Aging and the Bible

The purpose of this article is present a comparison of the basic Judeo-Christian teachings about aging, as found in the Bible, with those found in fairly recent scientific research. Such a brief comparison will not validate either, but it is interesting to see if we have really learned anything new in 3000 years about aging.

The Bible states in Psalms 98:10, " The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."  This verse states that we can anticipate a normal life expectancy of 70 years and only the strong are able to live much past that age.  Modern science (Atchley, 1988) agrees with the Biblical statement of life expectancy in that we view  the prospects for a reasonably good life through age 70 and that things, healthwise, may rapidly deteriorate after about age 77.  In fact, Fries (1980) has predicted that the maximum average age at death (excluding accidents and violence) will be about age 85.  He does not expect this maximum average to be reached prior to the mid 1990's.  It is interesting that the limit stated 3000 years ago (in the Bible) has yet to be exceeded.

Probably the single most comprehensive passage in the Bible dealing with aging effects is found in Eccl. 12:1-7.  This passage speaks to some of the primary physical aspects of the aging process as well as some of the psychological and spiritual aspects of aging.

The first verse of this passage is an admonition for those who were young to begin preparing for old age, otherwise that time of life would not be very enjoyable for them.   In fact, old age would be perceived by some as being "evil days."  This idea of preparing for old age is advocated by Gaitz and Varner (1980).  Early intervention, even early in childhood, is seen as a deterrent to many of the problems of old age.

A  very vivid description of the physical effects of old age begins in verse 3.  This verse describes the trembling of the hands, the bowed legs, the loss of the teeth, and the dimness of vision. Science (Kosnik, Winslow, et al 1988) has discovered that healthy adults experience a decline in vision as they age. Certain visual problems appear to increase with age in a linear manner , but may occur at various rates. For instance, the amount of light which reaches our retina steadily decreases with age (Tierney, 1982). This means that as we grow older, we need more and more light on what we want to see, if we are to see it clearly. In fact, the 80 year old needs about 3.5 times more light than he did when he was 20 (Pearlberg 1978).

The Biblical description continues in verse 4 with the portrayal of the loss of hearing (doors shut), especially that of high frequencies (music brought low), and how certain sounds "annoy" (rise up) the elderly.  Medical experience (Pearlman, 1978) shows that the elderly do tend to lose their hearing in general (low volume), as well as a loss in the ability to hear at the higher frequencies.

Aging brings about changes in our normal sleep patterns (Rodin, McAvay et al, 1988).  One of these changes is a tendency to wake up earlier in the morning.  Among other things, this often has a tendency to contribute to a sense of depression.  The Biblical passage in Eccl. 12:4 mentions that the elderly would "rise up at the voice of the bird."  Perhaps "the bird" mentioned here is the rooster, at least the Hebrew word used stems from a root word having to do with "early."

Verse 7 informs us that we are in reality spirit beings and the death of the body is not the end of us as persons.  Perhaps it is this realization, at some level, that allows the elderly to become more introverted with time (Atchley, 1988).  This might also explain why the self-esteem of the elderly tends to increase with age, they may be focusing more on the person than on performance.  One has to focus less on performance as one ages because one's performance declines and decreases.

From this brief comparison of the Biblical statements about the aged and modern science's statements, it is easy for me to conclude that  modern science's findings, at least those referenced in this article, may not be so modern after all.  They appear to have been around for some 3000 years.  Another way to say it, as King Solomon expressed it, "There is nothing new under the sun."