RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-11-16	The Bible And Dinosaurs
		Talking about dinosaurs in the context of the Bible finds two camps of thought. Those who hold to an old earth view (millions of years old) do not see any dinosaurs in the Bible. Those who hold to a young earth view (10,000 years or less) see several Bible passages that describe dinosaurs. The word “dinosaur” does not occur in the Scriptures. But the Hebrew word tanniyn does occur and is translated in several different ways. It is translated “sea monster”, “serpent”, and “dragon”. It appears as a large reptile. They are found both on land and in the water. In other places the Bible describes a creature known as “behemoth”, the mightest of God's creatures (Jb.40:15). Job 40:15 Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. Verse 17 says his tail is “like a cedar”. It was thick, unlike the elephant or hippopotamus as some have suggested. Dinosaurs are different from animals today especially because of the position of their limbs. Dinosaurs had a posture that was fully erect similar to mammals. Animals today have limbs in a sprawling position. For example the way a crocodile “walks” and a cow “walks”. Dinosaurs would have moved more like a cow with their limbs supporting their body from beneath. If one interprets the Scripture literally, the young earth view will result. Since we take Scripture seriously and literally, we understand the young earth view as true. The idea of dinosaurs and man coexisting is no problem. Fossils of dinosaurs have been found all over the world. Nearly every ancient civilization has some sort of art depicting giant reptilian creatures. If dinosaurs and human beings coexisted, what happened to the dinosaurs? The Bible does not address this issue, but it seems best to understand they died out after the Flood because of the various environmental changes. 1. It apparently did not rain on the earth before the Flood (Ge.2:5-6). 2. It appears there were not seasons before the Flood (Ge.8:22) 3. It appears before the Flood men ate only vegetables (Ge.1:29 cf. 9:3). 4. Before the Flood men lived much longer lives (Ge.5:17, 20, 27). The Fall of man, with the resultant curse upon the earth, likely thinned out the numbers of both animals and dinosaurs. God sent two of every (seven of some) land animals into the Ark (Ge.7:2-3, 8-9). Therefore the dinosaurs must have been on the Ark. Even though there was plenty of room for large animals, many believe God sent only young adults into the Ark. The Flood waters receding created a quick burial. Many of the animals would have been buried in rock layers formed from the mud. Since the Flood was universal, we would expect to find fossils all over the earth. That is exactly what we see. Summary 1. When we see the bones of dinosaurs, we are reminded that death was not a part of God's original creation. 2. We are reminded that God, who made all things including dinosaurs, is the judge of His Creation. 3. Dinosaurs also remind us that God judged the rebellion of Noah's day by destroying the wicked by water, and in the death of millions of creatures which included dinosaurs. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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