ARCHBISHOP USSHER
Updated 1/24/2009
After a recent discussion at church about the age of civilizations and the age of the world, I have decided to update this treatise. This reflects my current views on the subject. Remember that I state in the copyright information section, "The content of this study (with the exception of any scripture or quote) is the sole production of Pastor Mark Oaks and is subject to change as the pastor grows and learns."
Archbishop James Ussher concluded that the world was completed by God on Saturday, October 9, 4004 BC and that the first day of Creation was Sunday, October 2, 4004 BC. He also calculated that Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden on Monday, November 10, 4004 BC. According to his reckoning, the ark came to rest in the mountains of Ararat on Wednesday, 5 May 1491 BC. We should not be doubtful of Bishop Ussher's sincerity as he was a very learned man and he undertook this task with the greatest gravity. Some of his dates are not far off from the dating of present-day archaeologists. His system was accepted as truth until the 19th century. (There was dissent even in the 18th century). Then the ancient earth view began to be accepted. Today, most theological circles no longer accept Ussher's Chronology. Yet, don't completely discount his dating system, because at the time, he was earnest and he was meticulous in his method, and his dates were widely accpeted. His system has certain points that are remarkable. Having read his "The Annals of the World," I have a deep appreciation for his work.
I must state categorically that I cannot prove or disprove Ussher's method and date. While the current interpretations of contemporary data seem to point to a very ancient earth and universe (some believe it is 5-15 Billion years old), I am not ready to accept everything that experts tell us. As an example, Darwinian macroevolution, which has very little fossil evidence to back it up, is nevertheless considered by leading experts in the field of biology to be absolute fact. We can say the same of global warming. Those leading the charge here are mainly politicos, and like evolutionists, the evidence does not support their theories. In fact, according to several scientists (some are geologists, physicists, environmental scientists, one is a chemical engineer working in environmental studies) the earth is now (January 2009 AD) in a cooling mode. In each of the examples given, these theories are accepted by the masses as unquestionable facts. These 'facts' are not even open to debate in certain circles.
Experts that believe in a very ancient earth could one day be proven incorrect. Their work is not only based on scientific investigation and observation, there is also an element of hypothetical thinking, and even some speculation involved. Yes, even faith is involved in their conjectures; for what else could it be, if not based on anything observable, but faith? Therefore, I am not going to fully accept their ideas.
I will admit to some skepticism when it comes to Ussher's dating of the beginning of the world. It was based on the genealogies of the Hebrew Old Testament manuscripts. We can see from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, that genealogies can be enumerated to meet certain preconceptions. For example, Matthew states "from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations." There are exactly fourteen generations from Abraham to David, but the other two lists had to be rounded to make them fourteen generations as well. This seems to have been a common practice in some circles. Might not some of the generations in the Old Testament be the same? Is it possible that they are not accurate for judging the passing of time? Perhaps; perhaps not. There is room for ambiguity here and that is why I am not going to take an adamant stand that Ussher is entirely correct.
I will not argue with those Christians that believe in a very old universe. Much evidence seems to indicate that to be true. Yet some of it is decidedly exaggerated. Stalactites, for example, are supposed to take enormous amounts of time to develop. Some say it takes thousands, perhaps millions, of years for them to form. When I was an adolescent, we used to visit Fort Pickens State Park near Pensacola, Florida. I used to explore some of the redoubts and covered areas. I do not remember seeing stalactites then. In fact, there were none. Since then, leaks have developed in some areas allowing water to drip through some of the concrete and brick structures. Stalactites, some many inches long, have developed in the last 30-40 years. That is not millions. It is not even thousands or hundreds. It is tens.
As I said, I will not argue with Christians that believe in an ancient universe and earth. I am uncertain. It is very possible that the universe and earth are billions of years old. I accept the possibility. It is also possible that the earth is less than fifteen thousand years old. I accept that possibility as well. Ancient Sumer originated around 6000 BC, and that would make the earth at least 8000 years old. What I am saying is that I do not believe we can be absolutely certain how old the earth really is. (However, even if the age is in the billions of years, God did not put into motion macroevolution and allow it to work through the ages. He simply spoke all things into existence). Ussher could turn out to be correct. Then again, perhaps not. Nevertheless, Ussher's "The Annals of the World" is a very good work; it is suitable for studying history from the perspective of the seventeenth century.
Here are Bishop Ussher's own words on how he arrived at his conclusion:
"For as much as our Christian epoch falls many ages after the beginning of the world, and the number of years before that backward is not only more troublesome, but (unless greater care be taken) more lyable to errour; also it hath pleased our modern chronologers, to adde to that generally received hypothesis (which asserted the Julian years, with their three cycles by a certain mathematical prolepsis, to have run down to the very beginning of the world) an artificial epoch, framed out of three cycles multiplied in themselves; for the Solar Cicle being multiplied by the Lunar, or the number of 28 by 19, produces the great Paschal Cycle of 532 years, and that again multiplied by fifteen, the number of the indiction, there arises the period of 7980 years, which was first (if I mistake not) observed by Robert Lotharing, Bishop of Hereford, in our island of Britain, and 500 years after by Joseph Scaliger fitted for chronological uses, and called by the name of the Julian Period, because it conteined a cycle of so many Julian years. Now if the series of the three minor cicles be from this present year extended backward unto precedent times, the 4713 years before the beginning of our Christian account will be found to be that year into which the first year of the indiction, the first of the Lunar Cicle, and the first of the Solar will fall. Having placed there fore the heads of this period in the kalends of January in that proleptick year, the first of our Christian vulgar account must be reckoned the 4714 of the Julian Period, which, being divided by 15. 19. 28. will present us with the 4 Roman indiction, the 2 Lunar Cycle, and the 10 Solar, which are the principal characters of that year.
We find moreover that the year of our fore-fathers, and the years of the ancient Egyptians and Hebrews were of the same quantity with the Julian, consisting of twelve equal moneths, every of them conteining 30 days, (for it cannot be proved that the Hebrews did use lunary moneths before the Babylonian Captivity) adjoying to the end of the twelfth moneth, the addition of five dayes, and every four year six. And I have observed by the continued succession of these years, as they are delivered in holy writ, that the end of the great Nebuchadnezars and the beginning of Evilmerodachs (his sons) reign, fell out in the 3442 year of the world, but by collation of Chaldean history and the astronomical cannon, it fell out in the 186 year c Nabonasar, and, as by certain connexion, it must follow in the 562 year before the Christian account, and of the Julian Period, the 4152. and from thence I gathered the creation of the world did fall out upon the 710 year of the Julian Period, by placing its beginning in autumn: but for as much as the first day of the world began with the evening of the first day of the week, I have observed that the Sunday, which in the year 710 aforesaid came nearest the Autumnal AEquinox, by astronomical tables (notwithstanding the stay of the sun in the dayes of Joshua, and the going back of it in the dayes c Ezekiah) happened upon the 23 day of the Julian October; from thence concluded that from the evening preceding that first day of the Julian year, both the first day of the creation and the first motion of time are to be deduced."
- J. Ussher, The Annals of the World iv (1658)
Here is a list of dates from The Annals of the World:
Creation | 4004 BC |
שאלו שלום ירושלים
—Psalm 122:6a (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem) *
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6-7
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★ The content of this study (with the exception of any scripture or quote) is the sole production of Pastor Mark Oaks and is subject to change as the pastor grows and learns.
★ Numbers following Greek or Hebrew words are
Strong’s Numbers.
Hebrew numbers are in normal type style (1234) and Greek numbers are in Italic style (1234).
(Instead of ירושלים, Yerushalayim, which is the plural form)
* שאלו שלום ירושלים is transliterated "shaalu shalom yerushalaim".