Introduction

Combining Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 1:26-31, Day 6 must meet the following conditions:

1) Some event allowed the evolution of mankind

2) The evolution of mankind would provide the capacity to rule the animals

3) The evolution of mankind would provide the capacity to believe God

4) The evolution of mankind would provide the capacity to obey God

5) Mankind would fill the earth and subdue it

Can we scientifically determine a time in the earth’s history that is consistent with the scriptural requirements above? The answer to this is yes.

No Conspicuous Event for Mankind

The earliest humanoid fossils date to around 4.2 Ma (million years ago). You would rarely expect a fossil to reflect the initial appearance of a given species however. As observed by Glenn Morton, there is evidence that the earliest known fossil of a given species suggests an initial development 1.3 times earlier than that. Based on this, humanoids may have evolved as long as 5.5 Ma.

Unlike the animals of Days 5 and 6, the initial appearance of humanoids (4.2-5.5 Ma) does not correspond to any known mass extinction events, but would appear to be the continuation of an evolutionary chain that traces back through chimpanzees, and on to the Grand Coupure.

The Evolution of Mankind

Theologically, mankind's evolution had a purpose: to bring him from the state of mere animal to being in the image of God. Scripturally, this means having the capacity to believe God and obey Him, as well as rule the animals. When analyzed from this perspective, the development of mankind makes us seem custom built for just these purposes (the groupings and dates beneath species are approximate):

Australopithecus (5.5 Ma)

• stone tools (2.6 Ma)

Homo Habilis (2.4 Ma)

• language (2.0 Ma)
• right-handedness (1.9 Ma)

Homo Erectus (1.8 Ma)

• art (1.6 Ma)
• fire (1.5 Ma)
• hunting (1.0 Ma)
• tanning (1.0 Ma)
• fossil/mineral collecting (900 Ka)

Heidelberg Man (800 Ka)

• boat building (700 Ka)
• woodworking (750 Ka)
• weapons (400 Ka)
• murder (400 Ka)
• tents (400 Ka)
• scalping (400 Ka)

Homo Sapiens (200 Ka)

• jewelry (110 Ka)
• mining (110 Ka)
• music (100 Ka)
• building activities (< 100 Ka)
• religion (< 100 Ka)

It would seem that over the this span of time, as humanoids have evolved, they have become more and more capable of fulfilling the purpose pronounced by God. It is the appearance of Homo Sapiens in the fossil record that suggest when we finally reached the point of being capable of responding to God... between 50 and 250 Ka.

Spread of Mankind Throughout the World

The dating and location of Homo Sapien fossils suggests that human life first arose in Africa, and then spread over time throughout the world:

• 190 Ka - Homo Sapiens - Ethiopia (Central Eastern Africa)
• 160 Ka - Homo Sapiens - Morocco (North Western Africa)
• 120 Ka - Homo Sapiens - Israel
• 50 Ka - Homo Sapiens - Australia
• 36 Ka - Homo Sapiens - South Africa
• 33 Ka - Homo Sapiens - UK
• 32 Ka - Homo Sapiens - Japan
• 11 to 5 Ka - Homo Sapiens - Mexico (North America)
• 11.8 to 4.9 Ka - Homo Sapiens - United States

This list is far from complete. However, it should be noted that as we get closer and closer to the GeoCreationist date for Adam (4336 BC), it becomes obvious that most of the world was subdued thousands of years before him.

Scripture and Science Confirm Each Other

Biblically speaking, it is not important to determine when humanoids became fully human. What matters is God's command ("Let us make mankind in our image") and His blessing ("Rule the animals and subdue the earth"). Based on the appearance and spreading of Homo Sapiens throughout the world, it suggests God's command was as long as 5.5 Ma, and His blessing as recent as 250 Ka. By 10,000 years ago, mankind was ruling the the animals and practicing religion, and doing so throughout the world. This is consistent with the scriptural record, which documents the appearance of male and female together, followed by a blessing to be fruitful and multiply. God's blessing was in full bloom, and Adam had not even been born yet.

1/22/2012 - Updated for Adam date of 4336