Expert: Sal - 6/7/2006

Question
I was reading the bible and in the begining it was saying how long Adam and Eve and all there family lived. I was surprised to see that they lived for 900 years!!!

So how come we only live to be from 75-100

(that is for people that die of old age because I know people die before 75.)

Answer
Hello Cody:

Your question is a good one. However, there is no definite answer. My best understanding is that after man sinned man began to experience factors such as disease which shortened his lifespan. For example, the ultra violet light may have been previously kept from harming man by a water canope that surrounded the earth (see Geneses 1:6-7). Notice that after the Great Flood we see a marked decline in lifespan (see Genesis 5:1-32 compared with 11:10-32). This may be related to the water canope being the source of much of the flood water (see Genesis 7:11). So that without the protection of the canope man began to age much more rapidly. This in concert with other factors has produced the lifespan that you mention.  

Thanks for the question. I hope that I was of some help.
God Be With You,
Sal