Thank you for the question on the prolong lifespan listed in the Bible, “Are there any theories on the meaning of the extremely long lifespans listed in the Bible (for example, Adam is said to have lived over 900 years)?”
There are basically two positions on the age of humans before the Flood, if one believes there was a Flood. One view is that the Biblical record is a fable and the other view is fact or true.
As I have written on this topic before, the “theory” is that the earth was once surrounded by water which gave the earth a perfect climate environment that reduce decay/deterioration on earth. What are indications or evidences that prolong life was possible before the Flood? Here are some considerations:
One of my primary assumptions is that there is a Creator God who created humans to live with him forever. He is made in the image and likeness of God except that he has a physical body with physical limitations. His DNA/RNA was not corrupted or mutated as there were no reasons for any change at all. It was in a steady state that slowly changed after the disobedience of Adam and Eve. The Flood accelerated the mutations and changed the world’s climate.
Are there any indications that the earth was once submerged? I believe there are indications and here are some thoughts for one’s consideration.
A. Every mountain top has sea life or seashells on them from Mount Everest, the Andes Mountain and the Rocky Mountains except for volcanic islands.
The explanation given by geologist is that tectonic shifts or subduction lifted the seafloor that had seas life or seashell on it. One would think that there would be mountain tops without seashells before the ocean formed. It appears that this is not the case as in all mountains, there are seashells on it. The significance of seashells demonstrates that the mountains were once part of the seafloor! The earth was submerged in water and the tectonic shifts uplifted what was on the ocean floor.
Scripture declares at creation that the land mass was submerged below the “ocean” and that it arose from the sea level and submerged by the Flood. In my opinion, the geologists view of tectonic shifts/subduction affirms that the land mass was once submerged under the waters.
B. Geologist postulates that there may be an “ocean” in the crust of the earth.
Bible skeptics once argue that there isn’t enough water to flood the earth. Today that is being challenged as geologists postulate there may be a body of water in the crust of the earth.
According to Quanta Magazine, “There’s water in the crust, too. For subduction to incorporate that much water from the surface at the current rate, it would take much longer than the age of the planet, Jacobsen said. Steve Jacobsen, a mineralogist at Northwestern University, argues that the mantle holds more water than Earth’s oceans.Jul 11, 2018” (The Hunt for Earth’s Deep Hidden Oceans | Quanta Magazine).
This is not proven but geologist and mineralogist thinks there is water beneath the earth crust. Where did all that water come from? According to the Scriptures, the there was a separation of the waters with a sky and that the waters gathered in one place so that land mass could arise. This allow for the penetration of water into the earth’s crust. With the Flood, the waters above the sky and the waters in the crust of the earth released its water. The tectonic shifts of underground water being released could have accelerate the uplifting of the land mass and with the water receding after the Flood, the crust “soaked” in the water to where it is today for the most part.
The key point is that the waters above the sky was released so that the sun rays and meteorites penetrated the earth affecting climate change and thereby affecting the aging process of man.
C. The genetic change on humans by God.
Before the Flood came on earth, God declared that he will limit man’s age to 120 years. Generally speaking, most humans do not live to 120 years old.
With research on genes, geneticist thinks that they have found the aging gene. “SIRT6 is often called the “longevity gene” because of its important role in organizing proteins and recruiting enzymes that repair broken DNA; additionally, mice without the gene age prematurely, while mice with extra copies live longer .Apr 23, 2019” (‘Longevity gene’ responsible for more efficient DNA repair).
The question remains if geneticist can discover and finds the means to repair damaged DNA will that lead to longer life. How long is unknown but is likely to be more than 120 in my opinion. Slowing the aging process with better climate control should prolong life. If genes can be continually repaired or replaced, who knows how long humans can live even as we have heart transplant, kidney and lung transplant, artificial limbs, etc. Will stem research be the key to prolong life? Time will tell.
In my opinion, it is not impossible for man to live beyond 120 whereby with research and technology humans can live to 200 years or more with no age limit with cell replacement. Technology is not quite here, but one can see a crack in the door on prolong life.
Life before the Flood had a more perfect environment and limited mutations in the human cells. Humans were able to live prolong life. Will man build an artificial atmosphere that keeps harmful rays from entering the city and with gene replacement/therapy which will lead to prolong life beyond the 120 years? It is not only possible but probable.
SUMMARY: Humans may be able to recreate the perfect environment and perfect body if they don’t kill each other.
For more perspectives: