RE: [asa] Noah's Ark- the debate over floods... and biblical interpretation

Hi George:

Here is one thing I find interesting. When Jesus spoke about the flood, he
said: "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered
into the ark ." (Mt. 24:38). There is nothing about eating and drinking in
Genesis, he was quoting Atrahasis:

"he invited his people
... to a feast
... his family was brought on board.
While one was eating and another was drinking,
he went in and out; he could not sit, could not kneel,
for his heart was broken, he was retching gall."

Dick Fischer, GPA president

Genesis Proclaimed Association

"Finding Harmony in Bible, Science and History"

www.genesisproclaimed.org

-----Original Message-----
From: George Murphy [mailto:GMURPHY10@neo.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:08 PM
To: Dick Fischer; 'Dehler, Bernie'
Cc: ASA
Subject: Re: [asa] Noah's Ark- the debate over floods... and biblical
interpretation

Dick -

On the last paragraph: 1st, of course "fabrication" is a heavily loaded
term. Having noted that, the answer to the question "would that not also
call into question the theological lessons derived therefrom?" is "No."
Again I'll cite Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan. There is no reason to
think that the events Jesus describes actually happened (i.e., they may have
been a "fabrication" in your terminology) - & more importantly, it doesn't
make the slightest difference to the theological use Jesus makes of the
story whether they really happened or not. Other examples could, of course,
be given.

Shalom
George
http://home.roadrunner.com/~scitheologyglm

----- Original Message -----

From: Dick <mailto:dickfischer@verizon.net> Fischer

To: 'Dehler, <mailto:bernie.dehler@intel.com> Bernie'

Cc: ASA <mailto:asa@calvin.edu>

Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 2:44 PM

Subject: RE: [asa] Noah's Ark- the debate over floods... and biblical
interpretation

Hi Bernie:

You raise a valid point, one that I have asked myself for many years. The
broad question is whether or not there was a flood, and if there was, when
was it and what was the extent? I think that question can be answered
readily. The question you raise is the accuracy of the account. Did the
Bible writer get all his facts straight? If there are mistakes in the
narrative, are there enough to discount or disbelieve the entire narrative
in Genesis altogether?

Compared to the parallel flood accounts the one in Genesis is the odd one
out on the subject of duration. Parallel accounts describe a week long
voyage while Noah's trip in Genesis takes a year. But whatever the case,
mistake or not, scribal error or not, that is no reason to jump to some
other position that can't be defended by anything.

Rainy seasons are annual events in Iraq occurring in the spring when the
snow melts on the mountains in the north and surges down the rivers on to
the flat plain that is southern Mesopotamia. If there were two back to back
flood episodes, and Noah chose to remain in the boat to ride out two rainy
seasons, that could take a year and might explain the long voyage in Genesis
versus the short voyage in the parallel accounts. I'm only throwing that
out as one possible explanation.

So, say my guess is wrong. In court trials where witnesses give their
accounts of a crime they have seen rarely are all testimonies exactly the
same. Perspectives differ, perceptions aren't the same, memories vary. Yet
the judge or jury must decide guilt or innocence on the totality of evidence
presented. Conflicting testimonies are normal and to be expected.

I agree the primary focus should be on the theological lessons based upon
the historical narrative. If the historical account was a fabrication,
however, would that not also call into question the theological lessons
derived therefrom?

Dick Fischer, GPA president

Genesis Proclaimed Association

"Finding Harmony in Bible, Science and History"

www.genesisproclaimed.org

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Received on Tue Apr 7 22:46:52 2009