With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Pet. 3:8
In six days, God made the works of his hands. On the seventh day, he made an end, rested on it, and sanctified it. Barnabas (c. 70–130, E), 1.146
In the day that they did eat, in the same day did they die, and became death’s debtors. For it was one day of the creation. It is said, “There was made in the evening, and there was made in the morning, one day.” Now in this same day that they did eat, in that day they also died. . . . From this it is clear that the Lord suffered death, in obedience to His Father, upon that same day on which Adam died while he disobeyed God. Irenaeus (c. 180, E/W), 1.551
In as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years will it be concluded. . . . For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years. In six days created things were completed. It is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year. Irenaeus (c. 180)
What are the hundred-fold [rewards] in this world? . . . These are in the times of the kingdom, that is, upon the seventh day, which has been sanctified. This is the day in which God rested from the works He had created. It is the true Sabbath of the righteous. Irenaeus (c. 180, E/W), 1.562
No man can give a sufficient explanation of this six days’ work, nor can he describe all of its parts. He could not do this even if he had ten thousand tongues. Theophilus (c. 180, E), 2.99
Not even the Law and the commandments totally convey what is agreeable to reason. For who that has understanding would think that the first, second, and third day—and the evening and the morning—existed without a sun, moon, and stars? Or, too, who would think that the first day was, as it were, without a sky? . . . I do not suppose that anyone doubts that these things figuratively indicate certain mysteries—the history having taken place in appearance, and not literally. Origen (c. 225, E), 4.365
The first seven days in the divine arrangement contain seven thousand years. Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.503. [This is not necessarily talking about the days of creation.]
God produced that entire mass for the adornment of His majesty in six days. On the seventh day, He consecrated it with a blessing. Victorinus (c. 280, W), 7.341
The creation of the world in six days was still recent. Methodius (c. 290, E), 6.333
God made heaven and earth and the things that are in them in six days. Methodius (c. 290, E), 6.339
After God had made the world and all the things in it in the span of six days, he rested on the seventh day from all His works. Disputation of Archelaus and Manes (c. 320, E), 6.203
Clement, Irenaeus, and Justin the martyr and philosopher, comment with exceeding wisdom on the number six of the sixth day. They declare that the intelligent soul of man and his five susceptible senses were the six works of the sixth day. Anastasius, post-Nicene writer, citing Justin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.302; see also 2.98-99