Do Christians believe dinosaurs existed as someone suggested they didn't because they are not mentioned in the Bible?

Answer

The Bible is not a history book. Just because the Bible did not mention them that does not mean they did not exist the Bible does not refer to a lot of things that do in fact exist. There is actual artifactual evidence of the presence and life of dinosaurs and has be proved. It is not a question of this or that dinosaurs and human beings are seperated by hundreds of millions of years in time. The Jurassic era was prior to humans in which the Bible hadn't even been written yet.

== Answer == The Bible says that God created all creatures. It did not say that he did not take the time to experiment and change his creations to see what would work best together. I believe that God created dinosaurs and decided that they would not work well with his other creations, therefore he used evolution to change them to what he wanted. We know that he took seven days, but we do not know how long a day is in God's time. His minute could be a million years. Yes I do beleive in the Bible as truth. I am a born again christian, but we each comprehend God's word in our own way.

Answer

1. Exodus 20:11
   For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,...
2. Nehemiah 9:6
   Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
   

The Hebrew word Tannyn is translated as dragon, which could well be one kind of dinosaur. Then there is Behemoth, mentioned in Job 40, the description of which does not fit any animal we know of on the earth today. There is also Leviathan. These three could all be different dinosaur species, especially when one considers the meaning of the verses above, which clearly indicate God made everything. This certainly included the dinosaurs, even if they were not mentioned.

The name 'Dinosaur' meaning 'terrible lizard' of course was not coined until more recent times, long after the bible was written and so that exact word would not be expected to be found in the Bible.

The creation was also called 'very good' when it was completed and so there was no need for any further experimentation, or for dinosaurs to evolve from birds. The 'rest' of day seven also indicates a rest of completion, or as cessation from work, not a rest of tiredness, as to use the word of Werner Gitt, God did 'not even perspire' when he created the dinosaurs, the world, the universe,and everything in them.

As mentioned above there are probably thousands of things not mentioned in the Bible which certainly existed. The Bible is not intended to be a comprehensive history or science book. However it is certainly accurate when it touches on both areas in relation to God's dealings with man. It has been repeatedly demonstrated to be true and accurate thousands of times where it was previously assumed to be in error.

The argument which forms the basis of the question is really an 'argument from silence' which is one of a number of fallacious arguments used to supposedly disprove the Bible. One way this is countered is by the statement 'absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.' Even if there were no mention of dinosaur-like creatures in the Bible this would not prove the Bible to be in error, just as when there is no evidence for other events either. Evidence may be found later, and it has many times.

The original question may be based on either ignorance or a slavish ultra-literalism. Or worse, it may be based on an attempt to discredit the Bible, since dinosaurs obviously did exist. If it is the latter it is based on a faulty understanding of the Bible which has a narrow focus on God's people and their history, as well as the early history of the earth as a background. Ultra-literalism would also be incorrect in this context as it would make the Bible anti and un-scientific which it is not.

Answer

The Bible is, in fact, a history book (among other things). But, as pointed out, there was room for dinosaurs in the Bible. No scriptural support can be summoned for their not being part of the web of life at one time. Few Christians doubt the existence of dinosaurs. The ones who interpret the Bible more literally (i.e., Young Earth Christians) are usually the ones that get confounded by the (physical) truth that is right in front of them. It would be extraordinarily difficult to mount an argument against the existence of the creatures.

Answer

Dinosaurs are mentioned in the Bible in the book of Job and are referred to as ' behemoths ' with tails like cedars [ trees ] and a thirst that could " ..drink up the Jordan river".

First answer by Runtdog. Last edit by Rokkzilla. Contributor trust: 31 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 30 [recommend question]

Can you answer other questions about creation?