known bishop that did some calculations or something.

I want to know if anyone here can tell me how this date (4000 BC) was acquired, or at least point me in the right direction. I don't mind researching myself but my google searching has been mostly fruitless for the purpose of answering my question precisely.

Thanks guys

People who think the Bible answers scientific questions used the generations between Jesus and his ancestors and their ancestors in the NT and the OT to calculate the date of ~4000BC.

The extra 4 comes in because it is thought Jesus was born in 6-4 BC rather than at year 0.

The missing few years was because a monk miscalculated Jesus birth by a few years during late antiquity.


Final point, Adam probably didn't exist.

"The extra 4 comes in because it is thought Jesus was born in 6-4 BC rather than at year 0.

The missing few years was because a monk miscalculated Jeswus birtrh by a few years in late antiquity."

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Can you give me some more info on this? I'm not sure I understand exactly what you mean. Why is this monk's miscalculation significant exactly? Is the entire Gregorian calendar based on this dude's dates, and how can I check if he actually did miscalculate?

Thanks for the response by the way, the first part of your answer was exactly what I was looking for.

Originally Posted by Ukr-Cdn

People who think the Bible answers scientific questions used the generations between Jesus and his ancestors and their ancestors in the NT and the OT to calculate the date of ~4000BC.

The extra 4 comes in because it is thought Jesus was born in 6-4 BC rather than at year 0.

The missing few years was because a monk miscalculated Jesus birth by a few years during late antiquity.


Final point, Adam probably didn't exist.

Is that what you believe?

Originally Posted by jmt

Is that what you believe?

If Adam didn't exist, then it would seem to follow that the last Adam, Jesus, didn't exist either.
(1 Corinthians 15:22; 15:45)

Originally Posted by ForestsEchoLaughter

4000 BC is the accepted date for the creation of Adam, or so I've heard and read from numerous sources. Though I've also seen 4004 BC touted by some well known bishop that did some calculations or something.

I want to know if anyone here can tell me how this date (4000 BC) was acquired, or at least point me in the right direction. I don't mind researching myself but my google searching has been mostly fruitless for the purpose of answering my question precisely.

Thanks guys

According to Archbishop Ussher, the bishop you're referring to, the Earth was created in the evening, October 22, 4004. He derived this figure by counting the ages of the male lineage from Adam through King Solomon, and then adding the reigns of the subsequent kings through Jesus, who was thought to have been born in 4 B.C. The day was computed with reference to the autumnal equinox, when the Jewish year began, and knowledge that God began the creation on Sunday, since the Jewish sabbath began Saturday, when the Lord rested. But Adam was created on the sixth day so that would put the creation of Adam at October 28--I think (it's so confusing).

In answer to ForestsEchoLaughter’s “I want to know if anyone here can tell me how this date (4000 BC) was acquired, or at least point me in the right direction.”, you can look up “Bible chronology” in Google but here is one reasoning on the matter, it seems pretty straight forward and easy to understand, although I’m sure many will find problems with it. I offer it, not as proof of anything but only an answer to the question you seem to be asking.

From Human Creation to the Present. Modern historians are unable to determine any certain date for the beginning of the “historical period” of mankind. Whether they turn to the history of Assyria, Babylon, or Egypt, the chronology becomes increasingly uncertain and unstable as they work their way back through the second millennium B.C.E., and in the third millennium B.C.E. they are faced with confusion and obscurity. By contrast, the Bible provides a connected history that allows for a methodical count back to the beginning of human history, a count that is facilitated by Biblical references to certain large periods of time, such as the 479 full-year period from the Exodus to the start of the temple construction during Solomon’s reign.—1Ki 6:1.

To make the count in terms of modern calendar dating, we must use some fixed point or pivotal date with which to commence, that is, a date in history that has sound basis for acceptance and that corresponds with a particular event recorded in the Bible. From this date as a pivotal point we can figure backward or forward and assign calendar dates to many of the events referred to in the Bible.

One such date, harmonizing with both Biblical and secular history, is the year 29 C.E., the early months of which were in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, who was named emperor by the Roman Senate on September 15, 14 C.E. (Gregorian calendar). It was in the year 29 C.E. that John the Baptizer began his preaching and also when, perhaps about six months later, he baptized Jesus.—Lu 3:1-3, 21, 23; 1:36.

Another date that can be used as a pivotal point is the year 539 B.C.E., supported by various historical sources as the year for the overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus the Persian. (Secular sources for Cyrus’ reign include Diodorus, Africanus, Eusebius, and Ptolemy, as well as the Babylonian tablets.) During Cyrus’ first year his decree releasing the Jews from exile was given. It is very probable that the decree was made by the winter of 538 B.C.E. or toward the spring of 537 B.C.E. This would permit the Jews time to make necessary preparations, effect the four-month journey to Jerusalem, and still arrive there by the seventh month (Tishri, or about October 1) of 537 B.C.E.—Ezr 1:1-11; 2:64-70; 3:1.

Using such pivotal dates, we can then relate a very large number of the Bible events to specific calendar dates. The basic framework into which such chronology fits is as follows:
Event ---------------- Calendar Date ---- Time Period Between Events
From the creation of
Adam --------------------4026 B.C.E.
To the start of the
Flood --------------------2370 B.C.E. -------1,656 years
To the validating of
the Abrahamic
covenant ----------------1943 B.C.E. --------427 years
To the Exodus from
Egypt --------------------1513 B.C.E. -------430 years
To the start of the
temple construction -------1034 B.C.E. -------479 years
To the division of
the kingdom ---------------997 B.C.E. ------- 37 years
To the desolation of
Judah ---------------------607 B.C.E. -------390 years
To the return of the
Jews from exile -------------537 B.C.E. ------ 70 years
To the rebuilding of
Jerusalem’s walls ------------455 B.C.E. ------82 years
To the baptism of
Jesus -----------------------29 C.E. ---------483 years
To the present --------------1987 C.E. ------1,958 years
Total time period
from Adam’s creation
to -----------------------------1987 C.E. 6,012 years

Originally Posted by OlderWaterBrother

Using such pivotal dates, we can then relate a very large number of the Bible events to specific calendar dates. The basic framework into which such chronology fits is as follows:
Event ---------------- Calendar Date ---- Time Period Between Events
From the creation of
Adam --------------------4026 B.C.E.
To the start of the
Flood --------------------2370 B.C.E. -------1,656 years
To the validating of
the Abrahamic
covenant ----------------1943 B.C.E. --------427 years
To the Exodus from
Egypt --------------------1513 B.C.E. -------430 years
To the start of the
temple construction -------1034 B.C.E. -------479 years
To the division of
the kingdom ---------------997 B.C.E. ------- 37 years
To the desolation of
Judah ---------------------607 B.C.E. -------390 years
To the return of the
Jews from exile -------------537 B.C.E. ------ 70 years
To the rebuilding of
Jerusalem’s walls ------------455 B.C.E. ------82 years
To the baptism of
Jesus -----------------------29 C.E. ---------483 years
To the present --------------1987 C.E. ------1,958 years
Total time period
from Adam’s creation
to -----------------------------1987 C.E. 6,012 years

Here is where modern paleontologists and archeologists part company with the Bible. They tell us hominids were using tools and making fire at least 2.5 million years ago, Neanderthals were making flutes and burying their dead over 35,000 years ago. They've found an ivory carving of a mammoth dating to 33,000 B.C., beautiful carvings of women called "Venus" carvings from 26,000 to 23,000 B.C. and impressive cave paintings at Lascaux, Perchi-Merle and other sites in France dating to 25,000 B.C. The oldest pottery dated at 18,000 years ago was discovered about a year ago in China, beating out the previous contender in Japan, which is dated at 17 thousand years ago. Fundamentalists ordinarily attach a lot of credence to pottery shards and their dates when it suits them, especailly when they're Hebrew. A megalith in Turkey dates to 9,000 B.C. The New Stone Age is dated before the Biblical date you give for the creation of Adam. But what do they know? They are mere fallible humans. A Bronze Age account of how it all happened is far more reliable, especially when it was written by (or dictated by) God. As you say, there are uncertainties in archaeology and history, although the consensus of reputable paleontologists and archaeologists is that all of these event happened long before your date for the creation of Adam. When the Bible and science conflict, the tendency of fundamentalists seems to be to assume that the scientists are wrong--in this case radically wrong. However, I respect the judgment and integrity of professional scholars. I also don't believe the Bible was ever intended as a history treatise, any more that it was intended as a textbook in geology or astronomy. Besides, didn't we decide that the six-day creation was in God years rather than human years, are kinda like dog years (or dog millennia?) to God? Maybe the same applies to early human prehistory.

Originally Posted by Okiefreak

Here is where modern paleontologists and archeologists part company with the Bible. They tell us hominids were using tools and making fire at least 2.5 million years ago, Neanderthals were making flutes and burying their dead over 35,000 years ago. They've found an ivory carving of a mammoth dating to 33,000 B.C., beautiful carvings of women called "Venus" carvings from 26,000 to 23,000 B.C. and impressive cave paintings at Lascaux, Perchi-Merle and other sites in France dating to 25,000 B.C. The oldest pottery dated at 18,000 years ago was discovered about a year ago in China, beating out the previous contender in Japan, which is dated at 17 thousand years ago. Fundamentalists ordinarily attach a lot of credence to pottery shards and their dates when it suits them, especailly when they're Hebrew. A megalith in Turkey dates to 9,000 B.C. The New Stone Age is dated before the Biblical date you give for the creation of Adam. But what do they know? They are mere fallible humans. A Bronze Age account of how it all happened is far more reliable, especially when it was written by (or dictated by) God. As you say, there are uncertainties in archaeology and history, although the consensus of reputable paleontologists and archaeologists is that all of these event happened long before your date for the creation of Adam. When the Bible and science conflict, the tendency of fundamentalists seems to be to assume that the scientists are wrong--in this case radically wrong. However, I respect the judgment and integrity of professional scholars. I also don't believe the Bible was ever intended as a history treatise, any more that it was intended as a textbook in geology or astronomy. Besides, didn't we decide that the six-day creation was in God years rather than human years, are kinda like dog years (or dog millennia?) to God? Maybe the same applies to early human prehistory.

Once again, "my" date for the creation of Adam?

Please, the OP asked how the date of about 4000 B.C.E. was arrived at by using the bible and I merely showed one way it was done, not "my" way.

Also it is nice to know that modern paleontologists and archeologists have found so many things have the date inscribed on them so they know exactly when these things happened.