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This site is for thoughtful Christians learning how to answer the hard questions people are asking today
Bible: Man looking at city where people lived before Adam
PURPOSE: Helping Christians engage in intelligent conversations with doubters and unbelievers

Were there people before Adam?

THIS IS
COMBINE
Here's where we combine the six Insights to get an informed biblical answer

Old Testament clues

Nowhere does the Old Testament specifically say that Adam was the first human being. It is silent about people before Adam except for some clues in the first four chapters of Genesis:

  • The Bible says that 'for Adam, no suitable helper was found,' so God created Eve, which might imply that there were other people then existing
  • God's words to Adam assume that Adam already knew about human sexuality and death
  • When Adam's first-born son (Cain) murdered Adam's second-born son (Abel), they already had specialized knowledge of agriculture and husbandry, probably acquired knowledge from generations of farmers and ranchers outside of the Garden
  • When God pronounced punishment for the murder (banishment to be a wanderer), Cain pleaded with God to protect him from people in other regions who might kill him
  • Cain went to another region and married a wife
  • Cain became a builder in a distant city

New Testament silence

Nowhere does the New Testament specifically say that Adam was the first human being.

Neither Jesus nor the Apostles (except Paul) even mention Adam's name. Paul briefly mentions him in I Corinthians 15 and Romans 5 but does not specifically say that he was the first human being, only that he was the first sinner.

When the Bible is silent, we are free to follow historical and scientific evidence wherever it leads.

Archaeology

Archaeologists have unearthed many cities that are much older than Adam. By the time of Adam, some cities already had thousands of inhabitants. The archaeological finds yield not only objects but also rich history and timelines.

Human fossils

There are now many scientific methods for testing age. Confidence is gained when different methods (chemical, radiological, stratigraphical, dendrochronological, DNA, etc.) all converge in the same age range. Human fossils (homo sapiens) have been found which date to thousands of years before AdamThe DNA of hundreds of ancient human skeletons have been sequenced and analyzed, and migration patterns plotted to show beyond doubt that people were traversing the earth prior to 4000 BC (before Adam).

DNA and migrations

The DNA of hundreds of ancient human skeletons have been sequenced and analyzed, and migration patterns plotted to show beyond doubt that people were traversing the earth prior to 4000 BC (before Adam).

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Thinkers Bible Studies / Topic 1.3

PEOPLE BEFORE ADAM

Were there people before Adam?

FOUR INSIGHTS
for an informed answer
TAP TO GET
Insight 1: Bible credibility
INSIGHT 1

Why it matters

The real issue here is whether or not the Bible is a credible book of truth. People conclude that if the Bible is wrong about our origin, it's probably wrong about our destiny too. This is a big barrier to faith.
TAP TO GET
Insight 2: yō·wm is Hebrew word for Bible creation day
INSIGHT 2

Read Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 as two stories

Adam (’ā·ḏām) in Genesis 1 means 'human.' Adam (hā·’ā·ḏām) in Genesis 2 is a person's name. There may have been a very long period of time between the stories.
TAP TO GET
Insight 3: What God created in each 'day'
INSIGHT 3

What the Bible actually says

Most people just believe what tradition teaches and have never carefully read Genesis chapters 1-4 for themselves. See for yourself all the verses in the Bible which refer to people before Adam.
TAP TO GET
INSIGHT 4

What Americans believe about human origin

For 38 years, Gallup Polls have been tracking peoples' beliefs about the beginning of human life on earth. See the poll findings. Most regular church attenders believe that 'God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so.'
TAP TO GET
INSIGHT 5

The time of Adam

Bible genealogies show that Adam lived about 6,000 (maybe 10,000) years ago. See what life was like at that time. Archaeology and DNA show that humans have been on earth for 40,000 years or more.
TAP TO GET
COMBINE

Here's where we combine five Insights to get an informed biblical answer: Were there people before Adam?

The insights here are like pieces of a puzzle. Put the pieces together and see the big picture! Now you'll be prepared to engage intelligently with anyone on the subject of people before Adam.
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Yes to have a intelligence conversation is of most importance.
I want more information and I want bible study
You guys are doing an incredible job of bringing science The Bible together as one truth thank you Please continue this valuable work to awaken the public that the Bible and science are truly God's truth not contradicting each other
Nice to read a legitimate attempt to harmonize the traditions of the Bible with scientific discoveries.
Just came across your website, want to commend you on believing the Bible can and should be read as the Truth. I have always believed that if I cannot make sense out of the scriptures, it is my deficiently not the Bibles. God Bless.
This is awesome, very detailed information and totally makes sense, thanks for sharing!
This is from the devil. The Bible says Satan is a liar and the creater of it. This is a lie created by Satan to deceive people. Adam was the first man and the first sinner. His sin is what started death.
How great it is to have a resource to help in ministering to the sceptical. Thank you. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to upcoming studies.
Right!
Fully embrace this information. By the Spirit I have been convinced before reading this. Any serious thinker who is honest and observant will become agnostic in trying to remain with the ultra conservative ideas of literal six day creation. What a beautiful creation was being made by a glorious intelligent designer!
lov it
Very informative. Keep up the good work. The world needs better understanding of God’s word.
Came across this site and it's fantastic and so relevant.
I have believed for many years what you have written here, but who among my friends and fellow-Christians will believe me? I stand alone. It took almost two hundred years before the church—or church members—believed that the earth was not the center of the universe. Will it take that long before Christians will believe that Adam and Eve were not the first humans created?
Brilliant
I learned one key thing and that is to be very careful w/pastors speaking lots of stuff from their memory bank & not reading from the word of God to express truth. Recently, I heard a famous pastor out in Georgia saying that Adam was the 1st man and I automatically remembered how my friend asked then where did Cain's wife came from if it were only Adam & Eve plus their 2 sons, that provoked me to open up my bible and see for myself and went further to discover that Cain was even afraid that other people would kill him (key that other people existed).
Blessings to you!!
I really enjoy your website. I find your arguments compelling.
Excellent
Yes, I agree there is a lot of evidence to substantiate what you say. I have often thought about this myself. Thank you for all the research you have done.
This is a fantastic article , thank you
I found this to be extremely informative. I'd always had doubts about the "original sin" and being punished for my ancestors sins, but this explained why "original sin" doesn't really exist in a way that resonated with me. Thank you. I will definitely check this site more often.
Since your website is new and still in the making, it leaves me excited yet hungry for more understanding. Thank you so much for putting your website together to help those of us asking questions about traditional lines of thinking. I look forward to reading more!
Had to be people here before Adam, all the ancient buildings prove the civilizations were here. Many teens of thousands of years.
Of course there were people before Adam. Adam and Eve were created for a line through which Christ would come.
Thanks you so much for your willingness to put your website together to help those of us asking questions about traditional lines of thinking. I look forward to reading more!
This makes me better understand that you need to "dig deeper" in Bible study.
Found this to be very helpful. Answered my questions.
O my how i wish i could find a friend would be willing to discuss the bible openly with me.
Really enjoyed
Great information, it is worth further studies. Kept up the good work, all of us need to read and study the bible more including me. We need to remember Christ is the Only Way to eternal life.
I absolutly loved this! My daughter is a high school science teacher, and we are both christians. We had our own ideas of what scriptures say, and what actual physical science says. This brought ALOT to light! Thank you.
Please pray for me as I ponder the input you've provided online.
Interesting and thought provoking.
Very interesting
Thank you. You have clarified how to teach what I have always believed. I didn’t know how to explain it to others.
All present dating methods are based on assumptions that cannot be proven. The methods do not meet scientific requirements of being observable, repeatable, and testable. They can reliable determine chemical compositions, but they CANNOT reliably give age..
Of course. If Adam and Eve were the only humans and had children, who did the children copulate with? If it was each other, then everyone would have mental defects. The Adam & Eve story is just the beginning of the Old Testament.
You have developed material that is vitally needed for reaching the newer generations.
Pure sophistry for the purpose of setting aside the claims of God upon us.
I stumbled on your website recently, and was impressed by the scope of it and the balance evident in it.
Mainstream science is wrong about almost everything.
It's constructive that science keeps indefinitely improving with better observations and verifiable facts. Immutable good scriptures should simply keep itself relevant by subtle changes in its interpretation to complement and coexist with science. Good work!
I like it! I always wondered about the dinosaurs, and whether other people lived before Adam. You see, the Bible says that Cain was worried about being slain by other people. So, what does that tell you? It's more to the Bible than some clergymen are letting on.
Interesting to read. Will research further.
The problem with "science" today that too much of it is based on theory and not enough observation.
Fascinating and deightfully clear!
Thank you I knew about these things but I did not understand
I now have Biblical support for my belief.
Do you offer a textbook?
Just another Satanic attempt to change God's WORD. More likely made up of Liberal Kids that don't know any better.
Interesting !!
You really don’t understand the Bible at all.
Thank you for your good work.
Are these lessons available in printed form that can be purchased or that can be downloaded on line in a condensed version?
The reason the doctrine of original sin arose, was that Augustine couldn't read Greek and there was an inadequacy at certain points in the Latin translation, resulting in a misunderstanding.
awesome info keep up this good work
Thank you for a good read on this subject: the indisputable existence of humanoids and civilizations before Adam.
I am eagerly awaiting more topics.
THANK YOU. You are helping me to understand so much more! I have always questioned, and for the first time, feel I am getting answers, or at least more of an insight to my own feelings and beliefs.
Much of what you share are things that have been revealed to me by the Spirit of God. Finally your site is out and does not counter Biblical script and does not hinder the Christian witness. Thank God.
Scientists make mistakes, and when the scientists' beliefs don't match the Bible then God's word, the Bible, is right, and the scientists are wrong.
God created everything that was created in six literal days.
Since your website is new and still in the making, it leaves me excited yet hungry for more understanding.
No scripture to back up your words.
It’s too bad that the Christian community cannot allow for mistranslation of both an ancient language and understanding of that language.
Does the bible really say humans will burn forever in hell or is it really more like thrown in the fire and destroyed? Ps I already know the answer!
As much nonsense and stupidity as I have heard since big bang or evolution.
Yea
I am excited to have found this site when I was seeking the truth about Bible timelines. I have been forced to justify my beliefs by a pastor who has a very fundamental belief in God's seven days of creation.
Great job! Fantastic resource for believers not only to be able to speak intelligently in a time of waning faith, but for our own education and edification as well!
Amazing! I have been studying this subject and drafting a book for about 5 years. I discovered your web site today. In those 5 years, I have come to many of the same concepts as you. Good job folks.
This site is a literal God send! I've been struggling with reconciliation of what scripture says and what I've been taught through various denominations and their individual traditions. I'm so grateful, honestly, to have permission to think critically and to allow the Holy Spirit to teach me directly.
I do not believe in a Supreme Being who created us in his image and likeness as quoted in the bible
God bless.
This has certainly opened my mind, I believe in the Bible but could never get a lot of answers to my questions. Thanks
What a great and informative article! This information is invaluable when discussing biblical concepts with others, both Christian and non-Christian.
Thank you for this! I have had many conversations about science and Christianity. I am not very smart but now I am a little smarter.
It's my first visit. Thanks for sharing.
I was just told about your website and it's so fascinating.
Interesting topics. The bible is good for salvation but not for earth history
I find your explanation very compelling and appreciate that we do need to answer questions of unbelievers, there needs to be effort in this direction. So I thank you for your efforts
Excellent points here.
Great Information. I've been teaching these studies for some time to hopefully help Christians have a true biblical world view and not just a churchy world view. Glad yall out there.
This is utter nonsense in my opinion
The information that I read was very informative.
Please let me know if it is available in a hardcover or paperback book.
Wish I could remember all this.
Thank you
Very interesting please keep me posted
Yes there were people before Adam, the cave Men and the ice Age.
Thank you for this most interesting discussion of genealogy re: the timing of the first man as relates to both the Bible as well as archaeology!!!
I love this web site. I have always wanted to know more about what the Bible means. Please, please keep expanding this site.
Very good explanation
What you have said makes so much sense to me. I would love to read more of what you think.
Bwahahahahaha!!! Religion, please go away and die.
I am a person that right now I don't practice any religion whatsoever. Very interesting, thank you
I don't think I believe this
2nd law of thermodynamics disproves big bang & evolution.
I like that explanation it makes since it has scientific evidence to back it up
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Helping Christians engage in intelligent and coherent conversations with doubters and unbelievers
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