Calvin and the Age of the Earth

Abstract This article presents three assumptions that underlie the claim that Calvin would support or adhere to the young earth view if he were alive in the twentieth or twenty first century. The argument for the claim that Calvin provides support for the twentieth-century young earth view is untenable. Calvin does not make assertions that can be appealed to as substantial support for the young earth view. To support this position we present three counterarguments to the three underlying assumptions we briefly presented above, regarding Calvin’s own assertions concerning the six days of creation, his accommodation theory, and his commonality with his contemporaries. Although Calvin might have held the view of six literal days, as he was evidently opposing the instantaneous creation theory of his time, he does not provide as much support for the twentieth-century literal six days view as young earth creationists might expect. Attempting to align Calvin’s view of the creation days with the twentieth-century debate is not only unwarranted but also does not do justice to Calvin.