Unveiling the Divine Purpose: Understanding Marriage from a Christian Perspective

But from the Beginning of the Institution of Marriage

Respected Christian apologists Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. Norman Geisler have raised objections to the frequent use of Mark 10:6 by young-earth creationists (YECs) to argue that Jesus was a young-earth creationist. In this article, we will examine their objections and provide a simplified explanation of the reasoning behind the YEC interpretation.

1. Adam and Eve Were Created at the Beginning of Creation

YECs argue that Mark 10:6 supports their view because Jesus said, "But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female." Ankerberg and Geisler counter this by stating that Adam was created at the end of the creation period, regardless of the length of the days. However, they overlook the fact that Jesus referred to the beginning of creation as a whole, not just the beginning of Creation Week. This is evident in other passages where Jesus uses similar language to refer to all time from the first day of creation to his day. Therefore, Jesus is indeed saying that Adam and Eve were created at the beginning of creation.

Why This Matters: This interpretation affirms that Jesus took Genesis as literal history and supports a young-earth view.

Think About It: If Adam and Eve were created at the end of millions of years, as the old-earth view contends, then they would not be at the "beginning of creation" but rather at its tail end. This would contradict Jesus' statement in Mark 10:6.

2. The Meaning of "Create" in Mark 10:6

Ankerberg and Geisler suggest that the Greek word for "create" (ktisis) can also mean "institution" or "ordinance," based on its usage in 1 Peter 2:13. They argue that since Jesus is speaking about the institution of marriage in Mark 10:6, it could mean "from the beginning of the institution of marriage." However, their interpretation overlooks the contextual differences between the two passages. In Mark 10:6, there is no adjective modifying "creation" as there is in 1 Peter 2:13. Additionally, if Jesus intended to refer to the institution of marriage, he could have used other phrases to convey that meaning. Therefore, it is more accurate to understand Jesus as referring to the beginning of creation itself.

Why This Matters: Interpreting "create" as "institution" in Mark 10:6 would distort the intended meaning of Jesus' words and undermine the young-earth interpretation.

Think About It: If Jesus meant to say "from the beginning of the institution of marriage," it raises the question of what "beginning of institution" actually means. The phrase lacks clarity and would require adding words to the text without contextual justification.

3. The Possibility of a Long Period of Time in Creation Events

Ankerberg and Geisler argue that even if Mark 10:6 is speaking about the original creation events, it does not exclude the possibility of a long period of time being involved in those events. However, this reasoning overlooks the clear statement by Jesus that Adam and Eve were at the beginning of creation. If a long period of time had preceded their creation, they would not be at the beginning but at the tail end of creation. Therefore, it is inconsistent to suggest that Jesus could be mistaken in his understanding.

Why This Matters: Accepting a long period of time before Adam and Eve's creation contradicts Jesus' statement that they were at the beginning of creation.

Think About It: If millions of years had passed before Adam and Eve's creation, as proposed by old-earth views, then they would not be at the beginning but rather much later in the timeline of creation.

In conclusion, the objections raised by Ankerberg and Geisler against the YEC interpretation of Mark 10:6 can be refuted. Jesus' statement supports a young-earth view, affirming that Adam and Eve were created at the beginning of creation. It is crucial for Christians to uphold the authority of God's Word and recognize Jesus as a young-earth creationist.

Why This Matters: Recognizing Jesus as a young-earth creationist reinforces the importance of understanding Genesis as literal history and upholding the authority of Scripture.

Think About It: The interpretation of Mark 10:6 has significant implications for how we view the age of the earth and the credibility of biblical teachings. It is crucial to carefully consider the biblical evidence and its alignment with Jesus' own words.