All of the four models on the right interpret the first two verses from the Bible as meaning that there was a "long period of time" between the creation of the Earth and the rest of the Universe. Although the Bible says that “To God, a thousand years are like a day and a day is like a thousand years”, it is perhaps hard to understand why such a long time would pass before the pinnacle of creation, that is mankind, arrived.

Old Earth

6 literal days for rest of creation

Mankind is young

The Earth was created first and is older than the rest of creation. Genesis 1:1- 2 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

Old Earth

6 literal days for rest of creation

Mankind is young

The Earth was created first and is older than the rest of creation. There was an original human race but then a disaster struck Earth, maybe when Satan and the other angels fell to Earth, mankind was destroyed. Long gap (billions of years) between Gen 1:1 and 1:2. Then God re- created the Earth as per the rest of Genesis chapter 1 and a new human race descended from Adam and Eve.

Two of these models on the right state that the 6 "days" of creation weren't literal days, however, scholars of Hebrew agree that the Bible does refer to six literal days . In addition to the six creation models: Young Earth Creationism, Theistic Evolution and the four to the right, there is Atheistic Evolution .

Literary Framework View

Old Earth

6 "days" of creation are not literal

Description is poetic - actual order of creation was different

Mankind is young

Genesis 1 and 2 does include some poetic style, but professors of Hebrew disagree with this interpretation.

Old Earth

6 "days" of creation are not literal, but long periods of time

Mankind is young

Progressive creation - death and suffering before the Fall

Days 1-3, millions of years