Death before the Fall: Romans 5 and 8 address human death, not animal death

Mike states his personal opinion that abiogenesis and common descent are not historical facts, while allowing for significant speciation. On death before the Fall: Romans 5:12 is not about animal death — the chapter focuses entirely on human death and human salvation through Christ. Animals are not in view. Romans 8:20-22 speaks of creation being subjected to futility but does not specify when that subjection chronologically occurred. He considers a view where animal death preceded the Fall (perhaps built into creation in anticipation of the Fall) to be exegetically permissible — not his view, but not refuted by these passages. He notes this represents a change from his earlier young-earth position.