So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died. Genesis 5:23-27How can we believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God when it contains ridiculous information such as the Genesis chapter five genealogy? It claims people lived over 900 years with Methuselah living 969 years as the longest. Some scholars argue that these may be families or dynasties and that the family was dominant for that period of time before another took over. Others claim that Sumerian and Babylonian Kings lists also have inflated dates and this is just another mythological listing.
Recent findings in aging studies have revealed some interesting data. Aging of the human body and other mammals is largely a result of genetics (programmed cell death), exposure to chemicals such as free radicals and exposure to radiation. Experiments carried out in mice have shown that their lifespan can be extended by over 10% by blocking some of these factors. Researchers believe they are on the brink of extending by an additional 10% in the near future. On a recent news broadcast I watched, the reporter asked how long humans could theoretically live if these factors were successfully blocked? The researcher answered “several hundred years”. The life spans in the Bible are within scientifically confirmed limits.
I would also like to comment on Enoch. We are told that he walked with God and was taken or raptured. Jews believe that everyone must experience death, therefore, Enoch and Elijah must return to earth and experience death before the end of time. This is why many theologians believe they are the two witnesses who are killed and resurrected in the book of Revelation.
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