For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
He was the sixth from Adam.
“When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. 4 Then the days of Adam after he fathered Seth were eight hundred years, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. 6 Now Seth lived 105 years, and fathered Enosh. 7 Then Seth lived 807 years after he fathered Enosh, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 8 So all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died. 9 Now Enosh lived ninety years, and fathered Kenan. 10 Then Enosh lived 815 years after he fathered Kenan, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 11 So all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died. 12 Now Kenan lived seventy years, and fathered Mahalalel. 13 Then Kenan lived 840 years after he fathered Mahalalel, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 14 So all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died. 15 Now Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and fathered Jared. 16 Then Mahalalel lived 830 years after he fathered Jared, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 17 So all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died. 18 Now Jared lived 162 years, and fathered Enoch.” (Genesis 5:3-18)
“Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,” (1 Chronicles 1:1-2)
“the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” (Luke 3:37-38)
He was the seventh from Adam.
“It was also about these people that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord has come with many thousands of His holy ones,” (Jude 14)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- One should be skeptical of whether this is a Bible contradiction given the Skeptic Annotated Bible’s track record of inaccurately handling the Bible. See the many examples of their error which we have responded to in this post: Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions. Of course that does not take away the need to respond to this claim of a contradiction, which is what the remainder of this post will do. But this observation should caution us to slow down and look more closely at the passages cited by the Skeptic Annotated Bible to see if they interpreted the passages properly to support their conclusion that it is a Bible contradiction.
- The skeptics pit Genesis 5:3-18, 1 Chronicles 1:1-2 and Luke 3:37-38 as affirming the claim “Enoch was the sixth from Adam” against Jude 14 as affirming the claim “Enoch was the seventh from Adam.”
- One need to as if the skeptics cited the passages properly.
- Jude 14 does affirm the claim “Enoch was the seventh from Adam.”
- Genesis 5:3-18, 1 Chronicles 1:1-2 and Luke 3:37-38 does not state the claim “Enoch was the sixth from Adam.” These three passages does mention sixth generation (as we count it in our Western convention) listed but that doesn’t mean its stating Enoch is only six generation away from Adam as we shall explain more below.
- For the three passages of Genesis 5:3-18, 1 Chronicles 1:1-2 and Luke 3:37-38 they are consistent naming the genealogical order (though there’s variant in English spelling): Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch.
- It would seem the genealogical listing in both 1 Chronicles 1:1-2 and Luke 3:37-38 are dependent upon Genesis 5:3-18. Looking at Genesis 5:3-18 it comes down to how the Hebrew verb יָלַד often translated as “fathered” or “became the father of” should be understood. In terms of its meaning it can have the meaning of being “grandfathered” too.
- As an example see Who was Salah’s father?
- See also an instance where we do see “became the father of” can mean “became the GRANDfather of” here: Was Jeconiah the son or grandson of Josiah?. While it is in Greek for this example you see that in the totality of Scripture this is not unusual.
- Thus there is no contradiction here if we understand that the lexical range of the Hebrew term יָלַד. It permits another generation to be inserted and thus there’s a seventh generation that is silently not mentioned.
- Some might object that the possible range of meaning for the verb “became the father of” should only have one meaning with the word. But that’s a terrible objection. Terms can have more than one meaning in many languages and not just with Hebrew. For instance consider the lexical range of meaning for the English word Whoppers and the Word “Left”.
- Another possibilty is Adam himself is counted as a generation.
- There is no contradiction here. Seems the skeptic needs to learn of How to Handle Bible Contradictions.
- We shouldn’t miss that worldviews are at play even with the skeptic’s objection to Christianity. The worldview of the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible actually doesn’t even allow for such a thing as the law of non-contradiction to be meaningful and intelligible. In other words for him to try to disprove the Bible by pointing out that there’s a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview. Check out our post “Skeptic Annotated Bible Author’s Self-Defeating Worldview.”
[…] Another example is found here: Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam? […]
This is yet another example of the skeptics’ eagerness to discredit the Bible doesn’t correlate with facts. Some of these guys have closed their heart to God and it shows.
[…] Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam? […]
Well refuted! Thanks for your diligence in tackling all of these.
Blessings.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Jimmy,
“Terms can have more than one meaning” is exactly right and seems obvious to all but the determined skeptic. The usage of terms can vary from person to person as well, language is so elastic. At some point, it’s not skepticism but mockery, and may God have mercy on them and all who rely on them, and release them from their bondage to sin.
pax,
dora
Good comment and good point you made! I’m fascinated with how language and terms are elastic in many languages including English! Do you by chance speak or write in any other language? I suspect the more language one knows the more absurd some of these attempts by the skeptics to attack the Bible seems! For me I know a little of speakingtwo Chinese dialects, and reading for Greek and Hebrew.
Jimmy,
Languages are not my thing, just a smattering of this and that which I’ve picked up on the way. Your knowledge of Greek & Hebrew I know serves you well in apologetics as well as expositional preaching. Praise God! Enjoy learning from you. 🙂
Thanks for this thorough refutation of another alleged contradiction. I hope Steve/Stephen Wells’ family and acquaintances hold everything that leaves his mouth to an unbending, literalist interpretation.
Good point: “ I hope Steve/Stephen Wells’ family and acquaintances hold everything that leaves his mouth to an unbending, literalist interpretation.”. If that was the case he would learn that there’s a place for figure of speech, and terms having more than one meaning, etc. It’s part of natural linguistics in every language, not just with Hebrew! Steve Wells is quite bias isn’t he?? How is your shift? Praying for your work today that it won’t be too crazy and that there be an improvement!
Thanks, brother! My boss asked me what was troubling me and I gave him an ear full. I guess I’m better off just doing my best and stopping the whining.
It also seems reasonable that Adam could have been counted as a generation also, hence seven generations.
I see this is also the view of others in resolving this contradiction http://www.christcreated.com/con/bible/contradictions/enoch-sixth-seventh-adam/
Thanks for the link
That’s definitely possible
Thank you for sharing this post SlimJim! Hope you have a wonderful Labor Day ☺️
I pray one day the skeptic is convicted as he reads God’s Word looking for imaginary contradictions.
Great work pastor Jim.
I pray for Steve Wells to repent too, as he’s getting really old! How was Sunday in this difficult time for you guys down under?
Sunday is my “Buddy day” when the two of us gather for lunch and prayer. Our pastor uploads sermons on you tube.
Blessings for your Lord’s Day pastor Jim.
Few words have one meaning, great job with this!!!
Good point of how few words have only one meaning. How was your Saturday and is Nathan off for Monday?
It was a busy Saturday. Today we are celebrating my brother and nephews birthdays 2.5 hours away. So glad Nathan is off tomorrow! What do you guys have planned for Labor Day?!
The skeptic Annotated Bible has less credibility than an Afghan politician
That’s funny. And those who copy and past from the Skeptic Annotated Bible are as original as Snopes founder writing his pieces.
He is sad. In prayer.
I pray he repents and trust in Jesus before it’s too late; think of how many people he stumbled making the skeptic Annotated Bible!!! How is the weather for you guys in Louisiana???
Rain and flash flood warnings. In prayer for you and State.
[…] Bible contradiction comes up. I just recently refuted an alleged contradiction; see my “Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam?” There are times when those who assert that there are contradictory verses in the Bible […]
[…] 2.) Bible Contradiction? Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam? […]
I do appreciate this first post I read on your blog. Jim I hope it gives those who struggle with contradictions something to think about.
[…] Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam? […]
[…] The Hebrew equivalent of point 2 can be seen from the skeptic being unfamiliar with the verb יָלַד; see Who was Salah’s father?, Was Jeconiah the son or grandson of Josiah? and Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam? […]