Flood

You can follow the slides here: Flood

Interested in doing some more reading & thinking about the flood?

The Bible scholar Vern Poythress has written an excellent book called 'Redeeming Science'. Thoughtful readers will gain a lot from it. You can read it free online here. See pages 82, 94-96, 115, 124-130, 160-161, 180, 244, 253, and 267 particularly when considering the Flood.

In addition, here is an extensive quote taken from pages 104 and 377 of Josh McDowell's classic and comprehensive book, Evidence that Demands a Verdict (2004, Authentic Media):

'As with the creation accounts, the flood narrative in Genesis is more realistic and less mythological than other ancient versions, indicating its authenticity. The superficial similarities point toward a historical (sic) core of events that gave rise to all accounts, not towards plagiarism by Moses. The names change. Noah is called Ziusdra by the Sumerians and Utnapishtam by the Babylonians. The basic story doesn't. A man is told to build a ship to specific dimensions because God(s) is going to flood the world. He does it, rides out the storm, and offers sacrifice upon exiting the boat. The Deity (-ies) responds with remorse over the destruction of life, and makes a covenant with the man. These core events point to a historical basis.

'Similar flood accounts are found all over the world. The flood is told of by the Greeks, the Hindus, the Chinese, the Mexicans, the Algonquins, and the Hawaiians. One list of Sumerian kings treats the flood as a historical (sic) reference point. After naming eight kings who lived extraordinarily long lives (tens of thousands of years), this sentence interrupts the list: "[Then] the Flood swept over [the earth] and when kingship was lowered [again] from heaven, kingship was [first] in Kish".

'There are good reasons to believe that Genesis gives the original story. The other versions contain elaborations indicating corruption. Only in Genesis is the year of the flood given, as well as dates for the chronology relative to Noah's life. In fact, Genesis reads almost like a diary or ship's log of the events. The cubical Babylonian ship could not have saved anyone. The raging waters would have constantly turned it on every side. However, the biblical ark is rectangular-long, wide, and low-so that it would ride the rough seas well…

'…Another striking difference between Genesis and the other versions is that in these accounts the hero is granted immortality and exalted. The Bible moves on to Noah's sin. Only a version that seeks to tell the truth would include this realistic admission.'

'…Partial skeletons of recent animals are found in deep fissures in several parts of the world, and the flood seems the best explanation for these, This would explain how these fissures occur even in hills of considerable height, which extend from 140 feet to 300 feet. Since no skeleton is complete, it is safe to conclude that none of these animals (mammoths, bears, wolves, oxen, hyenas, rhinoceri, aurochs, deer, and smaller mammals) fell into these fissures alive, nor were they rolled there by streams. Yet the calcite cementing these diverse bones together indicates they must have been deposited under water. Such fissures have been discovered in various places around the world. This evidence shows what a brief but violent episode of this sort would be expected to cause within the short span of one year'.