By Jack Kelley
GraceThruFaith.com
Q. Please let me know what you show as the year since creation. The Jews say 5771, but the New King James Bible says 4004 BC, plus 2010 since Jesus Christ showing 6014 years. Who is correct?
A. I don’t think anyone knows the year of creation for certain. Some scholars say it was 4004 BC based on Bishop James Ussher’s 17th Century book, The Annals of the World, a chronological history from Creation to 70 AD. John Lightfoot, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, renowned Hebrew Scholar, and a contemporary of Ussher’s, agreed with his calculations.
According to the Hebrew calendar this is the 5771st year since the creation, but there are those who claim this total is not accurate due to the belief that when the Israelites were under subjugation by a foreign power their calendar did not advance. They say this introduced an error of 181 years or more into the count. If they’re correct that would make it at least year 5952. I think it’s safe to say we’re somewhere near the 6,000th anniversary of the creation, but I don’t think anyone knows exactly how near.
Related Links
Introduction to the Jewish Calendar - Hebrew for Christians Annals of the World: James Ussher's Classic Survey of World History - James Ussher (Book) What is God's relationship to time? - GotQuestions.org The World: Born in 4004 BC? - Ussher and the Date of Creation - Answers in Genesis Children's Stories of the Bible The Adult Version - Jack Kelley (Book)
