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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.'
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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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Thanks for your comments. Your thoughts are helpful to us. We are always learning.

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Just another Satanic attempt to change God's WORD. More likely made up of Liberal Kids that don't know any better.
Trying to reinterpret the Bible according to man’s interpretations that are based on unprovable assumptions destroys the authority of the Bible. God was there. Man was not.
I will read this in its entirety. What I've read so far is right on according to my extensive studies over 27 years.
Not bad, I'll have to check the Hebrew to double-triple check, for this kind of study the KJ is almost useless.
Would like to keep you on my site for further study. You made me think.
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!
I'm preparing to teach my first Religious Instruction lesson for the year in a public Australian school tomorrow and we'll launch straight in to the creation story from the Bible. So thank you!! I feel confident now to answer any questions the kids might raise.
Really enjoyed
So interesting. Thanks for sharing. Keep them coming. Enjoy reading them so much.
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.
Thank you for a good read on this subject: the indisputable existence of humanoids and civilizations before Adam.
You should just go away. You are preaching heresy.
This is utter nonsense in my opinion
Beautifully done and very reasonable. I’ve been struggling with the contradictions in the Bible and science for years. I believe that there is a God but I wasn’t always sure if the Bible Was Gods word or man made. Thank you! Makes so much sense!
I do not believe in a Supreme Being who created us in his image and likeness as quoted in the bible
Adam was the first man created to have a living soul.
Bwahahahahaha!!! Religion, please go away and die.
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!
Thank you for your studies. I find them fascinating. And I will read more of your articles.
Adam was perfect because it doesn’t say anywhere in the Bible that he had body aches and gray .
Very informative. Keep up the good work. The world needs better understanding of God’s word.
Great work! Keep up the war against the ignorant churchians, and supporting Christian enlightenment!
By observing ruins etc firsthand, my personal opinion is that man existed before Adam. Adam was the first God breathed His Spirit into.
I am a Christian, and I have always been a “young earth” proponent. My son, also a Christian, is an “old earth” proponent, and we have debated this topic. After reading the content of this website thoroughly, I am willing to reconsider my position.
What you have said makes so much sense to me. I would love to read more of what you think.
I now have Biblical support for my belief.
Proof of the absurdity of ALL religions, thanks.
lov it
One of the best study sites I have found!
Love the study
Yes
Thank you. I have visited this site before.
It's my first visit. Thanks for sharing.
Yes there were people before Adam, the cave Men and the ice Age.
Very good explanation
Will this material be made available in print form for purchase?
Rational Evangelicals. Exellent.
About time!
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 am eagerly awaiting more topics.
Only when ignorance, in the name of science, tries to be wiser than what scripture say, is when Gods Word is twisted, unto their own destruction
Interesting and thought provoking, following a line of thinking that has interested me for years. To question traditional interpretation doesn't detract from the validity and power of scripture but reinforces it. Jesus was rejected by the religious experts of His day because He didn't fit the traditional interpreting of scripture. We still have much to learn.
God bless.
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..
Please pray for me as I ponder the input you've provided online.
I wish to save this
O my how i wish i could find a friend would be willing to discuss the bible openly with me.
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!!!
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!
This is great stuff!!
Humans were around a lot longer the 4000 bc. Thats not even as old as Sumer the first proven civilization. Evidence strongly supports that civilization may have existed long before Sumer.
I have read all with an open mind. I heard bits and pieces of theory but never this much evidence.
Came across this site and it's fantastic and so relevant.
All bad things on the face of the earth are connected to sin , by one mans sin we were all condemned.
Thank you for the Bible verses about hell. This is a very difficult subject that many people that believe in Christ have adopted as truth. I have yet to understand why.
I discovered this site while I was at work. I will take time out and read through it. I think it is very interesting and it's good to know so I hope and pray that I can and will be able to venture a little bit more. Thank you and continue to have a blessed and prosperous day.
Very insightful
Very interesting to read.
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.
Great explanation of something I've wondered about.
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.
Very informative and interesting.
Please let me know if it is available in a hardcover or paperback book.
Right!
Your site is full of heresy. Repent.
Interesting to read. Will research further.
Of course there were people before Adam. Adam and Eve were created for a line through which Christ would come.
2nd law of thermodynamics disproves big bang & evolution.
Thank you
Fascinating and deightfully clear!
Do you offer a textbook?
This is such clarity I wish I could've given this argument earlier.
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).
Scientists lie to us. They lie about the age of the earth.
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.
What a great and informative article! This information is invaluable when discussing biblical concepts with others, both Christian and non-Christian.
So far you make a lot of sense, I do believe in God.
I want to learn it all.
As much nonsense and stupidity as I have heard since big bang or evolution.
I applaud you on your studies and have to say that I do not disagree with what I have read. You seemed to have covered this subject very thoroughly.
Thank you. You have clarified how to teach what I have always believed. I didn’t know how to explain it to others.
The problem with "science" today that too much of it is based on theory and not enough observation.
I hope this excellent presentation penetrates the evangelical church where sadly a majority of Christians believe that the Big Bang is an atheistic concept rather the Fingerprint of God that it is!
You have an interesting take on how to reconcile the time difference challenge between Bible time history & archeology . I don’t think it will matter about which time viewpoint ya right. What matters is faith & trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sin & gaining eternal life
This is a very interesting read and I'm going to be reading it again. 
Wrong!!
Mainstream science is wrong about almost everything.
This is the best information a believer can get. Where can I donate. Big Bang is consistent to the Bible, great news. Let’s ge smart about religion. Saying the Bible is wrong has helped millions become non believers. This news can reinforce the beliefs in those who strive to believe but need a more firm and also scientific reasoning for the existence of a God. Great web site!
Very good
Wrong all wrong
Excellent points here.
Thank you for your good work.
Very,very informative! Thank you
I agree there had to have been other people before Adam. The sons had children, with whom? Certainly not with their own mother or the gene pool would have died out.
I admit that I have some struggles with your interweaving of science and the Bible, but that will not stop me from reading and considering the material.
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.
You have answered so many questions for me! Thank you!
I really liked what is written and honestly agree with the reasoning. May the Almighty broaden my mind to perceive and digest these facts.
Unbelievable. Was man there at the beginning to make this determination. No. The human race is so arrogant and ignorant.
This is a fantastic article , thank you
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Helping Christians engage in intelligent and coherent conversations with doubters and unbelievers
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