Is it true that there are no known Early Church authors who believed that the Earth was older than 10,000 years?

The belief that the Earth is less than 10,000 years old is primarily rooted in certain interpretations of religious texts, particularly those from the Early Church period, where many authors adhered to a more literal interpretation of biblical genealogies and accounts of creation. This perspective led to a prevailing view among early theologians and Church Fathers that the age of the Earth could be calculated based on scriptural records, generally resulting in estimates that did not exceed 10,000 years.

Many prominent early Christian writers, including those from the 2nd to 4th centuries, focused on harmonizing their theological frameworks with the understanding of creation presented in the Bible. They often rejected ideas from ancient philosophers or scientists that suggested vast geological ages. Therefore, the assertion that there were no known Early Church authors who believed the Earth exceeded 10,000 years aligns well with historical interpretations of their writings.

The concept of an ancient Earth began to gain traction much later, particularly with developments in geology and biology during the Enlightenment and beyond, which are not part of the Early Church authorship. This historical context helps to affirm the idea that the early Christian perspective largely supported a young Earth view, reinforcing the accuracy of the statement in the question.