While the study of comparative genealogies can be a tedious one, what is clear is that the relational possibilities maintain the credibility of a chronogenealogical measurement. Setting all those arguments aside, one really only needs to know that the interval between Adam and Abraham is perspicuously presented and easily calculated “for [as Dr. Floyd Nolen Jones points out (The Chronology of the Old Testament)] regardless of the number of names or descendants that might be missing between Arphaxad and Salah (or any other two patriarchs) their lives are mathematically interlocked and a fixed relationship exists; when Salah was born, Arphaxad was thirty-five years old and so on across the entire span in question. Consequently, no time can be missing even though names may be so.”

Similarly, Dr. James J. Scofield Johnson included the following as a reference to the “second Cainan” argument in a paper entitled Using Scriptural Data to Calculate a Range-Qualified Chronology from Adam to Abraham…
“…the controversy is ultimately irrelevant to determining the Adam-to-Abraham timeframe, because that timeframe is provided to us in “linkable” sub-timeframes that are independent of whether “begat” refers to one or more than one generation.”

Based on his interpretation and subsequent calculation of the biblical data (Genesis 5:3-29; 7:6; 11:10-26), Dr. Johnson is satisfied that “the total earth-time in years from God’s creation of Adam to the birth of Abraham cannot be more than 1,985 years, although it is likely somewhat less than that, yet it cannot be less than 1,948 years.” (That’s approximately 1/3 of all human history.)

Chapter 5 is critical to understanding the literary construct of the early chapters of Genesis. A theological framework would not include this detailed account of births, ages of patriarchs at the time of a relevant birth, life spans, and deaths. This is obviously a record of historical significance assembled and chronicled by an archivist (Noah) preserving a link to the Son of Man the “seed of woman” who would restore the fellowship that was ordained from the beginning.

I wrote an article defending the Genesis chronogenealogies that you might find helpful at http://biblescienceguy.wordpress.com/articles/2008-articles/2008-07-age-of-the-earth-3-genealogies/ . This is the third of a series of six articles on the age of the earth.

Therefore, let us exclaim, oh, how we love his law! Let us meditate on it all day long, for to all perfection we see a limit, but his commands are boundless. And again, let us know and understand that it is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings and queens, which we are since both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus, the King of kings, is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.

And since whoever fears God will avoid all extremes and because it is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other, shall we not Scripturosity also be our vehicle for sharing the beautiful compatibility of Bible discovery and experience, in which is preserved the ancient record, with the world?

Bob

Marc

There is another article on the dimensions of the Ark that may offer further context.
http://scripturosity.com/2011/12/24/divine-origin-and-sacred-history-the-dimensions-of-noahs-ark-are-they-feasible/

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment.

Marc