Thank you for the question on formation of the sun and earth, “Are Bible critics wrong when they criticize the fact that earth formed before the sun?”
If I may added to the discussion since other respondents have answered the question.
A. The age of the Universe and the Earth.
Bible scholars debate on the interpretation of Genesis 1:1 whether the sentence is an introductory sentence or a factual statement sentence.
This is a critical question for in Gen. 1:2–2:3 is a description of the formation of the beginning of life for and on earth.
The thought for one’s consideration is that God created the heavens and the earth. He brought the universe into existence along with the earth. It would appear that when God made the heavens, it would include all the angelic beings as well as the cosmos including earth.
One would not have an earth out in space with nothing else present. Therefore it is reasonable that the universe was made in a moment of time along with earth. Did the earth travel from that moment of explosion or did God in his power by spreading his hands if I may use that term, place everything where it is. The earth didn’t travel billions of light year for that will mean that creation was a longer than the Biblical description of it. It’s liken to a painter in a brush sweeping motion spreads his paint across the canvas so God did so for the Universe.
It is true based on the speed of light that the most distant “light” from a star would take billions of years to travel to earth. The question is that can there be another measurement that exceeds the speed of light. Presently, that is not known, but that doesn’t mean that there can’t be one discovered in the future. Thus when God said let there be light, not lights, the traveling of light didn’t take billions of years, but in a moment of time to reach earth and beyond.
In other words, if there was another means to measure the distance galaxies, then the speed of light would no longer be the means. It takes billions of year if one uses light, but the time frame could be shorter if one finds another means that can go faster than the speed of light. That’s just a thought. The reasoning is that angels travel faster than the speed of light. They go between heaven and earth not in light years. That means may yet to be discovered.
B. The position of the sun and the earth.
As most readers know that if the earth was closer or further away from our sun, life on earth would be different or non-existent from its heat and light. If the moon didn’t exist or were closer or further away, it would affect the tides, time, and light (How does the Moon affect life on Earth?).
Genesis 1:14 may be interpreted in two manners. The first viewpoint is that God created the Sun and Moon and place them to provide the light and seasons for earth. The second viewpoint is that the Sun and Moon already existed but the light of the sun didn’t penetrate the earth’s atmosphere since there was a body of water encasing the earth. God allowed the light to penetrate through the waters to bring about seasons and photosynthesis for the plants.
My present thinking is that both views is correct. God placed the sun and moon in its precise location. It is not by random chance but by design. The light from the sun didn’t penetrate the encase water over the earth. God allowed the light of the sun to penetrate onto the land.
The Biblical text states that God made the sun and moon. The word, made, is not the same word in Genesis 1:1, bara, out of nothing. Did God used the matter that already existed to form the sun and moon? It appears so to me. As one reads about the various theories on the formation of the moon, the end result is that it was “made”. The Scriptures do not state how the moon was made but simply states that it was made.
If my premise that the universe was made prior to the earth’s existence, the Milky Way already existed along with the earth. The viability of life comes when God made the sun and moon to allow life to be formed and thrived on earth.
For the readers, I freely admit that I am not a cosmologist. I am giving a personal opinion and one is free to disagree with it. It is only for one’s consideration.
SUMMARY: God created and placed the sun and moon in its precise location to make earth viable for life.
For more perspectives: